With another impressive sweep of states in the Potomac primary — Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. — Barack Obama now has surpassed Hillary Clinton in popular votes and elected delegates, as well as in the total delegate count. And by sweeping the GOP primaries, John McCain has all but locked up the Republican nomination.
In their victory speeches Tuesday night, Obama and McCain previewed some general election themes they might use against each other. Obama told a crowd that, “Sen. McCain said the other day that we might be mired for a hundred years in Iraq, which is reason enough to not give him four years in the White House.†He also referred to “Bush-McCain†Republicans and ideas, tying McCain to the unpopular president.
McCain took sharp aim at Obama’s “hope†message. “To encourage a country with only rhetoric rather than sound and proven ideas that trust in the strength and courage of free people is not a promise of hope. It is a platitude,†he said. “I do not seek the presidency on the presumption that I am blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save my country in its hour of need. I seek the presidency with the humility of a man who cannot forget that my country saved me.â€
The above cartoon is Richard Crowson’s view of Mike Huckabee’s big win in the Kansas caucus Saturday. Below is Arizona Republic cartoonist Steve Benson’s take on the win — and Huckabee’s chances elsewhere.
In recent weeks, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton reportedly have been lobbying John Edwards, who is said to be close to an endorsement.
At first glance, Edwards would seem to be a natural ally of Obama, but there’s a chance he could choose Clinton if he thinks she’s better prepared to lead and will do more on universal health care and poverty.
But really — would an Edwards endorsement of Clinton be credible, after all the disparaging things he’s said in debates linking her to the “status quo†in Washington, D.C.?
Moreover, Edwards might have waited too long. He’s hardly a kingmaker at this point. Most of his supporters and staff have moved on — and most seem to have moved toward Obama.
Edwards is said to be genuinely torn between the two. But if he can’t make up his mind, why would his close decision carry that much weight either way?
The Kansas Senate Utilities Committee voted 6-2 Monday to approve a reworked bill allowing two new coal-fired plants near Holcomb. It’s expected to go to the floor today.
Carbon remediation, conservation and efficiency measures, and other green features were stripped from the legislation, as well as any pretense of concern about greenhouse gases or forging compromise on energy policy.
This is your Legislature at work.
“They are not aging baby boomers over in Lawrence. They’re not a bunch of stoners from Haysville. These are citizens who believe seriously and terminally ill people should be allowed to use marijuana if their physician believes it will help.†— Laura Green, director of the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition, testifying in Topeka Monday on behalf of those who would be helped by a bill to create a “medical necessity†defense for someone arrested for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia
“Hey, I grew up in Haysville, and I was never a stoner. I’m offended by Laura Green’s remarks. I would have been willing to support them had Green not so shamelessly slandered my old hometown.†— Reader comment on the Topeka Capital-Journal Web site
Call it the “Brownback curse.†John McCain has lost the caucuses or primaries in all five states in which Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback has campaigned for him: Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Montana and Kansas. Before McCain lost by 36 points to Mike Huckabee in Kansas Saturday, Brownback told the Washington Post: “In every state we’ve sent me to, we’ve lost. So if this is a loss, it’s my fault.†Point taken?
With another impressive sweep of states in the Potomac primary — Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. — Barack Obama now has surpassed Hillary Clinton in popular votes and elected delegates, as well as in the total delegate count. And by sweeping the GOP primaries, John McCain has all but locked up the Republican nomination.
