Be prepared for Obama to begin campaigning for the GE.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

Several pro-Obama posts here ask why he is the only one to take on McCain while Hillary sits back and "embraces" McCain. I think this sort of question/observation misses the forest for the trees. Obama has begun his GE campaign. Over the next week, this approach will pick up steam. All sorts of stories out there about Clinton's chances being little to none, Richardson endorsement, other endorsements coming (via LA Times blog), and a potential BIG endorsement in the wings (my own post around here somewhere: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5193169 ). I think Obama is going to go for the "inevitability" narrative. He'll pretend Clinton doesn't exist, or his campaign will simply treat her campaigning as desperate. Time to go after McCain. Hell, Obama's got the cash.

I welcome this development and think it will be a wise move. In fact, I'd have a surrogate go after McCain in harsh terms. Do anything to make it about Obama versus McCain since this is the inevitable match-up anyway.

Bottomline from the Obama camp: it's time to put this democratic primary behind us, since it's OVER. And once the BIG endorsement comes, then it will really be over.

You've run a tough campaign, Ms. Clinton. But it's over. You know it; we all know it. The superdelegates know it. From my own post (regarding the powers-that-be in the democratic party): "There are simply two back rooms at this point: the Clintons (a very big and powerful back room) and others in the democratic party who want to make sure there's a bit of clarity as to who is the manager of said back room. You do realize that the whole Fl/MI delegate thing was one big pissing contest, yes? It was to see whose keys fit the lock to the back room."

[tekisui]

1. I think he started the GE when he used the "Past vs. Future".

Let's go, full throttle.

[LSparkle]

2. At last -- SOMEBODY is going to go after Bomb-Bomb!!!

It's about time! Let the Clintons shower him with bouquets about how much he loves
the country, how he would bring a lifetime of experience to the job, how he's met the
"commander-in-chief" test ... Obama will reinforce his position as the REAL DEMOCRAT
in this race by going after the presumptive Repug nominee.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

4. Yes!

He pulled out a little hammer this week and gave McCain a love tap. But he had other problems to deal with. Strong members of the party have made it clear that they have his back. The media will relent a bit on Wright. Now it's time to make McCain suffer. It's really going to be brutal. Or, should I say, "My friends, my friends, it's really going to, my friends, it's really going to be brutal, my friends."

Christ, McCain is like Popeye and Foghorn Leghorn had a child . . . and peed on it.

[LSparkle]

5. "and peed on it" -- LOL!

Made me laugh out loud (literally)!

[monmouth]

3. What a great post. I noticed he's been pretty much ignoring her

and moving on also. I'm relieved already, just waiting. If this news about the "break in" starts to look bad I don't think she'll even bother with PA. Maybe I'm tinfoiling again, just a thought.

[rug]

8. Other than sending photos to the NYT and issuing press releases calling her a liar.

[SunsetDreams]

22. truth hurts

[Carrieyazel]

6. He's got a lot of work to do to catch up, since McCain is already running a GE campaign.

And right now, Hillary is still a thorn in the side. I doubt he can run a true GE until she is out of the race, and she isn't yet.

[JVS]

7. Which is why she should be strongly encouraged to drop out.

[PATRICK]

10. All of the arguments

for others to urge her to drop out are valid even if some are democratically objectionable in type. Everyone has a reason to end this unless they want the GOP to win.

Her practical position now is much worse than Humphrey or Mondale in both the nominating and general election(IMHO). In retrospect HHH had a horrific scramble to the nomination and savage wounds to his electability even as he danced in victory with little connection to the rioting Chicago police and mayor Daley and Ribicoff exchanging readable lipped obscenities on the floor. Still he came back with a more vital liberal party to nearly take the election. Like a sputtering shuttle that hits the strosphere then falls back to earth. He had a strong third party challenge from his own party too(George Wallace). And the bloody war ranged on into the Dick Nixon cloud. The conjunction of all madness tore into the heart of the entire party. The madness WE face is nearly entirely seated on Washington Avenue, free of most overt struggle and responsibility. Yet the real damage today is there, confined mostly to the GOP. Let's keep it there and excise it and end the MSM fun with a grim endgame.

[Faygo Kid]

9. Hillary and Bill are certainly working hard on McCain's behalf.

Looks like it's up to Obama to be the Dem in the race and take a swing at McCain.

[CoffeeCat]

11. Excellent, excellent post...

The first few dominoes are beginning to drop for Hillary, and it's just a matter of time
before they all start tumbling furiously.

We saw Pelosi suggesting that the person with the most pledged delegates wins the race. She
will oversee our convention and she won't let these ridiculous, "But...but...I won the big
states arguments" fly.

Then, we have the Richardson endorsement, and the hint of many others to come. Additionally, the
SDs are slowly making it clear that they are with Obama.

The close of the FL/MI situation was a clear statement to Hillary that her games will not be
played as she desires.

Slowly, the dominoes will fall. You just have to wonder how much damage she'll do before she
finally gets out.

Proud to K&R such an awesome post.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

12. I think they're being pressed pretty hard.

I think it'll be after Penn. (no matter the Clinton victory margin). This will allow Clinton to save face and not make it look like she's "lost" democratic party support.

[CoffeeCat]

18. I'm wondering why Obama....

...is not focusing like a laser beam on Pennsylvania.

I haven't been following his schedule to the letter--but I have noticed that
he's been in other states (OR, NC), but he's not drilling down and going for
every vote in Penn, like Hillary. She's gone nuclear there. Obama hasn't.

Maybe this is due to the Obama campaign recognizing that they probably won't
win PA, and letting her have it--knowing that they don't need PA to win the
nomination. However, if he campaigned full throttle there, he could easily
get within 5 points, and it's feasible he could win. However, he's not doing it.

There could be a multitude of reasons for this, but maybe it's all ready understood
that PA will be her last hurrah, and she'll go out on a positive note. So, maybe
Obama is focused on the other states and allowing her to bow out gracefully?

I'd be interesting to hear other's thoughts.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

19. I think he will as it gets closer, but only to knock several points off of Clinton's victory.

The delegates are no longer a big deal. Now it's a matter of closing the spread for the sake of perception--in order to close the deal, to force Clinton out. You don't want to look like you made and effort and then lose by double digits. But he also doesn't want to lose Penn. by 20 points. So a quick infusion of campaign cash (ads, etc.), go in and do some campaigning, and pick up a quick 7 points. Losing by 13, and then being able to claim that you didn't even really campaign there, is MUCH better than by 20.

[lmbradford]

20. It is my belief....

that since his ground operation is doing GOTV, he has simply gotten out of the way so that after he has all the registrations he can get, then he will swoop in and start doing his rallys and town halls and bring the people to him. Taking the people in now would only hinder the ground operation. Don't worry, he knows what he is doing.....

[shadowknows69]

13. He should pretty much act like Clinton doesn't exist at this point

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

15. I agree. It should be McCain 24/7.

Hell, if President Clinton can talk about McCain in the GE, why shouldn't our party front-runner?

[BumRushDaShow]

14. K&R

:kick:

[dana_b]

16. he has to do this in order to show himself as a president with

real strong plans/beliefs, etc. Hillary is really not the enemy.

[L0oniX]

17. Hillarat needs to quit now. She has no chance of winning. The only reason she is ...

still in the race is because the MSM needs bullshit to feed the talking heads. Even the talking heads know it is over. All she can do now is hurt and divide the party which IMO she doesn't give a flying fuck about. It's time for her to stop. Everyone who is supporting her on this board is damaging the democratic party and should be joining with the Obama supporters so we can win the GE. No amount of kool aid is going to change the chances of her winning. Obama has the popular vote and has the majority of the delegate votes. We don't need to wait for the fat cat super delegates. Get a damned grip and join in with us so we can stop the repukes from destroying what is left of this country and its constitution.

[SunsetDreams]

21. He has been the only one attacking McCain...

He doesn't miss a mis-step by McCain, and calls him on it.

For instance: Remember, "I got news for John McCain"? regarding Alqaeda(spelling) in Iraq

John McCain swiped and Barack threw him out.

Then there was the recent Iraq/Iran comment, he slammed him hard on that too.

There have been numberous times.

I have yet to see Hillary do it though.