Obama won the Popular Vote

[Honeycombe8]

Let's put an end to this counting of the votes in such a way that, if you close one eye, squint the other, and stand on one leg while counting this and not counting that, then Clinton won the popular vote.

Here are the final numbers, according to RealClearPolitics:

The absolute vote tallies for valid primaries and caucuses, as certified by the states:

OBAMA 17,535,458 (48.1%).......CLINTON 17,493,836 (48.0%)

If you estimate the four caucus states that did not certify a pop. vote tally (IA, NV, ME, WA):

OBAMA 17,869,542 (48.2%).......CLINTON 17,717,698 (47.8%)

RealClearPolitics ONLY ends up with a higher Clinton number if it includes MI. That no. does NOT include the 30,000 write-in votes in Michigan were thrown away. That no. does NOT include a no. that includes votes that would occur if the lesser known candidate, who relies heavily on campaigning for votes, had been allowed to campaign there. That no. does NOT include a number that is recognized by the National Democratic Party. The Dem. Party has deemed the event held in Michigan as not a valid primary. MI should not be included.

The point to me seems to be, though, that this race was almost a tie, with Obama winning. We all know that in politics, a win is a win. But still, it was very close, and the Dems would do well to remember that. It seems that Obama has started off by offering an olive branch to Clinton and her supporters (even before he won), thereby acknowledging the closeness of the race and her expertise in "politicking."

But enough with the "Hillary won the popular vote." It's simply not borne out by the official vote results.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html

[Benhurst]

1. Yeah, neither of them was able to attract the support of a majority

of Democrats.

That might give a clue as to why the party is so divided.

It's time to move on from hair-splitting arguments about vote totals and begin the difficult process of putting the party back together.

Stirring the pot now makes no sense whatsoever.

[Skink]

2. Hillary got the operation chaos vote so it wan't that close

My friends the operation chaos voters are now free to choose Mccain.

[Honeycombe8]

3. True. I didn't want to fan flames by mentioning that, but that is definitely true. nt

[papau]

5. Obama won majority of "GOP" vote - as they forced the weaker candidate on us

[Honeycombe8]

7. Sorry...fact is that Limpballs urged on air Repubs to vote for Clinton for "chaos" purposes.

Obama DID get some moderate Repub votes in a few states, and a lot of Independent votes in some states...but THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT LIMPBALLS EVER ENCOURAGED ANY REPUBS TO VOTE FOR OBAMA FOR CHAOS OR REPUBLICAN PURPOSES. They wanted Clinton to win, and they wanted the infighting to go on.

[papau]

4. sorry but there are 50 states - and Mich when included gives popular vote to Hillary -even with

Obama getting all of the "uncommitted"

[Honeycombe8]

6. Still doesn't include the 30,000 write-in votes (not for Clinton) that were thrown away. Invalid ..

Invalid primary. Invalid numbers. Cannot be counted. Cannot be certified.

If you're going to count numbers that can't be certified, why not count the Limbaugh "Operation Chaos" tens of thousands of votes for Clinton? And count for Obama the 30,000 write-in votes in Michigan that were not for Clinton?

See...even if you start counting votes that don't really count, Obama comes out ahead.

The point is...it was a virtual tie, but Obama got a couple hundred more delegates in the end, meaning he had a better strategy. And he won.

[rocktivity]

8. Texas had a caucus AND a primary

and since four of the caucus states didn't release their vote totals, there is NO WAY to know what the vote total REALLY is.


rocknation

[Honeycombe8]

9. True. The totals above don't incl. the TX caucus votes (of which I was one!). nt

[Mezzo]

10. when you COUNT THE FUCKING VOTES, hillary Clinton won the popular vote. Pls stop this.

You are also assuming that those 30,000 votes would have broken for Obama, and I highly doubt it.