About last night. . ., May 14, 2008

My clock radio went off at 5:30 a.m. this morning and in my bleary-eyed state I swear I thought I heard the talk-radio jock say the presidential primary race was over. Was my sleep deprived brain mis-firing? Did the world shift in its time-space continuum in the mere four hours I was asleep?

Last night, Hillary Clinton won a landslide victory in West Virginia winning across almost every demographic and social line . . . and did I mention that no Democrat has captured the White House without West Virginia since 1916?

Last night, Hillary Clinton was the candidate who has also generated excitement and support from millions of Americans across this country (last time I checked, the distance between Clinton and Obama was less than 2%).

Last night, exit polls (and recent national polling) showed that the vast majority of voters want Hillary Clinton to stay in this race

Last night, Democrats got even more evidence that the wave for change is on their side when voters turned a bright red district blue in the Mississippi special election.

All of this was true last night and despite contrary reporters and reports, it is still true today. Despite clear evidence that this race is not over, the media still seems to have the patience of a sixth grader 10 minutes before recess, craving release from their desks for a little sunshine and R&R.

I know constantly rescheduled vacations and the growing number of warm sunny days are stretching people's patience, but I think folks are getting ahead of themselves. Here are a few doses of reality in case you missed them.
  1. Hillary Clinton has a strong case to make, so let her make it. . . Clinton has won big in key battleground states. She has drawn unprecedented support among women, particularly working class women who are a key swing block for the general. She has also brought Hispanics firmly back into the Democratic camp after Bush peeled some of them away in 2000 and 2004. And on the top two concerns of the day -- the economy and healthcare -- she has been consistently the choice of voters to solve their problems.
  2. Voters want their say and letting them have it is good for Democrats. . . Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have run outstanding campaigns that have resulted in unprecedented energy and engagement of voters. From young voters to women, they have driven the largest wave for change this country has seen in recent history. If the race is over then why is turnout in the primaries still so high?
  3. Hillary Clinton has every right to continue this race to its conclusion (which is not set in stone) and millions of voters support her in that effort. In case you missed it, Ellen Malcolm had an excellent op-ed in the Washington Post this weekend making just that case -- a must read, if I do say so myself.
  4. Democrats will win the White House and then some. . . As if Mississippi wasn't enough to calm some folks jitters about November, national polling released today "dispel notions that Democratic party may be unable to come together around one candidate in the fall,"

I was taught as a child that patience is a virtue. And it is particularly important when you are as sleep deprived as most folks in politics are these days. Yes, most of us can't remember the last time we had a day off but if we follow Ellen's advice and " . . . count every vote, let the remaining states have their say and see the process through to its conclusion," Democrats will all sleep better for it in the end.

Have a great day!

Ramona