MyDD :: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination

BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination

by Josh Orton, Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:35:57 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, based on an Associated Press tally of convention delegates, becoming the first black candidate ever to lead his party into a fall campaign for the White House.

Campaigning on an insistent call for change, Obama outlasted former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in a historic race that sparked record turnout in primary after primary, yet exposed deep racial divisions within the party.

The AP tally was based on public commitments from delegates as well as more than a dozen private commitments. It also included a minimum number of delegates Obama was guaranteed even if he lost the final two primaries in South Dakota and Montana later in the day.

Update [2008-6-3 13:51:35 by Josh Orton]: This story is whipping around Blackberries across the country. Hillary's campaign is trying to thread a needle between acknowledging this reality and not "conceding" to try to preserve some sort of leverage with the Obama campaign. But there are a lot of hours between now and the moment Hillary Clinton has to step on stage in New York, during which time more supers will come out for Obama (there's already a flood today and this story gives them more cover) and she'll likely lose two states. The 'leverage' she was hoping to preserve before conceding has started leaking out a large hole at the bottom of the bucket.

Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Election 08 (all tags)

Permalink :: 249 Comments :: Post a Comment

The GE is on. (2.00 / 7)

It's time for Democrats to rally around our nominee the way the Republicans have rallied around theirs.

should we go outside? / should we break some bread? / are you'nterested?

by Firewall on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:37:02 PM EST

Actually (2.00 / 3)

Considering McCain is loathed by large fractions of the Republican coalition lets aim a bit higher than that, eh? ;)

"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."

by Purplepeople on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:02:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The GE is on. (none / 0)

Bravo. Finally this pretended contest, that Hillary had a chance, is at an end. She never did and should have conceded a month ago. Instead, we are late into the general election, allowing McCain a head start.

However, if the Democrats ever permit McCain the ability to shake off his Bush credentials, we deserve to lose.

Click on Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land and learn the truth about the I/P conflict.

by shergald on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:09:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sneering is a great (2.00 / 2)

healing process.

by aggieric on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:13:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Really, I came here to say "Congrats" (none / 0)

but forget it. What makes these bots so insufferably rude? They are physically incapable of being, well, just nice about anything.

If that's their attitude I have nothing nice to say either.

berkshiretrueblue Commited to helping elect a Democrat as President "Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo" Ambroise Bierce

by berkshiretrueblue on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:21:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Really, I came here to say "Con (2.00 / 2)

don't let others control your behavior. Do what you think is appropriate, period!

by Metrobot on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:30:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, I don't feel it's appropriate (none / 0)

to reward churlish behavior. How someone wins often says more than how one loses. My vague negativity toward the Obama campaign is always being reinforced by the behavior I see exhibited by his supporters.

berkshiretrueblue Commited to helping elect a Democrat as President "Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo" Ambroise Bierce

by berkshiretrueblue on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:36:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Well, I don't feel it's appropriate (2.00 / 1)

you are just giving a few online wackjobs way more power than they deserve...that's all.

Today's gonna be historic for lots of reasons. My little primary wish is that we can all observe and acknowledge it in our own way without letting ourselves get distracted unnecessarily.

by Metrobot on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:41:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You forgot the words "illegitimate and (none / 0)

brokered" nominee

by suzieg on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 07:12:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Really, (none / 0)

Please do not characterize every Obama supporter as behaving in the same way.

Also, please refrain from using terms like "bots."

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:35:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Please don't tell me what I can and cannot do... (none / 0)

I am quite old enough to make those decisions myself.

I seldom use the term "bots" even though I often think it when behavior I see exhibited leads to that conclusion.

The Obama supporters I know in real life, my family, neighbors, children are not the obnoxious jerks I've run into on line-thank God-but they also seem blithley unaware of his shortcomings and lack of actual progressive credentials. I see so little he has actually accomplished and know how woefully inadequate lofty rhetoric is against Republican attacks.

Anyway, you guys are not running the world yet so I still have the right to speak as I wish.

berkshiretrueblue Commited to helping elect a Democrat as President "Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo" Ambroise Bierce

by berkshiretrueblue on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 04:37:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't mistake a handful of jerks (none / 0)

for the whole group of Obama-supporting mydd members. There are some immature jackholes, of course, and some mostly reasonable people who occasionally get carried away, and some perfectly congenial folks. Just like among the Clinton supporters.

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. -Voltaire

by kydoc2 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:38:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Really, I came... (2.00 / 1)

you expect grace when you yourself are "insufferably" rude by calling supporters of Obama "bots"?

hopefully and finally now, we can move on from petty b.s. on two candidates that are eerily similar and get back to what matters in this nation of ours.

by alex100 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:42:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

graceful winners! (none / 0)

WARNING
BY TAYLOR MARSH

Children. Thugs. Abusive infants. No offense to either children, infants or thugs intended.

Who am I describing? The Obamabots who continue to send me vile, profane, but also threatening emails. So you're all on notice. Personal threats will be turned over to the police, and since we have your IP and other information it won't be hard to do. Threatening me with a petition to have my convention credentials pulled is also being reported.

Consider this a warning.

Threats will be reported.

So if this is Mr. Hope's idea of promoting "unity," count me out.

by suzieg on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 07:15:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Never had a chance? (none / 0)

She started out with great name recognition and a solid superdelegate lead. Her biggest mistake was hiring Mark Penn. Her second biggest mistake was not firing him sooner. If she had actually dumped some real effort into the caucus states and planned beyond super tuesday... this might have been a very different race.

Of course, I am an Obama supporter and am happy with the outcome, but this was never a cake-walk or a sure thing for him. Clinton is one hell of a campaigner and could have won this if not for a few key strategic blunders.

Peace.

by protothad on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:08:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Never had a chance? (none / 0)

Most of her blunders can actually be grouped under the heading of irrational right wing attacks (against Obama). When Hillary joined McCain, it was the beginning of her downfall. In fact, at one point she went to the right of McCain on foreign policy, and scared the hell out most Democrats. Iraq is one thing, but bombing Iran is quite another. Most people are sick of the Neocons and what they have done to our country, and to she a major Democratic candidate follow suit was just too much.

Bye Hillary.

Click on Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land and learn the truth about the I/P conflict.

by shergald on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 09:22:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The GE is on. (none / 0)

Apparently the add-on delegates are an important part of their calculation.....I'm not sure the technicalities, but I think it's a done deal.

by Deadalus on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:15:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Seize the Moment guys! (none / 0)

by Deadalus on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:16:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"the way the Republicans have rallied" (none / 0)

Hehehe, good joke! Let's hope such a lame kind of rally is good enough to win the GE...

No way, no how, no McCain!

by Gray on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:06:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (2.00 / 5)

Cool news though. Time to start fighting over who hates McCain more!

Beat McCain!

by thezzyzx on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:37:45 PM EST

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (2.00 / 1)

Good one!!! ;-)

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:39:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (2.00 / 1)

try your hand at the contest about the environment, between mccain and an old withered carrot we found in our fridge. seriously. its more competitive than you think.

by Trey Rentz on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:55:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (2.00 / 2)

I agree...This is no longer about "teams" within the Democratic Party. This is about assuring that McCain does not: get a chance to pack the court; bomb Iran; further open the spigot for big corporate lobbyists; further diminishes Constitutional rights and liberties; further set the economy aflame, etc. etc.

This is NOT about who was mean to whom on either "side" or who's the bigger asshole. There's an awful lot of work to do. I look forward to working with folks supporting both candidates to do this essential work. Our lives and those of our children depend upon it. Mightily.

by mayan on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:41:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (2.00 / 1)

right on mayan. Are you the same mayan I used to read at Zogby forums?

by haystax calhoun on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:19:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (none / 0)

you would be correct, haystax!!

by mayan on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 04:03:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I guess I'll delete my diary then ;) (none / 0)

nice to see you here!

by haystax calhoun on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 05:02:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Can we? (2.00 / 1)

Can we let it be?

McCain = Iraq. John McCain = overturn Roe.

by PantsB on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:38:13 PM EST

Re: Can we? (none / 0)

I'm ignoring this until tonight at least.

We should be able to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies.

by Jess81 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:09:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Please Hillary, do the right thing n/t (2.00 / 2)

by sneakers563 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:38:30 PM EST

Re: Please Hillary, do the right thing n/t (2.00 / 4)

She will. She's a good American.

John McCain

by Mandoliniment on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:55:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

An historic thing, very cool (2.00 / 4)

by Slim Tyranny on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:38:55 PM EST

OT (2.00 / 1)

I've always wondered why 'historic' is preceded by 'an' instead of the 'a' that usually accompanies words that begin in consonant. Anyone know why this is? Are we supposed to pronounce historic in a cockney dialect?

by dystopianfuturetoday on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:44:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 5)

"I've always wondered why 'historic' is preceded by 'an' instead of the 'a' that usually accompanies words that begin in consonant. Anyone know why this is? Are we supposed to pronounce historic in a cockney dialect?"

Well 'course it's pronounced 'istoric. 'ow would you pronounce it, govnor?

"No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November." -Hillary Clinton

by fugazi on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:47:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 3)

'elp 'elp. Me 'ouse is on fiah.

We should be able to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies.

by Jess81 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:50:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 2)

Cause it often "sounds" like a vowel.

Tony Romo for Secretary of Awesome

by kasjogren on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:50:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 3)

'ello, 'ow 'are 'ou? Want to go to 'artford? Get out of this 'ell 'ole.

Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.

by mistersite on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:51:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (none / 0)

Mojo'd for Corky St. Clair.

What is The October Protocol?

by Koan on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:59:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 1)

It happens the other way to. You'd never say "an unicycle".

"I will veto every single beer!" -- John McCain

by fwiffo3 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:12:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 1)

Do you say 'a hour' or 'an hour'?

by Kysen on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:52:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (2.00 / 1)

Well, in that case, "hour" starts with a vowel sound.

by nwodtuhs on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:56:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Do you say (2.00 / 1)

"a happy face" or "an happy face"?

There are two kinds of "h"s. In French thay call them "h aspiré" and "h muet" even though they don't pronounce "h"s at all. The first kind is considered a consonant, the second a vowel.

by corph on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:03:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: OT (none / 0)

http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w 005.html

by dystopianfuturetoday on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:36:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Congratulations Democrats!!!! (2.00 / 5)

Now its on the the General election.

Mcshame is toast!!!

by Silence Do Good on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:39:10 PM EST

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (2.00 / 7)

I am very proud of my country and my party today.

"No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November." -Hillary Clinton

by fugazi on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:39:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (1.00 / 0)

For the first time?

by gaf on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:52:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Do you have a point (2.00 / 4)

or are insults the only thing left in your quiver?

by gchaucer2 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:54:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (none / 0)

FOR THE LAST TIME UNLESS THIS sstttrrroookkkeee stops attac...

Tony Romo for Secretary of Awesome

by kasjogren on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:01:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (none / 0)

KNIIIIIIFE EYYYYYEEE ATTTTAAAAACCKK!!!

Lol. If you get that joke, you are awesome.

If you are not voting Obama, please let me know so I can replace your sorry ass with another new voter.

by Darknesse on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:10:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (none / 0)

I just knew the Ghost Wizard was actually going to use the Knife Eye Attack.

Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.

by mistersite on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:17:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Congratulations Democrats!!!! (none / 0)

I literally laughed until my face hurt when he did :D

You are awesome.

If you are not voting Obama, please let me know so I can replace your sorry ass with another new voter.

by Darknesse on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:27:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 1)

But didn't alegre say we still have hope? Alegre help!!!

by Hillarywillwin on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:39:27 PM EST

Please stop with the personal (2.00 / 3)

attacks on alegre. She was a strong advocate for her candidate. Please celebrate the good in Obama's nomination. Don't embarass youself by acting like a jerk.

by TomP on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:04:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

actually I am (none / 0)

interested in seeing what she has to say. Wasn't a personal attack. I really want to hear what Alegre has to say on this one.

by Hillarywillwin on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:05:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: actually I am (2.00 / 1)

Then you could have just said "I really want to hear what Algere has to say."

Your first comment was needlessly snarky and insulting.

by Angry White Democrat on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:23:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Much more importantly.... (none / 0)

What will Jerome say? Time for him to step it up and say something positive about our newly minted nominee.

by wasder on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:29:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Much more importantly.... (2.00 / 1)

i've been harsh on jerome. To the point that he should probably have banned me over some other people.

but, I do like that Jerome has been AWOL on this matter. He put a lot of himself into supporting Hillary. When and if he's ready, he'll come out and be a strong advocate for Obama.

by alex100 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:02:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Much more importantly.... (none / 0)

I agree that he has put himself pretty far out on a limb for Hillary and as such should be given a little while for the grieving process, much like any other Clinton supporter. But pretty soon he will have to step up or forfeit his relevance in the GE.

by wasder on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 04:38:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: actually I am (none / 0)

I expect it will be something like this: Breaking: Obama is Not the Official Nominee. Here's hoping it's not...

by username on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:42:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

alegre approvingly quoted a crank (none / 0)

saying bigoted things.

How does the Dem coalition deal with people who made it clear that they are bigoted against African-Americans?

Is it right to welcome them back into the fold with no contrition or loss of status?

Rrrinnggg... Time to change the government.

by Carl Nyberg on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:15:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You're right.... (none / 0)

you can afford to only want voters that pass the Obama supporter racial sensitivity test. You should all continue to make crazy demands of, antagonize and berate Clinton supporters so that you'll have more to complain about when McCain wins. Great plan.

berkshiretrueblue Commited to helping elect a Democrat as President "Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo" Ambroise Bierce

by berkshiretrueblue on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:29:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We don't need racists. (none / 0)

Non-racists are welcome.

should we go outside? / should we break some bread? / are you'nterested?

by Firewall on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:33:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Who is administering the "purity" test? (none / 0)

Who decides if a voter sufficiently worships at the altar of Obama? As far as I can tell, anyone not always for Obama is a racist by default-not sure there's enough "pure" voters to let Obama actually win the GE.

berkshiretrueblue Commited to helping elect a Democrat as President "Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo" Ambroise Bierce

by berkshiretrueblue on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 04:40:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Let go of it, Carl. (none / 0)

Today people are celebrating hope and overcoming.

Leave alegre alone.

She is not a bigot.

by TomP on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:38:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 2)

WOWOWOWOWOWOWWWWW!!!!!!

Cheers to all the hardwork everyone's put in, and condolences to Clinton supporters.....hopefully we'll all be celebarting together in November!

by Deadalus on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:41:22 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (none / 0)

OBAMARAMA

Time to move on to the next round of the struggle.

Why not throw Obama some love today? Or order a sticker or sign or two?

http://store.barackobama.com/

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/cont ribute/dt2std?source=mainnav

w00t

by Lawyerish on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:41:25 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (none / 0)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

YES YES YES YES YES

by Pat Flatley on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:41:50 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 1)

United we win!

by kitebro on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:42:27 PM EST

Yaaaaay! (none / 0)

Yaaaaaay!

Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.

by Massadonious on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:42:44 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 12)

Congratulations to Obama and his supporters. They ran one of the best organized grassroots primary campaigns in history and managed a huge upset against a tough competitor.

Here's to hoping the Clintons and Obamas can join together to move the progressive agenda forward in this country.

Obama/Sebelius '08

by evantakesall on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:43:31 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (none / 0)

Yeah, this whole thing really was just about campaign orginization and execution.

Tony Romo for Secretary of Awesome

by kasjogren on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:51:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 2)

As a former Clinton supporter who switched to Obama, I salute our Democratic candidates and their supporters.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:44:42 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 2)

I'm an Obama supporter, but tonight will bring relief, not elation. I'm more than ready to take the fight to the real enemy.

by CA Pol Junkie on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 01:45:05 PM EST

Re: BREAKING AP: Obama Clinches Nomination (2.00 / 1)

HEAR, HEAR!

Fine distinction, which I echo wholeheartedly. The sooner we get all guns pointed at Grampy McSame, the better.

We got thousands of lives to save!

A PROUD Hopium user!

by xodus1914 on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 02:06:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama/Press lies? (1.40 / 5)

More than a dozen 'Private committments'?

Guys, how many times does Obama get to mislead you with the help of the press before you learn your lesson.

This is no different than what Bush was doing with the WMD stories. We have seen him do this throughout the campaign with bogus reports of superdelegates counts that never materialized.