Democratic nominee may be neither Obama nor Clinton - Al Gore?

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What If There is No Back Room?

Eleanor Clift

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Updated: 11:56 AM ET Mar 7, 2008

No matter who wins the remaining primaries, there's no way for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to capture enough delegates to reach the magic number of 2,025 needed to secure the Democratic nomination. The decision will then fall to the superdelegates, elected officials and party people often demonized in the media as hacks or backroom operators.

...

"What happens if they split the superdelegates?" asks an adviser to the Clinton campaign. The roughly 350 superdelegates who have not yet endorsed are all free agents ... If there's a stalemate, the superdelegates could decide to pass on the first ballot to test the candidates' strength at that juncture. We could then be way back to the future, the first time in the modern reform age that a candidate is not chosen on the first ballot.

...

If that happens, the convention could turn to a compromise candidate. Al Gore is the most obvious and perhaps the only contender who could head off a complete meltdown in the party ... "It's the rational choice if this turns into a goddamn mess, which it could," says the Clinton adviser.

...

With the lines hardening between the Clinton and Obama camps, neither is inclined to yield. "They both have such a strong claim on the nomination, it would be dumb for either one of them to give up," says the Clinton adviser, predicting that for the first time in the modern "reform" era, the Democrats may select a nominee on the second ballot. Who it will be is anybody's guess.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119851

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What If There is No Back Room?

Eleanor Clift

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Updated: 11:56 AM ET Mar 7, 2008

No matter who wins the remaining primaries, there's no way for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to capture enough delegates to reach the magic number of 2,025 needed to secure the Democratic nomination. The decision will then fall to the superdelegates, elected officials and party people often demonized in the media as hacks or backroom operators.

...

"What happens if they split the superdelegates?" asks an adviser to the Clinton campaign. The roughly 350 superdelegates who have not yet endorsed are all free agents ... If there's a stalemate, the superdelegates could decide to pass on the first ballot to test the candidates' strength at that juncture. We could then be way back to the future, the first time in the modern reform age that a candidate is not chosen on the first ballot.

...

If that happens, the convention could turn to a compromise candidate. Al Gore is the most obvious and perhaps the only contender who could head off a complete meltdown in the party ... "It's the rational choice if this turns into a goddamn mess, which it could," says the Clinton adviser.

...

With the lines hardening between the Clinton and Obama camps, neither is inclined to yield. "They both have such a strong claim on the nomination, it would be dumb for either one of them to give up," says the Clinton adviser, predicting that for the first time in the modern "reform" era, the Democrats may select a nominee on the second ballot. Who it will be is anybody's guess.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119851

From a Clinton advisor...go figure. Nothing but fear mongering nonsense. What lengths her camp will go to scare voters into voting for her.

[no name 1]

What If There is No Back Room?

Eleanor Clift

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Updated: 11:56 AM ET Mar 7, 2008

No matter who wins the remaining primaries, there's no way for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to capture enough delegates to reach the magic number of 2,025 needed to secure the Democratic nomination. The decision will then fall to the superdelegates, elected officials and party people often demonized in the media as hacks or backroom operators.

...

"What happens if they split the superdelegates?" asks an adviser to the Clinton campaign. The roughly 350 superdelegates who have not yet endorsed are all free agents ... If there's a stalemate, the superdelegates could decide to pass on the first ballot to test the candidates' strength at that juncture. We could then be way back to the future, the first time in the modern reform age that a candidate is not chosen on the first ballot.

...

If that happens, the convention could turn to a compromise candidate. Al Gore is the most obvious and perhaps the only contender who could head off a complete meltdown in the party ... "It's the rational choice if this turns into a goddamn mess, which it could," says the Clinton adviser.

...

With the lines hardening between the Clinton and Obama camps, neither is inclined to yield. "They both have such a strong claim on the nomination, it would be dumb for either one of them to give up," says the Clinton adviser, predicting that for the first time in the modern "reform" era, the Democrats may select a nominee on the second ballot. Who it will be is anybody's guess.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119851

From a Clinton advisor...go figure. Nothing but fear mongering nonsense. What lengths her camp will go to scare voters into voting for her.

Yeah, why is the advisor talking such sense!

On a side note: your global warming will get center stage again Steven - be glad!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

What If There is No Back Room?

Eleanor Clift

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Updated: 11:56 AM ET Mar 7, 2008

No matter who wins the remaining primaries, there's no way for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to capture enough delegates to reach the magic number of 2,025 needed to secure the Democratic nomination. The decision will then fall to the superdelegates, elected officials and party people often demonized in the media as hacks or backroom operators.

...

"What happens if they split the superdelegates?" asks an adviser to the Clinton campaign. The roughly 350 superdelegates who have not yet endorsed are all free agents ... If there's a stalemate, the superdelegates could decide to pass on the first ballot to test the candidates' strength at that juncture. We could then be way back to the future, the first time in the modern reform age that a candidate is not chosen on the first ballot.

...

If that happens, the convention could turn to a compromise candidate. Al Gore is the most obvious and perhaps the only contender who could head off a complete meltdown in the party ... "It's the rational choice if this turns into a goddamn mess, which it could," says the Clinton adviser.

...

With the lines hardening between the Clinton and Obama camps, neither is inclined to yield. "They both have such a strong claim on the nomination, it would be dumb for either one of them to give up," says the Clinton adviser, predicting that for the first time in the modern "reform" era, the Democrats may select a nominee on the second ballot. Who it will be is anybody's guess.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119851

From a Clinton advisor...go figure. Nothing but fear mongering nonsense. What lengths her camp will go to scare voters into voting for her.

Steve, in last Sunday's New York Times magazine Eleanor Clift suggested that she voted for Obama in the primary. Read here and be the judge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02wwln-Q4-t.html

Although I think her Newsweek article is slightly ludicrous (Al Gore=McCain win, I should think), I would suggest that not every article that doesn't deify or demand the instant coronation of Obama in the nomination process is part of a well-ochestrated Clinton smear campaign.

[no name 1]

Although I think her Newsweek article is slightly ludicrous (Al Gore=McCain win, I should think), I would suggest that not every article that doesn't deify or demand the instant coronation of Obama in the nomination process is part of a well-ochestrated Clinton smear campaign.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steve, in last Sunday's New York Times magazine Eleanor Clift suggested that she voted for Obama in the primary. Read here and be the judge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02wwln-Q4-t.html

Although I think her Newsweek article is slightly ludicrous (Al Gore=McCain win, I should think), I would suggest that not every article that doesn't deify or demand the instant coronation of Obama in the nomination process is part of a well-ochestrated Clinton smear campaign.

Ah, I didn't recognize who she was...I used to watch The McLaughlin Group a lot. Although I like Eleanor, she has a reputation for saying some outlandish things. I took the fact that the article associated the assertion to a Clinton advisor, so yes, anything that is said and turned into print, by either camp, deserves skepticism when unsubstantiated.

Edited March 8, 2008 by Mister Fancypants