Back in the Game

Above title could be given to both Hilary Clinton and Me self.

To me because after over a month’s absence from my blog I am finally posting again.

And to Hilary Clinton because she won the states of Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island in the Democratic primaries on the road to becoming President of the United States.

After having the US media count her out twice before in this contest, she has at the very least ensured that calls for her to withdraw cannot be made with any validity. HRC was apparently able to stop the 11-state month-long winning streak of Barack Obama by “going negative” in the run up to Tuesday’s contests. She ‘threw the sink’ at him apparently. (I love that expression!)

There were three main thrusts according to US media. A debateable ad showing sleeping kids at 3am and asking who Americans would feel more comfortable with when a national security phone call came through; Highlighting Obama’s links to a landlord in Chicago whose trial for criminal activity started this week; And finally the revelation that one of Obama’s top advisors had spoken to the Canadian government and told them not to pay attention to Obama’s posture on NAFTA.

All this apparently swung the late deciders Hilary’s way.

Hilary was also able to bring to the fore the unfair media handling of the two Democratic candidates. She opined that Obama was getting a ‘free ride’ from the media and perhaps out of guilt the media DID sharpen its scrutiny of the potentially historical Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States.

For a neutral like I (ok ok not so neutral… I do think Hilary is the better candidate) I am concerned about the impact of this on the Democrats' chances in the general election. It is obvious Hilary and Obama have legitimate arguments to want to be named nominee of the party. At this stage of the contest, whoever gets nominated will have a huge task of bringing in the other person’s supporters. I believe that either one of these candidates would still win in the general election in November but ONLY if this impasse is resolved in a way that ensures both sets of supporters bring the energy and excitement they have thus far brought to the nomination process to the general election.

Drawing out the contest does not guarantee this. And it doesnt help that the Republicans have already confirmed John McCain as their nominee for the general election. He now has the opportunity to sit back and watch the Democrats eat themselves alive!

So what to do? Perhaps an Obama and Hilary team-up? Dream Ticket anybody? But who would be Prez and who would be Vice? And is America ready for BOTH a black man AND a woman on the same ticket? They definitely seem ready for one or the other but both at the same time?
Whatever happens, it definitely makes for a gripping narrative!

I Love American politics.