Pundits Judge 'Obama Phenomenon' and Growing Lead

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor&Publisher: Pundits Judge 'Obama Phenomenon' and Growing Lead
By E&P Staff
Published: January 06, 2008

NEW YORK Leading newspaper political pundits paused on Sunday, two days before the vote in New Hampshire, to consider the surge by Sen. Barack Obama and reality that Hillary Clinton is now fighting for her political life. Two new polls showed Obama with a double digit lead -- after two other polls showed the same thing on Saturday.

Chris Cillizza at his The Fix blog at www.washingtonpost.com, cautioned, "that an abrupt surge in the polls should be taken with a grain of salt. Voters could well have been energized and enthused by Obama's win in Iowa last Thursday night and got swept up in the excitement of the past couple of days of campaigning here, but they may reconsider that support before Tuesday's primary. Unlike in years past, however, there is so little time between the votes in Iowa and New Hampshire that even a temporary bounce could be enough to carry Obama to victory in the primary, a win that would be another major step forward in his quest for the nomination."

The New York Times reported: "Advisers to Mrs. Clinton were privately looking ahead to the next Democratic contest with delegates at stake, the Nevada caucuses on Jan. 19, in hopes of revitalizing her candidacy. As Mr. Obama drew standing ovations in crowded gymnasiums and theaters across southern New Hampshire, he barely acknowledged the (new Clinton) criticism. Yet he derided Mrs. Clinton for suggesting during a televised debate on Saturday evening that his candidacy was rooted in a false hope. 'What kind of agenda is that? False hope?' Mr. Obama said. He declared: 'There’s something going on out there. Something’s stirring in the wind.'..."

Politico.com quoted a Clinton adviser: “It’s still possible to win or take a close second in New Hampshire, but if the turnout even begins to mirror what happened in Iowa, all bets are off." The adviser added that the campaign has come to accept that African-American voters are convinced that Obama is viable and shifting rapidly in his direction. “We’re going to lose South Carolina,” he said....

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003692273

[regnaD kciN]

1. If HRC loses New Hampshire AND South Carolina, she's in BIG trouble...

:shrug:

[Guaranteed]

3. If that happens, the race is over.

All the national polls that she has been relying on will shift to Obama. It'll just be over.

She HAS to win in NH.

[bluestateguy]

2. This is also a fragile time for Obama

In that he needs to be very careful to avoid gaffes that might stanch the momentum, and to be ready for possible MSM hit jobs that inevitably arise when the new kid on the block becomes the front-runner.

[Guaranteed]

4. Yup, that would be my advice to him. Don't screw with it, or screw up. nt

[loveangelc]

5. I agree. But I think he knows how to do that and defend himself while looking like a good guy.

which will resonates with voters.

[Bicoastal]

6. Don't do anything stupid, Barack.

I suspect your life will be on camera 24/7 for the next couple of months....