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The US is VERY regional in nature with different political landscapes from place to place. Vermont is a liberal state much like Maine with an independent bent. Machine politics doesn't factor as much. Thus, they are far more open to a new candidate up there. Obama and his team, with a good campaign, solidified that base and won handily. In RI, TX, and and OH, establishment machine politics and differing demographics heavily favored Hillary from the outset. In all three states she commanded the support of most local Dem officials and office holders who worked the ground hard for her, most notably Gov. Strickland in OH and Sen. Whitehouse in RI. Much of the same can be said of TX, especially in the Latino community. Objectively, what Hillary did "right" for herself in the short run was to go negative on Obama thereby changing the narrative, raising doubts about his "credentials," and making herself look like a "populist fighter" which is what so many of the women and working class folks wanted to see. Obama's error was in not responding more forcefully and counterpunching. Hillary was FAR ahead in the polls in OH, TX, and RI just a few weeks before the elections, and Obama can be credited with making up significant ground in OH and especially TX. Now Obama needs to be tougher, sharpen his offensive, and be more specific on policy and experience in his stump and ads. For anyone looking at the numbers and electoral dynamics going in, the outcome was no big surprise. Hillary gained precious few delegates while taking a very low road. However, Obama must now adjust his game and take her to task on offense. This is heated electoral politics, and that's the way it is.
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