Why does Obama need to compete in two general elections?

[me b zola]

That is what seems to be happening. Obama is running in two separate general elections.

When the Democratic primary was down to two candidates and Obama prevailed as the likely nominee, his sole democratic opponent began campaigning against him as, in the past, only a republican would campaign against a Democrat, meaning she was attacking without concern about hurting the likely Democratic nominee for the "real" election. The more the numbers pushed Obama's democratic opponent out of the race, the harder she pushed to hurt our nominee for the (real)GE. Winner take all--at all cost--that's a general election, party be damned.

Has there ever before been a primary where it is declared that the only person who can win a state in a general election is the person who won it in the primary?

[Patsy Stone]

1. Two reasons:

1) New Guy
2) The Clinton Machine

The second, as annoying as it's become, serves to alleviate some of the problems associated with the first.

Also, on a lighter note, I heard Chris Rock ask, "Who ever even heard about super delegates before the black guy was winning?"

[me b zola]

7. Your answer, in it's totality, sums it all up

I'm just frustrated that the bones of this primary aren't discussed, instead the silly stuff gets the most band width.

[me b zola]

2. Here is my answer to my own question

Obama is threatening to change the way that DC operates. This has a lot of powerful people very uncomfortable.

So why are so many informed people buying into the talking points?

[AllentownJake]

3. The media

loves this and kept it a race as long as their credibility could.

At this point they are calling her on her bullshit.

[FrenchieCat]

4. He's being tested, that's why. Has to demonstrate that he's twice as good.

He's being "tested" to see if America could possibly elect its first Black President....almost like a new car. Problem is that they are not only just kicking the tires, which would be alright; they have hammers out and are attempting to destroy the car before it gets off the lot. That's the problem. Anything Democrats say about another Democrat is twice as lethal. That's the part that is fucked up.

[stillcool]

5. The quip that really got me last week...

was that they actually said they were hoping for something catastrophic to happen to Senator Obama. That is frightening, coming from these people.

[SoCalDem]

16. and she even said last week ..on some soundbyte

something to the effect that in '68, the primaries were still being contested, and then everything "changed"... well whoopdeedoo, now don't we all know what THAT was..

.and then there's her goofball hon-yock court jester Mcauliffe grinning from ear to ear about a "catastrophe"..

they are sending out "vibes" to all their base (and I DO mean base) idiots...planting little seeds of "possibility"..

a la..MizzHillie could win..if only that black guy wasn't standin' in her way...:grr:

[Lilith Velkor]

6. Emotional attachment to a candidate does not turn a primary into a general

The fact that you think it does is, well, hysterical.

[me b zola]

8. What in my OP indicated emotion?

My OP may have been short, but it was to the point. Did I hit a nerve?

[Lilith Velkor]

9. Yeah, the funny bone

Sorry, I mistook stupidity for emotion.

Two general elections. Holy Fuck. :rofl:

[me b zola]

10. The only thing that you "mistook" was your meds

Go sleep it off...or whatever. :freak:

[Lilith Velkor]

11. Hmmm

I must have hit a nerve. :rofl:

Two general elections. :rofl:

[me b zola]

12. No, you just have nerve--or meds, or are nervous from your meds

But what ever gets you through the night. :D

[Lilith Velkor]

13. Yes, I have a lot of nerve

You seem to be obsessed with meds. Look into that.

[me b zola]

14. I suspect you've done enough for both of us

But if you're able, can you tell me if there has ever been another leading/front-runner presidential candidate who was assumed--by people supposedly of their own party--that if they lost a state in a primary that was an indication that they could not win that state in the general?

[Lilith Velkor]

15. It depends on how badly they lose, and whether it's a purple state

If that's the case, it doesn't bode well.

[me b zola]

17. So then you can not site any candidate

whom has had to defend themselves against the accusation that because they did not win a state in the primary that they could not/would not win it in the general?

That's the argument that you chose to call "emotional".

[Lilith Velkor]

18. I don't care who accused whom of what, a primary is not a general.

So somebody said something on the internet, who gives a shit? The candidates don't.

[VotesForWomen]

19. um, O is not the nominee yet, and he's not entitled to anything. sorry. life is tough.

[stillcool]

20. Senator Obama....

by the math is indeed the presumptive nominee. Sorry. Life is tough.