LAist: Obama Won Texas

Jeremy Oberstein

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:44:22 -0800

raul, I agree that I hope this does not tear the party about, but Obama did not lose the primary by a 'good margin.' He lost by five percentage points and received four less delegates. Hardly a thumping. He took more Texas delegates, who are nothing more than representatives of the people and, by that logic, won the state. But the discussion as to whether he can or cannot win big states is moot. The delegate count is what matters and Obama looks poised to grab the nomination based on his enviable position atop that heap. Even Gov. Richardson seems to like Obama.

jrb

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:29:49 -0800

"Still, as Al Gore would point out, he won the popular vote but "lost" the Electoral College." I would say "cheated out of" Raul. The so called purge of African American felons, (who weren't actually felons and generally vote about 90% Democrat), from the voter rolls in Florida would have been enough for Gore to have won all of Florida's electoral votes quite easily. I still can't figure out why Gore and/or the Democratic Party just rolled over for that one. Maybe it was more important to disenfranchise the Green Party and make everyone believe it was all Nader's fault that Gore lost.

raul

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:52:00 -0800

I guess I would quibble with Jeremy's assertion that voters gave Obama Texas and that it proves he can win the big states. Last I checked he lost the primary by a good margin and even if the votes in the caucus are thrown in, he still would lose the popular vote, so it doesn't prove that he can win the big states. I do think Clinton's arguments for earning the nomination outright are getting less persuasive. Now it hinges on the fact that she is winning the big states and swing states. Even if she wins Pennsylvania, though, as many others have pointed out it won't dent Obama's lead. I hope she doesn't risk tearing the Democaratic Party apart by making it an all out scuffle at the convention. Let the remaining primaries and caucuses play out, but in the end, if Obama is in the lead, he ought to be the nominee.

raul

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:42:46 -0800

Still, as Al Gore would point out, he won the popular vote but "lost" the Electoral College. It sucks to lose on a technicality.

Andy Sternberg

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:07:42 -0800

Yes, Raul, but all skepticism aside, we're looking at who will be the Democratic nominee, which, as recent history has shown, will be largely irrelevant in the scheme of the general election as far as Texas is concerned. Electoral votes are all or nothing for each state unlike delegate counts in the dem primaries.

raul

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:48:31 -0800

Yes, Obama "won" Texas. Unfortunately in the general election Texas voters will only be allowed to vote once and it won't be a caucus.