Obama Has the Momentum

Checking in on the 2008 presidential election, a race that's turned the wrong way for Hillary Clinton

March 12, 2008

By Jason Brough
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

You might call it the Barack O-bandwagon. But only if you had a terrible sense of humor. Fortunately, yours is a sophisticated wit; thus, it's unnecessary to resort to amateurish puns to describe how Barack Obama has overtaken Hillary Clinton as the favorite to win both the Democratic nomination and presidency.

Back in July, Obama was garnering 2/1 odds to be named the Democratic candidate while Clinton was at 5/9. Today, the numbers are 2/7 and 11/4, respectively.

At 11/10 odds to become president, Obama has also taken over the lead in the race for the White House. The Republican Party candidate, John McCain, is the second favorite at 7/4 while Clinton languishes at 15/4.

It's tough to pinpoint the exact time things started turning around, but the Obama momentum got a big boost on Jan. 3 with an upset win in the Iowa caucuses. 

"They said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high," Obama said. "On this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do.”

And while Obama was busy sounding gallant in victory – "Hope is what led a band of colonists to rise up against an empire... what led the greatest of generations to free a continent and heal a nation... what led young women and young men to sit at lunch counters and brave firehoses and march through Selma and Montgomery for freedom's cause. Hope is what led me here today" – Clinton was busy doing something that did not look good on her whatsoever: panicking. Big time.

In fact, that's the way it's been ever since. For the most part, Obama has appeared smooth and in control while Clinton has been (or at least has been portrayed as being) a car accident in progress. Pundits have labeled her as overemotional and have ripped her for shrieking at her supporters during speeches.

See? Hillary Clinton can come off a bit crazy sometimes. (AP Images)

That said, the Clinton machine still has plenty of fuel and it's fought back the best way a troubled campaign can: by going negative. A recent advertisement featuring a phone (presumably the mythical "red phone" or something similar) ringing in the White House and the narration, "It's 3 a.m. and your children are soundly asleep... Who do you want answering the phone?" is aimed directly at Obama's lack of political experience, particularly from a national security perspective.

In a different form of gamesmanship, the suggestion of a Clinton-Obama ticket (with the latter assuming the role of vice president) was floated by Clinton and her husband, Bill Clinton. Which either showed extreme confidence or extreme desperation.

Make no mistake; Obama has a tough challenge in convincing the nation a 46-year-old junior senator is ready to hold the most important office on the planet. So far, however, he's handled himself as well as can be expected.

Regarding the ringing phone, he retorted, "This was designed to feed into your fears. I mean, what do people think I'm going to do? I'm going to answer the phone. I will find out what's going on. And I won't be browbeaten into launching a war that was not necessary."

As for accepting the role of VP? "First of all, with all due respect, I've won twice as many states as Senator Clinton. I've won more of the popular vote than Senator Clinton. I have more delegates than Senator Clinton. So, I don't know how somebody who's in second place is offering the vice presidency to somebody who's in first place."

Even with all that's going his way, Obama is in no way a lock to gain the nomination. If neither candidate can take a commanding lead in delegates, the superdelegates – about 800 party insiders and elected officials, most of which currently back Clinton – might end up deciding things.

Sitting and Waiting... and Laughing?

John McCain has time to get his house in order. (AP Images)

John McCain is a survivor. He survived as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He survived a divorce. He survived a failed presidential campaign. Today, he's been all but officially named the Republican nominee. Even better, he gets to stand on the sidelines while the two Democratic candidates sling their own mud at each other. Heck, who needs friends with enemies like these?

Now that's he defeated all Republican comers, McCain also has time to fill up the coffers in what's sure to be an expensive sprint to the finish.

As The New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg writes, "Despite the manifold signs of a perfect Democratic storm this year, McCain is in an enviable position. He can get some sleep. He can raise some money. He can watch with interest as Hillary Clinton spends her millions trying to dismember Barack Obama and Obama spends his trying to keep his limbs attached."

McCain can also take the time to shore up his economic policy, a topic that's sure to be at the top of voters’ minds come Nov. 4 and something he's faced criticism over.

TOP PHOTO: All aboard the Barack O-bandwagon. (AP Images)