WP Political Chat: "the super-delegates are not paying attention to {Clinton} anymore"

The answer to this question by Washington Post reporter Paul Kane during today's Political Hour made me breathe a little easier about this end of this Primary Process.

Washington: Looking at the most recent Rasmussen daily polls, I see that Hillary manages a tie today against McCain, but Barack is down by five points to McCain. What piqued my interest was that while Hillary had a "highly unfavorable" rating of 32 percent (i.e., as I see it, people who never will vote for her) Barack was at 35 percent. On Jan. 30, as we entered primary season's main show, Barack's "highly unfavorables" were 20 percent and Clinton's were 35 percent. Is this something superdelegates may be watching?

Paul Kane: I've spent the past several months talking to as many super-delegates as any reporter in America, I'd guess, since I cover on a day-to-day basis about 280 of them here on Capitol Hill.
I hate saying this, because all the Clinton people are going to flip out and say, You're biased, you're biased, you're biased. So go ahead and flip out if you want, but the simple basic truth is that the super-delegates stopped paying attention to the Clinton-Obama race about a couple days after the Indiana and North Carolina primaries.
They've stopped paying attention to the primary, and instead they're focused on an Obama-McCain matchup in November. That's the basic, simple, definitive reality that has happened in this race. The "undecided" super-delegates at this moment are not going to "decide" any time soon, because to them the race is over, they're just waiting for Clinton to drop out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/26/DI2008052601813.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/26/DI2008052601813.html

Update: It appears some supporters just can't let go and asked him about Clinton-Obama polls again.

Centreville, Va.: I was surprised and disappointed that The Post did not seem to address the Gallup poll yesterday which seemed to say Hillary Clinton had somewhat of an advantage over Barack Obama in the so-called swing states. The news of that poll was bandied about all day on the political blogs, and I have to say the Obama supporters seemed to be getting the worst of it. (Or is it "worse" with only two candidates in the poll?)

Paul Kane: Again, don't yell at me because I'm only the messenger here. But the super-delegates have moved on, they're no longer looking at how Hillary Clinton fares in battleground states against McCain. This is very hard for Clinton supporters to hear, I'm sorry, but the super-delegates are not paying attention to your candidate anymore. These head-to-head matchup polls (Clinton v. McCain, Obama v. McCain) are not having the impact on people's thinking anymore.


:rofl:

She will not drop out until the super delegate landslide goes to Obama and he hits her weirdo 2210 figure, and the SDs will not endorse until she drops out. The reasoning makes no sense here.

that as soon as June 3rd hits, we can end this thing.

They didn't want to have to do it, but the Clintons are forcing them to. That's fine, we'll begin to move forward on the 4th, with a presumptive nominee, and we'll kick McCain's ass.

However, expecting rational behavior anymore seems like a pipe-dream.

I'm honestly starting to worry about whether or not they are in touch with reality.

Haven't we had enough of dealing with this type of behavior from politicians during the Bush years?

I can't believe this irrational, non-reality based strategy and behavior has now infected the Democratic Primary.

It is almost over though - I hope.

Pro-Obama spinners are world class spinzoids.

just curious.

Starting on 6/4, the SD flood to Obama begins.

many of her voters polled are saying that they would vote McCain over Obama. Same with OBama's disapproval rating. Also, it is easier to fare well in polls when no one is attacking you, which has been the case for Hillary Clinton for quite sometime. If she were in Obama's position, and Obama was as nasty as she is, he would have attacked her, and so would have the GOP. In this double attack, considering all of Clinton's baggage, she'd not be faring as well as Obama. I can guarantee that.

Right before Indiana? That feels like ages ago.

Paul Kane's response of "I'm sorry, but the super-delegates are not paying attention to your candidate anymore" to the second questioner tickled my funny bone and I just had to edit the title.

Sometimes I lift a few words from the text of the OP by cut and paste, and make that my post for the thread. That's what I did then. When time is short, I often do that, mainly as a way to kick the thread and add my agreement with it.

:hi:

When her supporters show up to intimidate the DNC, it's going to be the last straw for many uncommitted superdelegates.

She went well past the last straw some time ago for me, but reality doesn't seem to be a concept that she grasps easily. We need to move on. Interesting to read Paul Kane's copious apologies for speaking truth to Hillary supporters. Like the rest of us, he's feeling the intimidation. But it ain't gonna work.