Closing Time

Barack Obama "opened the next phase" of his campaign 4/22 in Evansville, IN, "seeking to turn his focus away from" Hillary Clinton "and persuade party leaders that time is running out" for Dems "to start defining" John McCain. "A series of endorsements are scheduled to be announced in the coming days," and "more campaign workers" in the Chicago HQ "will be dedicated to" McCain.

Obama strategist David Axelrod: "There is a sense of urgency about the time we're losing and a sense of urgency that we not savage each other to the benefit of Senator McCain. Ultimately, what this is about is the race in November."

Obama mentioned Clinton "only" once during his post-election speech 4/22, "when he congratulated her on winning" the PA primary; he referred to McCain "seven times" (Zeleny, New York Times, 4/23). Obama: "We already know that John McCain offers more of the same. ... You can decide whether we're going to travel that same worn path, or whether we can chart a new course that offers real hope for the future" (AP, 4/23).

"Without naming Clinton," Obama "suggested" she "says and does whatever it takes to win the next election" and "exploits division for political gain." Obama: "In the end, this election is still our best chance to solve the problems we've been talking about for decades -- as one nation, as one people" (Weisman, Washington Post, 4/23).

Advisers "said they would not call" for Clinton to drop out "and would urge supporters to do the same." But at the same time, Obama's people are "reaching out to uncommitted superdelegates" hoping to "prevent an erosion of support." Axelrod: "If Senator Clinton thinks she has a legitimate chance to win the nomination, she has every reason to stay. But if her only strategy is to try and tear down Senator Obama, I think that's going to make a lot of Democrats uncomfortable" (New York Times, 4/23).

OK, Superdelegates, Let's Go!

OK Gov. Brad Henry (D), "who said earlier he would not endorse" before the convo, "announced this morning he is supporting" Obama. Henry: "Senator Obama is uniquely positioned to unite our nation and move beyond the divisiveness and partisan skirmishes that too often characterize politics as usual in Washington." Henry is Obama's third OK superdelegate; Clinton has the backing of one, and she won the state's caucus (McNutt, Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman, 4/23).

Obama also picked up the endorsement 4/22 of Evansville, IN, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, who praised Obama's "integrity, fresh perspective, good judgment, a wealth of experience and determined leadership" (Langhorne, Evansville Courier & Press, 4/23).

Meanwhile, 29 NC state legislators endorsed Obama 4/22, "a significant boost to his candidacy ahead of" the state's 5/6 primary. Led by Maj. Leader Tony Rand and ex-Speaker Dan Blue, "the lawmakers repeated the same lines as others who have endorsed Obama," saying he can bring people together for change. Blue "also challenged the Clinton campaign to remain positive" in NC (Barrett, McClatchy, 4/22).

From Edwards To Obama

The Obama campaign today announced the endorsement of 49 prominent supporters of John Edwards - including Ed Turlington, Edwards’ former nat'l general chair.

Turlington: "Barack Obama and John Edwards share a commitment to taking on special interests and standing up for regular Americans. Along with Edwards supporters from across the state, I am honored to join Senator Obama's movement for change. As president, he will bring together Democrats, Republicans and Independents behind an agenda of change. From ending the war in Iraq to confronting the scourge of poverty to making health care affordable for every single American, Barack Obama will bring our country the change we need."

The diverse group said they are voting for Obama because he is the only candidate with a proven ability to unite America around a common vision and win the votes of Republicans and Independents whose support is critical to carrying the state in the fall. Listed below are local leaders who had previously backed Edwards, but today are throwing their support behind Obama: NC Dem Reps. David Price, Mel Watt and G.K. Butterfield (release, 4/23).

This Is Our Country

For the contests ahead, Obama's camp "is now employing a two-front strategy" against Clinton -- "trying to ignore" her "while working to overwhelm her campaign by using its financial advantage." In IN, Obama "is strengthening an already robust" TV ad campaign "and sending an army of fresh workers" (New York Times, 4/23). "According to his staff, Obama will do smaller forums to reach the all-important blue-collar voting bloc."

Obama "was in his element" before the crowd of 8K in Evansville 4/22, sounding "hopeful and confident" alongside rocker John Mellencamp. But "as he made his closing arguments" in PA, "the drama seemed to overtake his clear-eyed message of hope and change" (Henderson, Newsday, 4/23).

With Obama "losing by wide margins in many parts of the state where he had dedicated much time and resources," his strategists "immediately began studying the results -- and intended to interview voters in a post-mortem -- to see what kept them from supporting" Obama. Advisers "believe his efforts were damaged by a sharp back-and-forth" with Clinton, in which "her campaign defined him in a negative way."

But "even in defeat, the spirits were high" in Obama's camp. "On the campaign plane," Axelrod and comm. dir. Robert Gibbs "wore T-shirts with the message: 'Stop the drama, vote Obama'" (New York Times, 4/23).

CNN's Malveaux, on the Obama camp "licking their wounds" and trying to move on from PA to IN: "They're going to have a real challenge here in Indiana, a real fight over trying to connect with those blue collar workers, those voters that seem to be moving in the direction of Hillary Clinton" ("American Morning," 4/23).

Obama holds a town hall in New Albany, IN, today before heading back to DC for Senate votes (release, 4/23).

How Negative Is Too Negative?

"Unable once again to score a knockout," Obama "is likely to make his new negative tone even more negative -- with a sharp eye on trying to end" the primary battle after the 5/6 primaries in NC and IN. Advisers "say the campaign is in a far different place than it was last fall," and Obama's positive image "will not be easily recast -- either by his opponents or his own tactics."

One adviser: "Are there some people who might see him as less than the idealistic candidate that he was at the beginning of this process? Certainly. But part of what we are trying to do is confront and effort by his opponents to paint him negatively. At some point, he's got to be able to respond."

One Dem strategist "familiar with the Obama campaign said aides are likely to turn to the controversies" of Bill Clinton's WH years -- HRC's "trading cattle futures, Whitewater and possibly impeachment" (Weisman, Washington Post, 4/23).

But Obama mgr. David Plouffe "discredits" that quote, "adding the strategist who claims to know what their plans are is incorrect." Plouffe: "We're not going to do that" (Halperin, "The Page," Time.com, 4/23).

More Plouffe: "The Republicans certainly are going to look at those issues, the Clinton finances, the record issues. We have chosen not to go there" (Washington Post, 4/23).

Someone, Please, Just Make It Stop

Much of the post-PA chatter centered on why Obama can't "close the deal," and what, if anything, that means:

• Philadelphia Inquirer's Eichel writes, "Even the conventional wisdom that Obama is the near-inevitable" nominee "couldn't help him get it done" in PA. "Nor could the notion that the good of the party as a whole might be well-served by ending" the fight. "In addition, Obama was unable to break into Clinton's demographic strongholds." But Obama "has plenty of money in the bank and the proven ability to raise more."

• More Eichel: Most superdelegates "will wait to see what happens in the weeks to come, to see whether Obama can recapture the magic and whether Clinton's financially strapped campaign can raise enough money to continue." They will "try, too, to gauge Obama's ability to stand up to" McCain, "particularly in big swing states" (4/23).

• AP's Fouhy notes Obama spent $11.2M to Clinton's $4.8M on PA ads, and writes this "underscores the persistent problems he's had winning over" parts of the traditional Dem base, beyond "blacks, affluent voters and young people" (4/23).

• ABC's Stephanopoulos: "Had Senator Obama been within five points in Pennsylvania, I think you would see a wave of superdelegates come out this week to give him the nomination. That's not going to happen. ... I think the concern superdelegates have is that Senator Obama has had four chances to put this race away. After Iowa, on Super Tuesday, on March 4th in Texas and Ohio, and yesterday in Pennsylvania. He can't quite do it" ("GMA," 4/23).

• Pat Buchanan: "If I were a superdelegate for Obama, I'd say, 'I'm worried'" (MSNBC, 4/22).

• More Buchanan: "The question is, has Obama peaked as a candidate? ... That was a tired speech he gave tonight. ... If he doesn't turn this thing around, people are going to say, look, has Barack, the big 12 wins in February, is that over? Is this guy past it? Has the hitting streak burnt out?" (MSNBC, 4/22).

• Obama supporter/MA Gov. Deval Patrick (D): "I think the superdelegates who have committed to Obama will keep that commitment and should, and there are a lot of good reasons for that. Frankly, as a Democrat, I feel very blessed that we have two exceptional candidates, and the fact that we have two very strong, very capable, very compelling candidates should be reason for us not to be surprised that people are having trouble putting this Democratic primary contest to rest. ... He has won more votes, he's won more delegates and he's won twice as many states" ("Morning Joe," MSNBC, 4/23).

• Politico's Simon writes, Obama is "failing to close," but the good news is that "in the contest that actually counts" -- pledged delegates -- "his lead appears to be unassailable." Obama "missed an opportunity" to force Clinton out of the race in PA, but he "has another opportunity in two weeks" with NC and IN (4/23).

• NBC's Todd: "The pledged delegate count is basically over. ... It's almost impossible for Obama to lose his lead" (MSNBC, 4/22).

• Salon's Shapiro writes, "As Obama is learning the hard way, hope and uplift are no substitute for a majority vote in a big-state primary." PA exit polls showed Dem voters "do not appear to believe that Obama's nomination is a foregone conclusion," and that "demography may be destiny" in the primary race (4/23).

• New York Times' Dowd writes, at this point, "it will take a village to help Obama escape from the suffocating embrace of his rival. ... He complains about the politics of scoring points, but to win, you've got to score points" (4/23).

"Better Than Bush," Not Much Of A Compliment

Obama "argued" 4/22 "there's no contradiction" in saying McCain would be an improvement over Pres. Bush while still arguing he offers "warmed-over versions of Bush foreign policy and economic policy." Obama: "To say that John McCain and some of his instincts may be better than George Bush's, that's a low bar."

Obama also told reporters, "I think Senator Clinton's suggesting that she and John McCain are the two people who are qualified to be commander in chief is probably something that could end up coming back to haunt us in November."

McCain spokesperson Tucker Bounds: "Barack Obama's inability to be strong and stand beside his own campaign rhetoric is revealing. If Barack Obama can't stand by his word now, how is he going to stand up for hardworking Americans and rebuild the economy?" (Sidoti, AP, 4/22).

You Don't Know Barack ... Or Do You?

New York Observer's Kornacki writes, GOPers may paint Obama as "the arrogant liberal elitist," but that "ignores the more basic question of whether voters, upon being exposed to the caricature, will actually buy into it." Obama, "in his life story, in his words and in his general bearing, inspires more voters than not to believe the best about him, a rare and potent trait that almost always separates the winners from the losers in presidential politics" (4/22).

Chicago Tribune's Zajac notes, "twice in the last month," Obama "has been the unflattering cover story" in bi-weekly conservative journal National Review. "Broadly, NR's Obama coverage portrays him as an over-hyped candidate too little known to be trusted." Might "so much coverage, much of it already plowing well-turned ground, betray anger" that such a "flawed" candidate has gotten so far, "or does it reflect concern among hard-core conservatives that Obama might be the real deal?" ("The Swamp," 4/22).

Wall Street Journal's Rabinowitz writes of the "special place" Obama holds "in the hearts of a good part of the media, a status ensured by their shared political sympathies and his star power." That status has "given rise to a tendency to provide generous explanations" for Obama's missteps. "We are at the beginning of a contest likely to repeat itself through November: between that part of the press prepared to put hard questions equally, and all the rest, including those who'll mount the barricades when their candidate is threatened with discomfiture" (4/23).

Time's Halperin writes the PA campaign has shown Obama is "able to run a campaign every bit as negative as that of his rival -- and still convince voters and the media that he is running the kind of positive, truthful campaign he celebrates." However, he is "unable to maintain a consistent tone and focus on the campaign trail, the debate stage, and interviews" ("The Page," 4/23).

Baby Talk

Chicago Tribune's Kass writes of another aspect of Obama's connection to ex-Weather Underground members William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn that could become an issue later in the campaign. Dohrn is an ex-manager of Broadway Baby, "once a chic children's boutique" in Manhattan. "According to a 1982 New York Times report, Broadway Baby was implicated in an investigation of a series of violent armed robberies" committed by ex-Black Panthers and Weather Underground members in the early '80s. Customer data "was used to apply for two driver's licenses" that were "used to rent getaway cars for the gang." Dohrn was "identified by investigators as taking customer information from one, possibly both, of the women shoppers" who experienced ID theft, but "was never charged in that case" (4/23).

More Than Just A Crush

Though Obama lost PA, "the loyalty of Obama Girl, aka Amber Lee Ettinger, was unfailing." Ettinger "was in her home town of Hazleton to cast what she said was her first vote ever." Ettinger: "Every vote counts, so I was excited to be a part of it" (AP, 4/23).

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