The "rising vitriol" between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama "is prompting more [Dems] to demand that party leaders do something to end the battle. But no single leader or clique exists within the fractious party to end the fight, and those with influence insist voters must have their say" (Calmes, Wall Street Journal, 4/21).
"Many" of the superdelegates who are still undecided "say the most important factor in their decision is simple -- they just want a winner" in Nov. "That's good news for Clinton, who cannot catch Obama in delegates won in the few remaining primaries and caucuses."
"Problem is, after nearly four months of primaries and caucuses in 46 states, territories," and DC, "they still aren't sure who that is, don't seem be in any hurry to make up their minds and aren't interested in any artificial process that might force them to choose" between Clinton and Obama (Ohlemacher, AP, 4/21).
Chicago Tribune's Page writes, "The longer the undecideds hold out, the more they matter to both campaigns, which actively are wooing them. Everyone loves to be wooed. But it is not good for the party's future. Democracy is good. Indecision is crippling and self-destructive."
"The Philadelphia debate illustrated the problem. At a time" when Dems "should be getting their message together to do battle" with John McCain, "Clinton and Obama were stuck in another high-profile event that focused mercilessly on their weaknesses more than their strengths."
As long as Dems "remain undecided as to who their nominee will be, the lingering electability question will continue to give undeserved significance to such emotionally charged trivia. The superdelegates need to make their feelings known, sooner rather than later, for the good" of the Dems (4/20).
The Doctor's In The House?
Despite such uncertainty, "some party leaders are quietly planning to try to end the clash, said people familiar with the matter. After the primaries end in June, these influential" Dems -- "led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- plan to push the last uncommitted party leaders to endorse a candidate, in hopes of preventing a fight at the convo (Calmes, Wall Street Journal, 4/21).
Supersurrogates
Obama supporter/ex-Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Clinton supporter/NJ Gov. Jon Corzine (D) appeared together on "Late Edition" 4/20.
Bradley, on DNC Chair Howard Dean saying he needs superdelegates to start saying who they're for now: "I think it's a good idea that superdelegates come forward and state who they're for, as soon as they feel comfortable, sooner rather than later."
Corzine: "First of all, superdelegates do want to see change in Washington. They want a new president. They want a Democratic president that deals with those fundamental issues. And so they need to assess who can win; who's got the greatest electability potential in the fall? And the second thing they need to do is they need to understand that the person who is running has the ability to stand up to those challenges." (CNN, 4/20).
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