"With a split decision in the final two primaries and a flurry of superdelegte endorsements," Barack Obama clinched the Dem nod 6/3 (Balz/Kornblut, Washington Post, 6/4). Obama "dethroned the dynasty that has dominated" for a generation as he "finally bested" Hillary Clinton (Smith, Politico, 6/4), and he took "a historic step toward his once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first black president" (Raum/Pickler, AP, 6/4).
In St. Paul 6/3, Obama declared victory "in a sweeping speech that was both conciliatory toward his party rivals, and a preview of the tough campaign he will wage in the fall" (Henderson, Newsday, 6/3).
Obama: "Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another -- a journey that will bring a new and better day to America. Because of you, tonight I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America" (Washington Post, 6/4). The crowd of 17K inside the Xcel Center "exploded in an ear-splitting roar," while an additional 15K people watched "on a big screen outside the arena."
Obama "praised his vanquished rival," saying Clinton "has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she's a leader who inspires millions" (Von Sternberg/Brunswick, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 6/4). Obama: "I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton" (Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times, 6/4).
Of John McCain, Obama said, "I respect his many accomplishments, even if he chooses to deny mine. My differences with him are not personal; they are with the policies he has proposed in this campaign" (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 6/4).
Obama: "While John McCain can legitimately tout moments of independence from his party in the past, such independence has not been the hallmark of his presidential campaign. It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year. There are many words to describe John McCain's attempt to pass off his embrace of George Bush's policies as bipartisan and new. But change is not one of them" (Jones, NBC/National Journal, 6/3).
Obama: "America, this is our moment. This is our time -- our time to turn the page on the policies of the past, our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love" (Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/4).
The Donkey In The Room
But "for all the symbolism of the moment, Obama remained entangled in a complicated -- and acutely sensitive -- political maneuvering between himself and Clinton" (Politico, 6/4), who reminded him 6/3 that "she is a character that is hard to push off the stage" (Nagourney, New York Times, 6/4).
Obama "left Clinton a message congratulating her" on her SD win at 11:06 pm, "asking her to call him back." She did so at 12:16 am, and Obama offered to "sit down when it makes sense for you." Obama spokesperson Robert Gibbs said there were no plans to meet today.
Though "there are indications that Obama isn't enthusiastic" about it (Dodge/Chipman, Bloomberg, 6/4), Obama "is under pressure" from many Dems to add Clinton to the ticket." But "while such a move would likely produce a jolt of enthusiasm and unity" for the party, "it is less clear that the so called dream ticket would strengthen Obama's chances of beating McCain" (Halperin, Time, 6/4). "Running for president is very much about presenting command and authority" -- one wants to "avoid the perception of being pressured into a decision by a potential running mate" (New York Times, 6/4).
And Chicago Tribune's Silva notes GOPers "aren't likely to forget 'the commander-in-chief test,' which Obama "flunked" in Clinton's "grading book" ("The Swamp," 6/3).
Still, "setting out as the new presumptive nominee, Obama must win over an enormous swath of the Democratic electorate that has been devoted to Clinton" (Parsons/McCormick, Chicago Tribune, 6/4). In St. Paul last night, some Clinton supporters "said they saw the end coming for weeks and had already started to embrace Obama. Others, like their candidate, chose to go down swinging" (Meryhew/Brown, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 6/3).
Meanwhile, "several" Obama finance officials say that if Clinton drops out of the race, "they will invite her top fund-raisers to join his" finance cmte at a meeting in Chicago 6/19, "a move that could provide him with a huge infusion of cash" (Drew/Wayne, New York Times, 6/4).
OK, Victory-Savoring Time Is Up
McCain "welcomed Obama to the general election with a derisive speech in New Orleans in which he said Americans would reject tying him to Bush, and prodding at Obama's greatest vulnerability: his novelty" (Politico, 6/4). See today's McCAIN story for more.
New York Times' Nagourney writes, "Much of the cautious optimism in the Obama campaign is based on the expectation that this is a turn-the-page election." But "it is not yet clear" that "substantive issues will fully trump cultural issues and values -- like race, patriotism and class -- or the question of whether voters will judge" Obama too inexperienced (6/4).
Chicago Tribune's Tackett: "It is difficult to envision a more stark contrast. Young versus old. Liberal versus conservative. And perhaps most important, black versus white" (6/3).
Most immediately, Obama's and McCain's election night speeches "offered a sharp contrast both in the size of the crowd and the energy in the room" (Zeleny, New York Times, 6/4).
Among the reactions:
• Des Moines Register's Yepsen writes, if the election "is decided on television images alone," Obama "will beat" McCain. Obama's "impressive" TV skills "will be one of his biggest assets," and "the nation got a taste of that" last night. "Obama was cool and showed more energy than McCain who, well, looks old. Very old" (6/4).
• NBC's Russert, asked if Obama made the most of his moment: "I think he did. He really did articulate things about patriotism, what he learned about the country, economic populist message. He incorporated it into the overall theme of change. I think it was a good debut" ("Today," NBC, 6/4).
• Obama comm. dir. Robert Gibbs: "Listening to Senator Obama tell us that our moment is now, that we can grasp this change that we've been wanting, it sent chills down my spine and it made me a little teary" ("Early Show," CBS, 6/4).
• DLC chair/'06 TN SEN nominee/ex-Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D): "He invoked three names -- Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy. Three of the most successful presidencies of the last 100 years. ... I have to think if you are John McCain, you are far more worried than Barack Obama" ("Morning Joe," MSNBC, 6/4).
• Obama supporter/Chadderdon Group's Liz Chadderdon: "Last night ... he gave a rock star, hit-it-out-of-the-park speech ... in front of 20,000 screaming people. It was more like a rock concert than a political [speech]" ("American Morning," CNN, 6/4).
It's Doubt-Sowing Season Already
The RNC today launched a new Web ad called "Democrats vs. Obama," which features both Clintons, Joe Biden and John Edwards "raising questions about his experience" (James, "The Swamp," Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
RNC Chair Mike Duncan "said the RNC would not broach the issue of race," saying, "We expect that it will have no impact at all. It's not something we're going to raise at all, ever" (Youngman, The Hill, 6/3).
Both parties believe they can benefit from Obama this fall "in races down the ticket." Dem SEN camps "are weighing whether to campaign with Obama or lean on him mainly for fundraising." Among GOPers, "strategies vary from state to state on wehther to lump Obama" with the Dem candidate "in attack ads, a GOP strategy that failed in recent House elections" (Raju, The Hill, 6/3).
Meanwhile, MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty welcomed Obama to MN 6/3, saying, "When you look at what he stands for and believes in, it is clearly out of the mainstream of the country. When you combine that with almost no experience, I think that will be concerning to many, many voters" (Salisbury, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 6/3).
Palwenty is also featured on an RNC "attack call," to which the Obama camp responded 6/3. Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor: "These partisan attacks won't change the fact that Senator McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time last year. The McCain campaign has embrased George Bush's policies, so it's no surprise that they have also embraced George Bush's divisive tactics. What's clear is that the American people want change" (release, 6/3).
GOP strategist Mary Matalin, on Obama saying McCain is a third Bush term: "He won a personality contest against Hillary Clinton, and barely at that. So he's got a lot more work to unify his party and define himself in something larger than this continuation of Bush bashing" ("American Morning," CNN, 6/4).
Back To Work
Addressing AIPAC this a.m. in DC, Obama's key message to a skeptical crowd of activists and leaders was that he would employ "aggressive, principled, tough" diplomacy as his foremost strategy for negotiating with rogue nations, Iran included. But Obama vowed, with no uncertainty, that "there is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations."
Obama also accused McCain of launching "willful mischaracterizations of my positions." McCain, he said, presents a false choice between staying the course in Iraq and losing in Iran.
Obama said his "goal will be to eliminate" the threat posed by Iran, and "I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything." Obama: "Let there be no doubt, I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to protect our security and that of our ally Israel. Do not be confused."
Obama received at least a dozen standing ovations during his remarks. Obama also told the crowd, "In many ways I didn't know where I came from ... I understand the Zionist idea that there is always a homeland at the center of our story" (Hotline reporting, 6/4).
Turning Blue
Obama "will kick off his fall campaign" 6/5 with "a direct challenge" to McCain in VA. Obama is slated to appear in Bristol and Prince William Co. (AP, 6/4).
Obama also released a statement 6/3 on the GM plant closings, calling it a "painful reminder not only of the challenges America faces in our global economy, but of George Bush's failed ecomomic policies" (6/3).
We See Right Through You
"As he seeks to draw a contrast between himself" and McCain on transparency, "Obama for the first time is opening all his fundraising events -- in private homes and public places -- to a press pool." A pool reporter will cover two Obama fundraisers at private homes in NY tonight. Chicago Sun-Times Sweet adds, "That Obama has come to a higher, better, more transparent policy should be applauded. That's real change" (6/4).
All The Cool Kids Are Doing It, Plus Some Of The Socially Awkward Ones
A "tsunami of superdelegates" is rushing toward Obama, a "surge" that "is likely to swamp a few holdouts" (Allen, Politico, 6/3). Superdelegates "across the nation fell into line behind Obama" 6/3 "in a choreographed effort to settle" the race (Finnegan/Hook, Los Angeles Times, 6/4). "By the time the polls closed," Obama "had secured the backing of more than enough superdelegates to ensure his triumph" (Eichel, Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/4). "Some 60" superdelegates endorsed Obama 6/3 ("First Read," 6/4).
Among notable endorsers:
• Jimmy Carter made his Obama endorsement official when the polls closed, saying earlier in the day, "The fact is the Obama people already know they have my vote when the polls close tonight" (AP, 6/3).
• Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) "has endorsed" Obama, an aide confirms today (Tankersley, "The Swamp," Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
• Ex-FL Gov./Sen. Bob Graham endorsed Obama, saying he has "the judgment, temperament, and leadership ability that our nation needs" (release, 6/3).
• Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick endorsed (Spangler/Christoff, Detroit Free Press, 6/3), as did Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) (Alpert, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 6/4).
• Obama also gained the support of 10 pledged delegates who had supported John Edwards (release, 6/3).
Congrats, But You're Not Worth A Personal Phone Call
Pres. Bush and Sec/State Condoleezza Rice both "congratulated" Obama on his win today.
Rice, speaking at the State Dept.: "The United States of America is an extraordinary country. It is a country that has overcome many, many, now years, decades, actually a couple of centuries of trying to make good on its principles. And I think what we are seeing is an extraordinary expression of the fact that 'We the people' is beginning to mean all of us." More Rice: "I look forward to viewing it all on the sidelines as a voter."
WH spokesperson Dana Perino: ""President Bush congratulates Senator Obama for clinching the Democratic Party's 2008 nomination for president. He knows from personal experience that the presidential nominating process is a grueling one. Senator Obama came a long way in becoming his party's nominee. And his historic achievement reflects the fact that our country has come a long way, too."
Bush "did not call Obama," and Perino noted B. Clinton "didn't call Bush when he won" the nod in '00 (Lee, AP, 6/4).
It Was Time For A Change
"So ended" a primary season "that may well be remembered as the year conventional wisdom died" (Sabar, Christian Science Monitor, 6/4).
Post-mortems of Obama's primary win focused on the resonance of his message and the strength of his ground game. Among those weighing in on how Obama won the nod:
• Obama's "triumph was fashioned on prodigious fundraising, meticulous organizing and his theme of change aimed at an electorate opposed to the Iraq war and worried about the economy -- all harnessed to his own gifts as an inspirational speaker" (AP, 6/4). Obama also "won by telling his own story" (Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/4).
• McClatchy's Talev writes, Obama "worked harder" in IA and early caucus states and built a nat'l grassroots movement; his staff "worked more harmoniously than Clinton's and without a sense of entitlement," his 11-win streak after 2/5 put him ahead in the math; and his "message of change the less divisive politics had broader appeal than Clinton's claim that she was ready on day one" (6/3).
• Boston Globe's Helman: "Displaying preternatural self-assurance and confidence in his game plan -- especially in the rocky weeks this spring when it looked as if his star was dimming -- Obama proved he could be uplifting, resilient, and tough when he had to." Clinton's camp, meanwhile, "failed to fully grasp" the "yearning for a complete break from the politics of the past and the extent to which voters believed she embodied those politics," trying to "dismiss as a mere infatuation" what was "in fact a lasting and resonant movement for change" (6/4).
• Slate's Dickerson: "Barack Obama didn't just run against Hillary Clinton. He ran against Clintonism," of "triangulation and poll-driven politics" (6/3).
• Newsday's Gordon: "Fresh beat familiar. Change beat experience. And not-Hillary beat Hillary." Just "being Obama" also helped (6/4).
• CBS' Ververs writes, Obama won thanks to the Iraq war, the primary process, money, superdelegates, and the change vs. experience argument (CBSNews.com, 6/4).
• Rocky Mountain News' Sprengelmeyer: "Obama's evolution from insurgent to presumptive nominee woul dnot have happened without the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa" (6/4).
• Washington Post's Weisman/Murray/Slevin: The result of the camp's "insurgent strategy" of virtually ceding battleground states to focus on racking up delegates may have "lacked the glamour of a sweep," but it worked (6/4).
• AP's Pickler: "Icarus would crash into the sea. Obama would learn from his own crash in New Hampshire and make history" (6/4).
• Los Angeles Times' Barabak: Obama's primary win "will go down as one of the great political upsets of all time. ... It was a triumph of charisma and soaring oratory -- two of the oldest commodities in politics -- fused with a thoroughly modern campaign that harnessed the Internet like never before" (6/4)
• Obama's camp also "has more than 1.5 million donors on its rolls, and many of his supporters are willing to give repeatedly" (Jacoby/Farnham, Wall Street Journal, 6/4).
• New London Day's Mann: "While the story of Obama's rise" is "one of swooning crowds and lofty speeches, the lesson may be a simpler, grittier one: The better game plan won" (6/4).
• New York Post's Hurt writes, "Possibly Obama's biggest strength" going into the general "is that because he was forced to compete in contests in all 50 states, he now has impressive, experienced political organizations up and running in each one" (6/4).
Enjoy Your Flight
On the plane to St. Paul 6/3, Obama's "inner circle could finally savor the historic nature of the victory at hand," and could, "at long last, begin to relax" (Wolffe, Newsweek, 6/3).
Obama strategist David Axelrod "looked a bit dazed." Axelrod: "I think that it's going to take a while for it to sink in" (Murray, Washington Post, 6/4). More: "It's almost surreal that we're at this moment, but you know I'm proud of him and proud of the country." Asked about VP picks, Axelrod said, "We're just savoring the night" (Jones, NBC/National Journal, 6/3).
(Another) One For The History Books
Much post-win commentary focused on the history-making, global nature of Obama's victory:
• Philadelphia Inquirer's Bunch: "The world woke up to history today" (6/4).
• "Indonesians celebrated the news" today, "while others across Asia considered how a Barack Obama presidency could improve long-strained foreign relations" (Deutsch, AP, 6/4).
• New York Daily News editorializes, "Obama's accomplishment must be counted as both a stunning and seminal event in the evolution of the United States at the start of the 21st century. There are many -- black, white and other -- who thought they would never live to see this day. But now we have" (6/4).
• Chicago Tribune's Dorning: "In a country with a tortured racial history," Obama's win "writes a new chapter in the American story." In some of the arenas Obama "has filled by the tens of thousands," he "once would not have been able to take so much as a sip from the water fountain" (6/3).
• Washington Post's Brown: "Black president. The two words evoke excitement, dread, great expectations, intense fear, incomprehension, power, the breadth of possibility" (6/4).
• Salon's Shapiro: "This historic nature of Obama's victory is portrayed in racial terms. But not since William Jennings Bryan in 1896 and Woodrow Wilson in 1912 have Democrats nominated a candidate so new to the national stage" (6/4).
• Wall Street Journal editorializes, "It is worth noting what an extraordinary moment this is" -- Dems "are nominating a freshman senator barely three years out of the Illinois legislature whom most of America still hardly knows" (6/4).
Hopemongering Alert
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), on whether Obama is in danger now that he is closer to the WH: "I don't really think that the illness of racism is going to explode because he's moving closer to the White House. ... I think people having an opportunity to listen to his inspiring speeches, if anything, his base will be enlarging. I'm very optimistic in terms of what happens at the end of the day. But there are some people ... that will not respond to him just because of his color, and of course, most of them will not be in the Democratic party. And so we have to reach out to make certain that this election as president of the United States not only brings us together as Democrats, but brings us together as a nation" ("American Morning," CNN, 6/4).
Clarence Page: "If he can reuinfy his party in this year of dueling Democratic discontents, he's ready to take on the rest of this country's grievances -- and the world!" (Chicago Tribune, 6/4).
No Rain On This Parade
Rev. Jeremiah Wright "canceled his appearance today" at the Int'l Detroit Black Expo, organizers announced 6/3. Wright "cited political reasons," and "has rescheduled his appearance until later during the year" (Brand-Williams, Detroit News, 6/4).
Now Sit In The Corner And Think About What You've Done
Chicago's Cardinal Francis George "removed" Father Michael Pfleger as pastor at St. Sabina's "following his taking the pulpit" at Trinity Church 3/31 "to ridicule" Clinton. Pfleger "was also asked to take a couple weeks off of his pastoral duties for a period of reflection" (Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times, 6/3).
Cal Thomas writes, "Politicians shouldn't do religion and preachers should stay out of partisan politics." But Obama "must still explain how he could sit in the church for two decades and be indifferent to such inflammatory rhetoric" (Washington Times, 6/4).
Meanwhile, Denver Post's Navarrette writes, in deciding to leave his church, Obama "has demonstrated that he is quick on his feet, and able to adjust to changing circumstances" (6/3).
A Diplomatic Welcome
Concil on Foreign Relations' Klonsky profiles Obama's main foreign policy "brain trust." His agenda "has emphasized mulitilateralism and reinvigorated diplomacy to advance U.S. interests." He's also "pledged" to end the war in Iraq. "If Obama wins" in Nov., "his foreign policy and economic agendas will surely break with the legacies" of the Bush admin (Newsweek.com, 6/3).
It's Not All About Me, Just Mostly
New York Times' Powell profiles Obama's rise, and notes Obama "claims not to read the profiles that pile high in his plane." Obama: "It just encourages the narcissism that is already a congenital defect for a politician. I find these essays more revealing about the author than about me."
More Obama: "Look, I don't want to sound too noble: The first time you're on the cover of Time magazine and the crowds are cheering, that's not bad, right? But one think I've learned about myself is that the surface glitter, the vanity element of this campaign, becomes less satisfying as I go along."
Still, Obama said, "I love when I'm shaking hands on a rope line and I see little old white ladies and big burly black guys and Latino girls and all their hands are entwining. They're feeding on each other as much as on me. It's like I'm just the excuse" (6/4).
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