GOP Spoilers Are Fueling Clinton Surge

Candidates have to run the equivalent of a national campaign to reach all

(NEWSER) - Trying to win a primary in Texas is “like running a national campaign,” a veteran strategist says one week before the pivotal vote. With its enormous size and diversity, its multitude of media markets, and a voting system so complicated it’s been nicknamed the Texas two-step, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been campaigning at a breakneck pace, the New York Times reports. More»

Many pundits ruled out Obama victory early

(NEWSER) - With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

• "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
• "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
• "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
• "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

Limbaugh's 'Operation Chaos' may have had a tangible effect

(NEWSER) - Despite what has been hailed as a strong showing by Barack Obama in Indiana, his campaign claims he would’ve done better but for the sabotage of Rush Limbaugh, the Washington Post reports. Under his “Operation Chaos,” the conservative radio host urged Indiana Republicans to vote for Clinton in order to prolong the Dems' dogfight and "bloody up Obama politically." More»

Limbaugh calls him 'weakest' of the Democrats

(NEWSER) - Now that Barack Obama has all but knocked out Hillary Clinton, Rush Limbaugh is calling off "Operation Chaos" and relishing the notion that Obama will be the nominee, CNN notes. Limbaugh has for months urged Republicans to vote for Clinton to prolong the race. Today, he urged superdelegates to publicly back Obama, calling him the "weakest" of the Democratic candidates. More»

State convention tally would boost him past Clinton overall there

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama apparently overtook Hillary Clinton in Texas’ pledged-delegate count after this weekend’s regional Democratic conventions netted him seven to nine more at-large delegates than Clinton, the Houston Chronicle reports. “We can confirm now that Barack Obama won Texas,” an aide said after the campaign's math gave the Illinois senator a five-delegate lead; Clinton's camp puts Obama's edge at three. More»