Scrambling Hillary Changes the Target

Surveys show candidate recovering from Pa. setback

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama romped to victory in North Carolina and almost fought Hillary Clinton to a draw in Indiana by relying on his most loyal coalitions: young voters, African-Americans, and liberals. He also did better yesterday than in recent races among white men, pulling about 40% of that demo in Indiana. That puts Obama back at the level of support he enjoyed on Super Tuesday, reports Politico. More»

Obama and Clinton face off in what could be decisive contests

(NEWSER) - Voters in North Carolina and Indiana go to the polls today in what many are seeing as the last major battle in the Democratic race. The Washington Post outlines the stakes.

1. Has Obama put the Wright controversy behind him? Pretty much, say both sides; it's a media story now.
2. How's the gas tax holiday playing? Economists hate it, but it was a smart strategic move for Clinton.
3. Is the race going to the convention? At least until June 3, if Hillary wins one of today's contests.

Dems hit competing morning talk shows

(NEWSER) - Obama likened Hillary's stance on Iran to George Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" on Meet the Press today, while Clinton took to ABC to defend the gas tax and told voters mired in the Jeremiah Wright controversy "We should move on." Tim Russert ignored her advice, however, and devoted his first 18 minutes to the pastor, reports the New York Times. “Obviously, it’s distracted us,” Obama admitted. More»

He thanks supporters for not allowing a Pennsylvania blowout

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama looked to the next primaries in his speech tonight, applauding his supporters for making inroads against Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary despite his loss, CNN reports. Obama pushed his theme of changing politics-as-usual, saying, "It's easy to get consumed by the tit-for-tat," when the country is beset by "two wars, an economy in recession, a planet in peril." More»

Pandering populism didn't play—except with pundits, Klein admits

(NEWSER) - After a career of sober-minded policy politics, Hillary Clinton let loose her inner populist pol in Indiana and North Carolina, Joe Klein writes, and, like much of the media, he thought the showmanship-over-substance (along with Obama's pastor problem) might pull it out for her. But that "shameless populism" proved not to be a game-changer after all. She lost the contest—and the race, he concludes in a Time cover story anointing Obama as the nominee. More»