Thursday, June 05, 2008

Hillary Clinton: Winning But Losing

Bob Novak observes how ironic it is (and mighty unsettling for Barack Obama) that Hillary Clinton is finally being forced out even though she is winning primaries.

1. Clinton dominated in Puerto Rico on Sunday, winning more than 2 to 1. This boosts the concern that Obama faces trouble with the Hispanic vote in November.

2. Winning South Dakota Tuesday meant Clinton won five of the final eight primaries. It also demonstrated that Obama's strength in the Great Plains was really his strength in caucuses. South Dakota was the first primary in that rural, white region, and he lost it convincingly.


3. Obama's win in Montana allows him to cap the primary season on a win and amplify the notion that he was democratically nominated. It also warded off the embarrassing possibility of his losing the popular vote to Clinton (though, by some counts, he still lost).