The Pennsylvania Democratic debates’ were held last night for the sake of the most important voters on earth; The Super Dupers! Luckily for the Democratic party, The 21st primary debate was the final test to see if Barack Obama is truly poised to become the First African-American President in our nation’s history.
The Super Duper question needing an answer was, can Obama withstand a General Election and come out a winner?
Obama was tested unmercifully via a pile-on of "Shock and Awe" magnitude. The Inquisition included two Nuremberg type moderators, and one Hillary doing her best as stand-in for Republican Nominee McCain. This was Barack’s audition call to final casting. If after the grueling smears hurled at him during the debates, he still goes on and perform at expectations on the April 22nd Pennsylvania Primary, than he’s good to go.
So how did he do?
By most accounts, Sen. Obama performed well. He was clear, cogent and focused in the face of the charges leveled at him by the Debate Prosecutors. He came prepared for the Right Wing "Radical Ayers" hit question, and nimbly tossed it back to Hillary via her hubby. Bill had pardoned the two convicted members of the 1960-70s militant group during his Pardon exit strategy of 2000. Twenty four years were cut from the sentences of the pardoned two; quite serious fodder for a general election. On the other hand, Ayers has been a respected college Professor for years now, teaching in Chicago, and involved in Chicago Politics, just like Barack Obama, and a whole bunch of other people.
The "does your pastor love America as much as you do?" question may have made some viewers rush to the bathroom to puke, but hey, this was only a test.
It should be noted that Hillary also had her own instructions from the Supers. She had to make her case as to why she believes Barack to be unelectable for the GE, while at the same time, publicly state, in front of a live audience, that Obama was electable after all. No doubt the Super Ds wanted to hear her promise out loud that she would do what she could to help Obama get elected. This was, most likely, required from her to get back in the grace of the almighty Supers.
On April 22nd, when voters turn out to vote. Obama doesn’t need to win Pennsylvania outright (although that would be ideal), but he does need to get as close as possible. If all goes well for Obama, and he doesn't lose by more than 9 points, and wins Indiana and North Carolina on May 6th, than that's it! If he loses Indiana, the Supers will take it to June, depending on by how many points Obama beat Clinton in North Carolina.
Here's what the Super Ds know they will get in the General Election with Sen. Obama as the Nominee; money, coattails, ground organization, new voters, eager activist, large turnouts and an energetic and fresh enthusiasm that could ignite the country and produce a massive Democratic winning landslide.
Hillary’s case isn’t as promising. The Super delegates know that if they were to overturn the Pledge Delegate count, the party would risk losing young voters, African-Americans, and much of the grassroots activists base. In addition, McCain would becomes the "fresh face" and the reformer with results in that race.
On the upside, with Hillary, the Democratic party gains a candidate willing to do anything to win, and that could be scary for McCain. But the fact that Hillary Clinton would, at the same time, fire up McCain’s base is not lost on them. Her high negatives, and her lack of being able to generate real excitement a la Barack adds to their worries. She’s almost not likable enough, and many of the Supers personally know this.
So as the Super Dupers pondered their options last night, they surely asked, what kind of GE campaign would they want to see unfold to give them what they want; a Democratic White House, and as importantly an expansion of the Democratic majority?
I'm gonna go out on a limb, and say that it is Candidate Obama that they will be choosing, because there is no indication, based on the performances that we saw last night, that it could be otherwise.
