Letters to the Editor
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I would support a Hillary/Obama ticket
...if she could legitimately win. The rules are there for candidates to follow, not rewrite in the 11th inning. If she was ahead and could run a clean campaign and win, I would support her even though I do not think she is a good candidate.
What's happening now though is that she is pushing me away from ever supporting her. Her campaign's constant smears, spin, redefinition of the rules, etc just makes her look like she's a win at all costs candidate. She is running EXACTLY the way politics has been run. A vote for me is a vote against my opponent. It didn't work for Gore or Kerry, is it going to work this year? I'd venture to say no. Yeah, the country is in the shitter, but you don't win campaigns that will get you anything after you've won this way.
As far as Matthews, I agree with him. It's this entitlement attitude that surrounds the Clintons in the democratic party that makes it feel like they are doing what they please because it is their party. Bill Clinton was a successful president for 8 years and is still a huge draw amongst many people. They know this and their campaign reflects that. If she doesn't win this year, the era of the Clintons will be limited to what Hillary can do in the Senate, something they do not want.
Anyway, nothing changed tonight Joan. You speak about him not breaking into any of Hillary's base, but Hillary didn't break into Obama's base. Pennsylvania was a perfect state for Hillary. She was going to win and everyone knew it. Whether it was a 1 point or 10 point or 20 point win didn't matter, Hillary would win and she would go on. No changes would be made in voting patterns and no changes in the leader in terms of popular vote or delegates.
What needs to happen is people need to get behind Barack and make sure he's the strongest candidate we have. You can make all these new and interesting projections of how Hillary can win but inside everyone knows he's going to be the nominee. Why tear him down and tear apart the party any further? Sure, let Hillary go on but she needs to back off the negative attacks and focus on McCain. Say what you want about 'toughening' him up, but she destroys her image, destroys his in the eyes of other democratic voters we need in November, and lets McCain off on a free ride. All of which are not good for the party.