The LuLac Edition #427, Feb. 27th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: SENATORS CLINTON AND OBAMA.

JUMPING SHIP

Civil rights leader John Lewis has dropped his support for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid in favor of Barack Obama.
Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Atlanta, is the most prominent black leader to defect from Clinton's campaign in the face of near-majority black support for Obama in recent voting. He also is a superdelegate who gets a vote at this summer's national convention in Denver. Lewis has been an influential civil rights leader as well as a past strong supporter of President Bill Clinton.

ED WAVERING?

Not really but today he did say that if the Obama winning streak continued, he would have to follow the voters in putting the delegation together. He did not forsake Senator Clinton but did talk about looking at the will of the peope. Whether the Pennsylvania primary will count is still open to question. Next week in Ohio and Texas seem,s to be the breaking point in this race.

THE DEBATE

Last night, Senator Clinton’s task going into the debate, was far more complicated than the one confronting Mr. Obama. National polls as well as surveys in Ohio and Texas suggest that her position is eroding; even former President Bill Clinton said the other day that he could not see Mrs. Clinton staying in the race if she lost one of those two states. For days, she had zigged and zagged between attacking Mr. Obama and celebrating the promise of his candidacy. With a week left, the debate provided what might have been her final opportunity to find an effective line of attack against Mr. Obama.
By contrast, Mr. Obama’s only task was making certain that the campaign did not stray from the road it was on. If he too was low-key and often unsmiling, he sat calm and unruffled, hands crossed, as Mr. Russert pressed her again and again. At a point when Mrs. Clinton apparently saw an opportunity — when she said it was not enough for Mr. Obama to simply denounce Mr. Farrakhan; he needed to reject his support — Mr. Obama did not take the bait.

I have to give Obama credit, he was very cool in contrast to Senator Clinton. Being ahead gives you that edge. And while so many people seem to be impressed with Obama's "preachin'", I was more enthralled with his "teachin". In the debate, Obama camly explained his answers and really resonated with the comment that "the American people" have modest demands, like liveable wages, a fair cost of living, decent housing and health care. Many say the debate was boring, I thought the two did well and should form a merger. I say this even though I am a strong Clinton supporter. If Senator Clinton looks to a role in history as the first Vice President and Mr. Obama wants a true partner, a combined ticket might not be the worst thing to happen to this country.

THE RADIO FLAP

In Ohio, Senator McCain's campaign got quite an introduction from talk show host Bill Cunningham. You have to take a look at this interview from Hannity and Colmes last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVS4qzXpB0A. McCain repudiated the remarks, much to the chagrin of right wing talk radio hosts. This thing really speaks for itself about the beauty and madness of free speech.