Obama Seals Nomination With Last Night’s ResultsPaul Hogarthbyline‚ May. 07‚ 2008When the polls closed in North Carolina and the networks immediately called the state for Barack Obama, I concluded that there must have been a huge black turnout. There was – but despite talk of a “polarized” Democratic electorate along racial or class lines, Obama made in-roads last night with Hillary Clinton’s base that will help him win the general election. With his 14-point victory in the last primary state that had over 100 delegates, Obama sealed the nomination and erased the “popular vote” gains that Clinton had achieved in Pennsylvania. Clinton’s two-point victory in Indiana – only made possible by Rush Limbaugh urging his listeners to vote for her – did not offset her inevitable loss, as the mainstream media proclaimed it a “momentum-killer” for her campaign. Clinton has cancelled all of her public appearances today, giving Democrats the chance to rally around Obama – who is now the presumptive nominee. |