Flag City Politico

What...me worry?

One week from tonight is the Pennsylvania. There has already been quite a bit of stories about Clinton and Obama over the past few weeks as the media tries to find something to fill their columns and air time, so thank goodness the primary is right around the corner.

Just so we are all on the same page moving forward, here is how the two candidates stand coming in to this next contest:

 

The latest polling from Pennsylvania still shows Clinton maintaining her lead, staying between 5-9% in the latest polls. Obama wants to get past next week without receiving too much damage (or having Clinton narrow the lead much), before he heads into North Carolina and what still looks like the next win he can put into his column.

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Whether it was intentional or not, shouldn't the chairman of the Associated Press be the last person to make a mistake like this?

For Obama and McCain, the Bitter and the Sweet
So much for the liberal media. John McCain and Barack Obama both appeared before the nation's newspaper editors yesterday. The putative Republican presidential nominee was given a box of doughnuts and a standing ovation. The likely Democratic nominee was likened to a terrorist. >>
Dana Milbank
Washington Post

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In case you missed it, Stephen Colbert is in Pennsylvania this week.

Colbert reports at Penn
The Colbert Nation has become the Colbert Campus, as Stephen Colbert, the Emmy award-winning comedy host, has descended upon Penn's Zellerbach Theatre for the week. >>
Colin Kavanaugh
The Daily Pennsylvanian

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And finally, from the "Who called this one first?" department. One of the headlines straight from the pages of TheCourier.com today - RiverPlace? Developer, lawyers aren't talking. I'm glad everything about this was settled months ago. Instead of the city seal, the council chamber should hang up a poster of Alfred E. Neuman with the words 'What...me worry?"

-RSKnopfJr

Preview

Happy Presidents Day!!

We've been in a holding pattern for a week now. With the flurry of activity since the first of the year, it seems strange to be waiting for the next round of primaries to be held...but the wait will soon be over.

Tomorrow, Wisconsin and Washington hold primary elections, and Democrats in Hawaii will be caucusing. With every delegate counting more and more, these races are more important than everyone thought they would be at this point a year ago. I really enjoy that this election cycle is playing out as it is. We are experiencing something that hasn't happened for decades, and it is fascinating to watch and live through.

Just to get everyone up to speed, here are the latest delegate counts...

Obama - 1262
Clinton - 1213
Gravel - 0
needed to clinch - 2025

McCain - 830
Huckabee - 217
Paul - 16
needed to clinch - 1191

Since everyone believes that McCain is inevitable (that is a different topic for a different time), let's look at the numbers for the Democratic nomination. And when looking at poll numbers, remember how reliable they have been in the past. These numbers are for Wisconsin (92 delegates). Remember, Washington had a caucus on Feb 9, so this primary election is non-binding (and somewhat confusing). It is generally considered that Hawaii (29 delegates) will be for Obama.

Clinton - 49%
Obama - 43%
American Research Group - 02/15-16

Obama - 47%
Clinton - 42%
Research 2000 - 02/13-14

Obama - 47%
Clinton - 43%
Rasmussen - 02/13

In a race this close, let's see what's going on up north.

Winter Storm Detours Democratic Candidates
Politics took a back seat to the weather Sunday as two Democratic campaign events had to be canceled. >>
WBAY

Candidates gear up for the big day
The two Democratic candidates for president appeared at the same dinner in Milwaukee Saturday, targeting the important Wisconsin delegation leading up to Tuesday’s primary. >>
The Badger Herald

Republicans for Obama
Arizona Sen. John McCain is going to be the party's nominee. That's good for Republicans, because for all his flaws, the Arizona senator is the most appealing prospect their party has to offer this year. >>
The Capital Times

Refusing to cry 'uncle,' Huckabee out-campaigns Republican rival
He can pick up a spare, but can he pick up the state? >>
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The pick? Obama makes it 10 in a row, narrowly edging Clinton in Wisconsin by 3%, winning Hawaii by over 30%, and...well, who knows why Washington is having a primary, but we'll say Obama by 22%.

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I received the first reply to the letter I sent out last week. You'll have to wait to see who responded, but to give you a hint, this person has the same initials as me. Make sure you have your comments ready to go for when I post everything.

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Reminder...tonight is the 2008 Candidate Forum sponsored by The Courier, WFIN and UFTV. The forum, featuring candidates for Hancock County commissioner and sheriff, can be heard on 1330-AM or seen on Findlay TimeWarner channel 20 starting at 6p. I'll be there...will you?

-RSKnopfJr

Behind the scenes of the Mayoral Forum

Before I get to what happened on the 22nd, I want to give you some background information. Since 2001, I have worked at The University of Findlay, and have been fortunate to work with very talented people in an exciting and challenging environment. In 2006, I was asked to manage a new group, which included oversight of the University's TV station. Since I joined the team, we have taped quite a few concerts/lectures/games that make it to the small screen, but I have never been involved in a 'LIVE' event before.