Obama Still Smarting From Controversy Over His Spiritual Adviser
Ouch:
The erosion of support among Democrats and independents raises the stakes in Tuesday’s Indiana and North Carolina primaries, which represent a chance for Obama to reassert his claim to a Democratic nomination that seems nearly in his grasp. A defeat in Indiana and a close finish in North Carolina, where he’s favored, could fuel unease about his ability to win in November. Such results also could help propel Hillary Rodham Clinton’s uphill campaign all the way to the Democratic convention in August.
In the USA TODAY survey, taken Thursday through Saturday, Clinton leads Obama among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents by 7 percentage points, the first time in three months she has been ahead. Two weeks ago, before the controversy over comments by Jeremiah Wright reignited, Obama led by 10 points.
I think the more important question here isn’t so much “Can Hillary still win?” but “Is Obama mortally wounded?”
Because right now I’m beginning to think that even if the guy pulls it out and gets the Democrat nomination he’s still too dinged up to pull off a national victory. I don’t like Hillary any more than I like Obama, but from the Democrat perspective if they want their party in the White House they’re kidding themselves if they think Obama’s the guy to do it.
