Fighting Between Clinton and Obama Leaves the Door Open for McCain

Though it would appear that Barrack Obama has enough delegates for the Democratic nomination for President, the Clinton campaign refuses to give in. Forcing the media focus to be on the Democratic Party. With only 218 days (as of 3/31/08) to election day, John McCain was able to launch his first national campaign ad.

The party infighting does not bode well for the Democrats. The only way that Hilary Clinton can win the Democratic nomination is by either letting Florida and Pennsylvania essentially "re-caucus", or by "flipping" some of the super-delegates. Senator Clinton's chances of winning the Democratic nomination are only about 20% (according to Meet The Press), and realistically probably much lower.

The only real reason to stay in the battle for the Democratic nomination at this point is in hopes that the Obama campaign will hit an insurmountable roadblock. A huge public scandal that can't be fixed by a heart-felt speech.

The problem with this strategy is that an Obama scandal would have to top "Whitewater" and "Monica-gate". Barrack Obama has readily admitted to prior bad acts, and seems to be able to acceptably (to most of the U.S.) explain away the more recent attempts at character assassination.

If a true catastrophic scandal should break in the Obama Camp, it would still not guarantee Hilary Clinton the Democratic nomination let alone the Presidency.

Four years ago, it was clear that many Americans were not happy with the current Bush Administration and the direction of the Republican Party. After the 2006 Congressional Elections, the Republican Party had all but conceded the 2008 Presidential Election to the Democrats.

Now, the Republican Party has settled on a nominee for the Presidency (albeit reluctantly), John McCain. The 71 year old Senator from Arizona is a very liberal Republican, but the Party has now recognized and rallied behind him. As a Viet Nam War POW and hero, you simply are not going to find a criminal scandal against McCain. A short lived sex scandal surfaced momentarily, but was quickly snuffed out by a gruff McCain and an audience eager to not think about it.

The fighting in the Democratic Party has made it easy for the Talk Radio Right to keep the focus off of McCain. By pitting listeners across the U.S. against the Democrats, they do not have to defend the backing of McCain.

With less than 218 days left before the general election, John McCain is now free to make the first impression on the American public as the Nominee for President. This alone could be a huge boost for McCain, having a lone platform to state his plan. McCain can also fund-raise for the next month nonstop.

The Democrats will have to pull things together in the next month or they may lose the election that was all but conceded to them.