_____________________________

Sen. Barack Obama (left) with Sen. Hillary R. Clinton

Obama Maintains Strong Lead Despite Media Hype

By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal & Guide
 
       It seems the controversy over the so-called hate-filled sermons of Senator Barack Obama’s former preacher, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, have not hurt Obama’s presidential campaign.
        A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates Senator Obama still maintains a 10-point (49-39) lead over his Democratic rival Senator Hillary R. Clinton.
       Over 80 percent of those polled said they had heard of the sermons and had seen the snippets on TV or the internet.
       The March 19-22 survey of 1,503 American adults found that despite the fallout over Rev. Wright’s sermons, the former senior pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ congregation, Obama did not lose ground against Clinton or GOP nominee John McCain.
        The next big primary will be in Pennsylvania and Senator Obama trails Senator Clinton by 20 points going into the contest on April 22.
      Meanwhile, calls for Mrs. Clinton to leave the race because she trails Senator Obama in delegates got louder last week. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who is an Obama supporter, said if Clinton stopped running, it would improve the Democrats’ chances of beating the GOP nominee during the general election in November.
     Clinton slapped that idea down. Further, late last week she also slapped down a proposal of the clearing of the path for her to become the next Governor of New York, even before the state calls an election two years hence.

Posted April 2, 2008

       Current Governor David A. Paterson, who was sworn in less than three weeks ago, has admitted extramarital affairs and using illicit drugs. Paterson replaced Elliot Spitzer, who resigned  after he was caught up using a prostitution ring, may not be able to hold on to the job if calls for his resignation start and Clinton actually takes interest in securing the job.  
       Along with the  Governorship of the New York, the majority leader’s job of the U.S. Senate have also been suggested to Mrs. Clinton, who said she vows to stay in the race against Obama to the end.
   Obama leads Clinton in delegates 1625 to 1486. She leads him in superdelegates 243 to 211.  There is an indication that Clinton may not win the number of delegate she needs to overcome her rival, with the party allotting them in proportion to the percentage of victory in each state.
       National Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean, who has been criticized for not seeking to resolve the nasty race, has called for superdelegates to decide their choices by  July 1. There are 550 delegates still undecided. Obama has won more of the popular vote than Clinton.
       The effort to get Florida and Michigan to “re-do” their primary votes has stalled. Both states held primaries earlier than the National Committee allowed and decided not to allow their delegates to attend the upcoming national convention.

   To read the whole story and more like this, SUBSCRIBE TODAY!.

Click Here to Subscribe to the New Journal and Guide.