Closing the Deal

by Kate Stone, Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:29:00 AM EST

Remember when John Kerry was running against Bush and he was lagging and all the pundits said not to worry, he was a "closer."

I was never sure what "closer" meant but I figured it had something to do with sports or with lawyers.  I envisioned a tall handsome lawyer (man or woman) coming into a lush conference room  with a buldging briefcase and multi-million dollar contract and closing some mega deal at the last minute to the amazement of the assembled.

Now the meme heard throughout blog and MSM land is that Barack Obama can't close the deal.

I see now that  not "closing the deal" really means someone is either losing to an unworthy opponent or can't shut them out of the game being played.  How could Kerry lose to Bush of all people?  How can Barack Obama lose to her?

Why should Obama be able to  "close the deal" when Americans are still voting and some are voting for Hillary Clinton?

First the blogs and MSM blamed Clinton for staying in the race.  She ignored all calls to get out.  Now the blogs and MSM are blaming Obama for Clinton's  continuation in the game -- he can't close the deal!

Forgotten in this is that our electoral process allows this race to continue and Clinton is taking advantage of the process.  That's why Obama isn't a "closer."

Don't blame him or her.  Fix the abhorrent process we have in place to select a nominee.




Tags: Election 2008, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, election process (all tags)

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Permalink :: 15 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

Very good diary.

I also like how Clinton supporters constantly demean their own candidate by asking why Obama can't beat her?


by Bobby Obama on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:31:21 AM EST

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

PA had no impact, or so Rasmussen says --

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c ontent/politics/election_20082/2008_pres idential_election/daily_presidential_tra cking_poll
In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, it's Obama 49%, Clinton 42%. Those numbers are unchanged from the night before and, so far, there is absolutely no indication that Clinton's victory in Pennsylvania has changed the overall dynamic of the race. These results are based upon a four-day rolling average and include two full nights of polling following the Pennsylvania Primary.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:33:19 AM EST

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

The numbers haven't changed because Clinton's win was expected.  She will have to overtake and beat him somewhere where he is expected to win, as she did in NH.

Hillary's gonna have to fight hard to win NC in order to change the game.


No politician ever lost an election because he underestimated the intelligence of the American public. - PT Barnum, paraphrased...
by jarhead5536 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:49:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

More from Rasmussen

"These results and other data suggest that there is no "momentum" in this Primary Season. Typically, momentum results as voters learn more about a candidate who is doing well. This cycle, Hillary Clinton began the campaign as one of the best known people in the world. Democrats uneasy with her quickly settled on Obama as the chief challenger who has now become the frontrunner."


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:49:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

PA did have an impact.
it is clear now that he can't beat MacCain in November.
by darlene25 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:37:04 AM EST

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

PA didn't have an impact.

It is clear now that he can beat McCain in November.

Wow, analysis is easy when you only have to give a conclusion.  


Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius
by Blue Neponset on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:40:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

That's clear only to those who believed that beforehand.  

No one knows what's going to happen between now and November. In July 1992, Bill Clinton was in third place in the national polls.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:41:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

oohhh (none / 0)

can I borrow your flying delorien? Or what ever you use for time travel that gives you such accurate predictions.


-- be excellent to each other
by kindthoughts on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:46:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

Anyone not named Clinton would have bowed out of the race after losing 11 straight primaries/caucuses.

It is right to blame Clinton for prolonging this race. The only way she can win it is by destroying Obama's electability in Nov.  In my book, that is too selfish for words.  


Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius
by Blue Neponset on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:39:14 AM EST

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

It is truly the 2012 strategy.  


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:41:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

I don't think there is a 2012 strategy.  Hillary has no where to go to redeem herself.  She can't run for governor of NY b/c there is a Democratic incumbent and b/c the race is in 2010.  She won't be majority leader unless Harry Reid self destructs.  I don't see how she is going to be a better candidate in 2012.  

IMO, this is Hillary's last chance to become Prez and that is why she is attacking the nomination like a Terrier attacks a rat.  


Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius
by Blue Neponset on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:54:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

Remember that Reagan was losing to Ford and went straight to the convention and won it.  She will either bow out on June 7th or go straight to the convention.  If Obama is unelectable it cannot be blamed on her.  He is being hurt now by GOP ads running in a number of states re: Wright and "elitism."  


by Kate Stone on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 03:38:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

Those silly ads aren't hurting him at all. They only work on people who would vote McCain anyway.

And she won't go to the convention. The Super-D's will declare in June, and it will all be put to bed.


by rhetoricus on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 04:20:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Closing the Deal (2.00 / 1)

The only abhorrent part of the process is Michigan and Florida.  In retrospect the DNC clearly screwed the pooch by not cutting their delegates in half or by 2/3 for moving their primaries up.  Then we'd know exactly where we stood, instead of debating if/how they will be counted.  

It's been a historic primary between two of the finest candidates the democratic party has put forward since FDR.  Obama will close the deal on the pledged delegates in June, and then we'll see what happens.  People need to chill out.


by jimotto on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:41:59 AM EST

Re: Closing the Deal (none / 0)

I agree that Michigan and Florida screwed up big time.  But front loading the system also caused such a firestorm of momentum that it knocked out perfectly good candidates.  


by Kate Stone on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 02:57:09 PM EST


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