The Roland Report

March 05, 2008
Democrats move on to battle another day
Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign asserted that she had to win Texas and Ohio to remain in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
She got exactly what she needed.
In a big night for Clinton, she beat Obama in Ohio, Texas as well as Rhode Island. After winning 11 consecutive races, Obama only scored a victory in Vermont, thus throwing the race back into a hotly contested one.
The Obama campaign maintains that its delegate lead is virtually the same as it was prior to the vote yesterday. That's true. But like it or not, the major momentum that Obama had going into the March 4 elections has evaporated, and now he has to re-calibrate his message.
For Clinton, she was very successful in targeting Obama with some sharp jabs, forcing him the last 72 hours of the campaign to respond to her, rather than get his message out to the public.
Expect her to keep it up and stay even more aggressive against Obama, trying to keep him off balance.
What he needs to do is improve his media operation. Obama doesn't have a pit bull; someone who will have a big bark - and bite! - to face down Clinton.
They are playing for keeps. The Obama campaign ran in the final days as if they were playing not to lose.
That's a bad decision.
His people shouldn't feel confident. They should re double their efforts. That whip should be cracking harder and harder and harder.
He should ride higher and harder.
There is no doubt that he can break her will and spirit by winning Mississippi, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. Forget winning on points. He needs to knock her out. She cannot be hobbled. Her knees cannot buckled. She must be KNOCKED OUT to getthe point.
Also, what are his plans for April 4, the 40th anniversary of King's assassination?
His focus should be on JOBS, JOBS, AND MORE JOBS. That's why King was in Memphis, helping those sanitation workers. The economy is the problem today, that's what King was fighting for. And I would have the head of the Teamsters and SEIU right there as well with him as a show of unity.
Question of the Day: What was your assessment of the March 4 primary?