memeorandum: Obama camp: ‘we can see the finish line’ (John McCormick/The Swamp)

2:35 PM ET, May 7, 2008

Top Items:

Thomas M. Defrank / NY Daily News:

Ugly truth why Hillary Clinton won't quit — While the case for Hillary Clinton to stay in the race is shakier than ever, one ugly reason for staying in could be found Tuesday amid the ruddy, sun-kissed Hoosiers who cheered her on to victory at the Indianapolis Speedway.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Chicago Tribune, neo-neocon, protein wisdom, The Campaign Spot, PrawfsBlawg, Political Machine, Dr. Sanity and Associated Press

Rob Christensen / Raleigh News & Observer:

Rep. Shuler to back Clinton — U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is pledging his support to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to a spokesman. — Shuler, a superdelegate to the National Democratic Convention, had said he would back the candidate who carried his 11th congressional district in Western North Carolina.

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, Marc Ambinder, The Page, Spin Cycle, Political Machine, The Campaign Spot and MSNBC

Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:

Hillary and Bill Clinton in defeat and victory: When pictures tell the story — Just look at his face! — Doesn't William Jefferson Clinton look absolutely delighted with his wife's Democratic presidential primary victory in Indiana? — Sure the Clinton campaign (Hillary's) had hoped to do much better in North Carolina.

Discussion: Power Line, PoliBlog (TM) and GINA COBB

Marc Ambinder:

Obama Wins; How Does Clinton Lose? — Barack Obama is, by almost every measure and by almost every unmeasurable impression, on the precipice of being able to declare victory and have his declaration be accepted by the media and his party. Hillary Clinton needed to find a way to give superdelegates their …

Discussion: TownHall Blog, Weekly Standard Blog, The New Republic, Daniel W. Drezner, Liberal Values and Taegan Goddard's …

New York Times:

It's About the White House — Like many Americans, we have been intrigued and often exasperated by the long-running Democratic primary and the ever smaller-bore spats between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. So we are thankful to Senator John McCain for reminding us Tuesday …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Foundry, NewsBusters.org and American Power

New York Times:

Clinton to Fight On Despite Split Result — With her hopes for a shift in campaign momentum deflated by Senator Barack Obama's commanding victory in North Carolina on Tuesday, his strong showing in Indiana and signs of mounting financial problems, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton nonetheless vowed to fight on …

Discussion: Rough Sketch, Associated Press, TalkLeft and Tennessee Guerilla Women

Dennis Gale / Associated Press:

McGovern, former Clinton backer, endorses Obama — SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Former Sen. George McGovern, an early supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, urged her to drop out of the Democratic presidential race and endorsed her rival, Barack Obama. — After watching the returns from the North Carolina …

Discussion: Hot Air and American Spectator

New York Times:
Senator Clinton's Remarks in Ind.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and PoliBlog (TM)

Wall Street Journal:
Divided for Obama — With his victory in North Carolina on Tuesday …

Discussion: The Corner, HorseRaceBlog, Whiskey Fire and Commentary

Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
FIRST THOUGHTS: THE GAME CHANGER

Discussion: Spin Cycle

David Paul Kuhn / The Politico:
What happened in Ind. and N.C.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, Pajamas Media, Macsmind and Betsy's Page

CNN:
Analysis: Clinton has tough task in stopping Obama

Discussion: Open Left, Salon, Los Angeles Times, Booman Tribune and Democratic Strategist

Scott Helman / Boston Globe:

AP: Clinton loaned herself $6.4m — INDIANAPOLIS — The Associated Press has confirmed this morning what many have been wondering in recent days: that Hillary Clinton, short on cash, long on debts, and facing a steep climb to the Democratic nomination, loaned herself another $6.4 million over the past month.

Discussion: Weekly Standard Blog, The Raw Story, American Street and The Page

John McCormick / The Swamp:
Obama camp: ‘we can see the finish line’

Discussion: The Page

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Clinton's Options Seem to Dwindle

Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:
Obama Memo to Superdelegates

Discussion: Althouse and American Street

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Garin: Clinton won the white vote

Discussion: The Swamp and MoJoBlog

John Bresnahan / The Politico:

GOP leaders warn of election disaster — Shellshocked House Republicans got warnings from leaders past and present Tuesday: Your party's message isn't good enough to prevent disaster in November, and neither is the NRCC's money. — The double shot of bad news had one veteran Republican …

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, michellemalkin.com, Daily Kos, HorsesAss.Org, Right Wing Nut House, Balloon Juice, Sister Toldjah, Riehl World View, Redstate, American Street, Hot Air, The Page, Gotomario.com and Instapundit.com

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

Obama Beats McCain Among Jewish Voters — Trails Clinton by slim margin among Jewish Democrats for the nomination — PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama is faring better than might be expected among Jewish voters, beating John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily general-election matchups …

Discussion: The Swamp and Ben Smith's Blogs

Jennifer Rubin / Commentary:

Preview — If you want to know what Hillary's strategist, Harold Ickes, might whisper in the ears of superdelegates if she decides to stay in and fight, here is a good taste. Nothing quite beats Paul Begala lecturing Donna Brazile that Democrats can't win with a coalition of “eggheads and African Americans.”

Discussion: The Page and Taylor Marsh

Al Kamen / Washington Post:

Just Can't Shake That Nazi Party Hangover — Tough news last night in the closely watched Republican primary in Indiana's 2nd Congressional District. — Loop favorite Tony Zirkle, who had lost two primaries to former congressman Chris Chocola— albeit with 30 percent of the vote …

Discussion: Think Progress and DownWithTyranny!

Joe Sudbay / AMERICAblog:

UPDATED — BREAKING: Wesley Clark reportedly called Hillary tonight, urging her to drop out — UPDATE: We got a denial from General Clark's office today. They contacted us to tell us he did not reach out to Clinton: … As I wrote in the post last night, we like General Clark here at AMERICAblog.

Discussion: Pam's House Blend and TPM Election Central

Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:

Pundits Declare the Race Over — Very early this morning, after many voters had already gone to sleep, the conventional wisdom of the elite political pundit class that resides on television shifted hard, and possibly irretrievably, against Senator Hillary Clinton's continued viability as a presidential candidate.

Discussion: Hullabaloo, BlueOregon, Trailhead and Gawker

Todd Beeton / MyDD:

The Tie Has Been Broken — Yep, I'm still up. Sorry it's taken me so long to weigh in with a sort of post-mortem on tonight, this has taken me longer to compose than I had expected and I now realize I should have put an overnight thread up. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts - Todd

Discussion: TalkLeft, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Election Inspection, The Mahablog, TPM Election Central, FiveThirtyEight.com and Comments from Left Field

Krooney / The Page:

BUNCHES OF SUPERS — George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America”: “More superdelegates will come out today for Barack Obama -they will come three, four, five at a time, and this nomination will be locked up.” — Associated Press: Obama to pocket the support of at least four supers, to be announced later Wednesday.