Hill's Big Night

Hill leads Barack in Weest Virginia 67-26, with 100 percent of the vote in: her 41-points margin netted her a 147, 410 popular votes, and 20 of 28 delegates.  Your basic stomping.  So, Obama gets 26 percent of the vote in a bellwether Democratic state, that, like Iowa, is 95 percent white.  OK, he hardly campaigned.  But 41 points is not a swift night for Barack.  Apropos of race, figures from PA show that  12 percent of voters told pollsters that race was a factor; 15 percent of whites said so, versus nearly one-third of blacks.  Thus race is twice s likely, if PA says anything, for race to be a factor (among Democrats) in black, than in white, voting.  Hill won 53 percent of independents.  Only 51 percent of W-VA Democrats say they will vote for Obama.  Hill won 94 percent of "experience" voters.

Obama's vulnerabilities do not end there.  ABC's Jake Tapper nails 14 instances where Obama has blamed his staff instead of himself.  NRO's Rich Lowry lists criticisms Obama rules as out of bounds--basically, everything.  Nor, explains Dick Morris, can Hill as Obama's Veep help the ticket.  Her loyal original supporters would vote for the ticket, but not those who came to her late in the game due to Obama's pastor and "bitter" episodes.  Further, as Veep she would rival Barack for influence (to say nothing of Bill as third would-be president).

Kentucky, with its colonels and horses, beckons next Tuesday, May 20.  Should Hill win another blow-out and stay close in Oregon, her final fork in the road will appear: (a) fight to the convention and destroy her political future if Obama loses; (b) strike the best deal after Kentucky,, and retain a chance to win the nomination in 2012 if Obama loses.  The latter will require, of course, that she work hard to get Obama elected.  Her best deal?  Easy: Skip Veep and bargain for Senate Majority Leader in the new Congress.  Because Harry Reid is such a cipher, Hill can win the post now.  She would instantly eclipse Pelosi, and would become the leading voice in Congress.  If Big Mac wins, she becomes the voice of the opposition, not Obama.