Did Obama win Texas?

Was Hillary Clinton's declaration of victory in Texas last week a tad premature? With the caucus results finally trickling in, it appears it might have been.

According to the latest figures, Barack Obama is on course to win the caucus - which decides one-third of the state's delegates - by 56 to 45 per cent, a large enough margin to tip the overall contest in his favour after a narrow 51 to 47 per cent win for Clinton in the primary. Now roughly half the caucus results have still to come in, but, if the current trend continues, Obama is set to take 38 delegates to Clinton's 30, putting the final delegate count for the state at Obama 99 - Clinton 96.

This has got little attention in the mainstream media - NPR is the only major news outlet to have reported it so far - but it hasn't gone unnoticed by the Obama campaign, which has put a little blue Obama logo in the Texas spot on its frontpage map of primary contests. It is a little more optimistic in its delegate projections, totting up 99 for Obama against 94 for Clinton. Meanwhile on Clinton's site, the Texas delegate split is notably absent.

Following the NPR report the figures were picked up by a number of reputable blogs, including the Daily Kos and Daily Dish, yet the Obama campaign has so far made little attempt to correct the impression of a stunning Clinton victory in the state. This may be because the Clinton camp is threatening to take legal action over the caucus results, or because the delegate counts will not be officially confirmed until June due to the very convoluted caucusing process (the delegates chosen last week go to county conventions where they pick delegates to the state convention, where the delegates to the national convention are finally selected. Phew.) Or perhaps because Clinton can still lay claim to the popular vote in the primary - but then Al Gore can still claim the popular vote in the 2000 presidential election.

You would think, with Clinton touting her Texas "victory" as evidence that only she can win key battleground states, Obama might want to make just a little bit more noise about this one. The real prize for Clinton in Texas was momentum, and correcting the record at some distant point in the future won't take that away from her. 

Comments

[jason lance]

jest shutup clinton you won the Primaries. your jest a sorry losser.

[Judi Wilson]

Obama should be talking about this NONSTOP for the next 6 weeks! So basically, in Super Tuesday II, he won 2 and she won 2 AND he won more delegates. If this had turned out in her favor, you better believe she'd be yelling about it for MONTHS.......!

[Chris]

Yes but the Clingons are lying cheats.

All that counts is winning - by whatever means necessary.

Don't you get it yet?

[Rhonda Miller]

The US media has an interest in keeping the democratic race going. As this race between Obama and Clinton goes on the ratings keep increasing. Since the news has to make a profit for corporations instead of being purely a source of unbiased information we often get sensationalized by our media. I have only seen one program (Countdown on MSNBC)that has said Obama won Texas.

If the church is not for Jesus it most come down, ride on Mr Abama the Lord is with you, ride on.

[dr.Michael]

The Clintons will stoop to any tatctics they can to rally the voters behind her. Has the public forgotten the sordid and twisted paths that the clintons have strown in their wake. How much longer will they get away with their crimes. The only candidate that can beat McCain is Barrack Obama. Not because he is black, not because he is young, but because he is not politically tied to the mainstream politics in Washingon. (No I am not a democrat)

[RC]

The caucuses in Texas were full of fraud and corruption. There is documented (on film) evidence of people being allowed into the caucuses who had not voted in the Primary. ID's and voter registrations were not checked. No wonder Obama wants to have caucuses in Michigan and Florida. He can send his little demons out to disrupt the electoral process. That is why there will probably be a lawsuit. I hope to God there is. I also pray that Obama will be found out for who he is before the nomination is decided. Then many of you journalists will probably throw yourselves off of cliffs like lemmings at the fall of your Messiah.

[bishop]

They are still counting so they will not know until March 29th who won Texas

[George W]

Well it ,Uhh, Wurked fur me with youse guys on Fox News, in 01 Hee, Hee :-)
Lt. G.W. Bush

[Randy]

Ultimately, the only substantive view of an election is decided by individuals casting votes through a generally circulated ballot system.

The "caucus" community political concept for electing a Presidential candidate is less than a true reflection of the electorates will.

The Primary process is exactly aligned to the General election process.

This is the very reasoning that has kept Hillary in the race.

So, using general political reasoning... Yeah, Hillary Won Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island.

[Uma Shankar]

THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO AMERICA:

IF McCAIN becomes US PRESIDENT: America will be taken over from Bush&Co and screwed up and down. Don't be surprised if Americans illegally cross into Mexico....

If HILLARY becomes US PRESIDENT: She will not be even ready at the last day of her presidency. She might loot millions and millions of US dollar and immigrate to Australia...

Where is HILLARY's TAX RETURN???

All those who talk about '35-50 years experience', picking up the phone at '£AM' will become illegal immigrants and cross border into Canada at '5AM'!!!

America needs BARACK OBAMA more than BARACK OBAMA need AMERICA.............

All those who VOTE for McCain or Hillary will deeply regret and die with guilty than they screwed up their beloved country more than those who did on 9/11.

Be part of making HISTORY, every VOTE to BRACK OBAMA will change millions and millions of American Hopes.

AMERICANS, Please drop your Burger and Coke. Please get real and serious.

[Brendt]

"reputable blogs, including the Daily Kos"

You owe me a new spit-take-free monitor.