Have you ever seen a more perfectly mismatched couple?
Both Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee seemingly came from nowhere, whipped up massive support and stormed to victory during yesterday’s Iowa caucus.
Obama dominated the Democratic camp with a whopping 38% of votes – eight and nine points ahead of John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, respectively.
Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee seduced 34% of Iowa’s Republicans. So-called social conservative Mitt Romney only grabbed 25% of the vote, while John McCain and Fred Thompson slid in with 13% each.
The most intriguing part of the whole night, meanwhile, is that Bill Richardson reportedly pulled a Dennis Kucinich: his campaign told supporters to head on over to Obama’s side.
Could it be Richardson’s cutting a deal to be vice-president, a role he swore to our editor he’d never take?
The National Stonewall Democrats released a bland statement post-caucus. Writes executive director Jon Hoadley:
It is important that LGBT Democrats continue to shape our Democratic field on issues which directly impact our families. As we move through the presidential selection process, National Stonewall Democrats will continue to utilize our Pride in the Party program to aide LGBT Democrats to influence presidential campaigns while they campaign for delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
While the nationalnon-profit may be putting on a blank public face, our sources tell us some Stonewall members are truly pissed off: they wanted Clinton to win. We can’t wait to see how gay groups who have been squeezing the first lady will react to Obama’s victory.
But, as they say, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. And when we say “fat lady” we mean America.
Dawster
Obama’s speech and the end of the night was damn inspiring. i was relatively excited about the outcome. i’ve always believed that Clinton is just not relateable. no one else seems to believe me.
it’s also amazing because Iowa has never actually voted for an African-American ANYTHING… so for a democratic candidate, that’s a rather overwhelming outcome.
the most annoying outcome was Huckabee. he likewise gave a rousing speech (filled with strong Christian over and undertones). What a dork. i really thought Mitt would have had a stronger number for the night…
Billie
It’s a shame that so many gays don’t like Obama, just because one guy, McClurkin, does. So since they don’t like that Donnie McClurkin doesn’t like being gay; they’d rather vote for that warmongering cipher, sHillary.
Too bad. It doesn’t make any sense, and Hillary is a lot more wrong than she is right about gay people.
Alexa
Clinton is NOT the only viable alternative to Obama, why people here of all places dismiss Edwards as a possibility is beyond me. Though I agree, Dawster, Obama’s speech last night was very inspiring – it was his speaking skills that first brought him to national attention, so I suppose that’s no surprise. I can see him winning over non-commited voters quite easily in the presidential election, not to mention bringing out young voters more than either Clinton or Edwards could.
ee.em.bee
I really hate to go there, but I have serious concerns about Obama’s electability. Hooray for “white America”, i.e. Iowa Democrats who went to caucuses, voting for a black man for Pres. The question is whether all those red-staters will be willing to pull the lever or punch the chad or whatever for a Negro in November, when the alternative is a southern baptist minister. I hate to be that way, but it often seems that that’s the America we live in.
I want to live in the America that is enchanted with electing Obama. He’s lukewarm on gay stuff, but that’s the best the field really offers anyway.
I don’t think Hillary is the only alternative, as last night demonstrated. And I’m warming to Obama, with only the electability question still bugging me (ya see, I really really really want a dem in November, not any of the righwing nutcases the repubs are coughing up). An Obama victory could do astonishing things for our society, and send a powerful message to the world about us. Of course, the same could be said of a huckabee win, but in a different sense…
ProfessorVP
Both infuse speeches with religious crap. Both are against marriage equality. Neither would immediately remove our troops from Iraq. Not a total mismatch really.
thatguyfromboston
Here’s the thing, in a general election of Obama V. Huckabee, Obama will win hands down. Republicans that aren’t evangelicals of which there are a lot, don’t want Huckabee and would vote for Obama. If Hillary is the nominee, there’s no way any of them would vote for her. Obama has a lot more of a chance of winning cross-party support in a general election much more than Hillary.
DavidDust
I am a Hillary supporter, but I must say Obama’s speech gave me chills (the good kind). I really felt like I was watching something historic. Unfortunately, I don’t think Hillary can come even close to giving people that feeling.
Puddy Katz
it will be mccain versus obama, mark my words
blackiemiko
I agree, I am a big Hillary fan too, but Obama’s speech was amazing. The kind that gives you goosebumps. 🙂
hells kitchen guy
“Both infuse speeches with religious crap. Both are against marriage equality. Neither would immediately remove our troops from Iraq. Not a total mismatch really.”
Moses has spoken from on high. Beware, oh ye transgressing Children of Israel!
SeaFlood
I think people project their own racializing rationalizing on Southern states when it is actually unfounded. Southern people have more experience with B/black people. It’s other parts of the country, that does not have that experience, that we should be the concerned with — like Iowa.
And his speech… his SPEECH… was amazing. Also, I have to wonder about any candidate right now… Dems have to say things that will not alienate the Right or they’ll vote for whatever Republican dummy they set up. I think there’s so much room in Obama’s heart for change that he might actually shook people re: marriage equality. Also, I have heard him say before that he wanted the troops out of Iraq as he has been against this war since it began. But now that he’s on the Presidential Trail, he has to be more moderate or he’s sunk. See, that’s how Republicans have been working… they are all moderate and then show how fundy they are.
But Obama… Obama is my choice for next president.
ProfessorVP
Hi Hells. No, Know-Nothing, this thread isn’t about your favorite topic- me.
SeaFlood, Obama’s lack of support for marriage equality has nothing to do with his heart, and everything to do with polls. Yes, he wants to bring the troops home, in a phased withdrawal. That’s not good enough for me and a lot of other folks. And the idea that Democrats have to be disingenuous, more moderate, and act more like Republicans in order to win is the same old, tired Clinton “triangulation” crap. The preposterous notion of a President Huckabee is within the realm of possibility if Democrats don’t wake up and smell the latte.
hells kitchen guy
But it is, it is. It’s ProfessorVP, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful Great One who prophecies, like Cassandra, to the unwashed masses.
Bitch Republic
Obama won’t stand a chance in the general election because he’s too naive and inexperienced.
http://www.BitchRepublic.net