HORSE RACE!
Hillary's razor thin victory (39%-37%) in New
Hampshire keeps her candidacy viable, Obama comes to New Jersey with
stops in Jersey City
Can Obama win New Jersey? Yes we can!
Rothman playing key role in Obama campaign as Bergen
becomes key battleground for the presidential nomination
HACKENSACK
- Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9), the five-term congressman and arguably the most
important Democrat in Bergen County is looking good these days as Illinois
Senator Barack Obama is not only leading in the delegate count, but is
now in a position to closeout the nomination come the all important February
5th primaries.
It was
only a few months ago that Rothman was less than embraced by party activists at
an Atlantic City convention in which he told the gathering that Obama was the
future while neighboring NY Senator Hillary Clinton represented the past.
Some were even writing Rothman's political
obituary for bucking the establishment and showing himself to be
independent of the powerful BCDO as well as Governor Jon Corzine for his
maverick take on the presidential race.
"Rothman rolled the dice and he's a winner.
He saw Clinton as a stagnant political figure who's been on the national state
for the better part of sixteen years. She lacks a message and is
hardly a messenger of change. Her inability to articulate a legitimate position
on Iraq and her inability to be straight in her answers has accumulated into
the biggest presidential disappointment since Ted Kennedy's 1980 challenge
of President Jimmy Carter," said one Bergen strategist who refused to be
identified.
Locally,
North Arlington Councilman Al Granell had high praise for Rothman and Senator
Obama.
"Congressman
Rothman is a real leader for the Democratic Party in Bergen County. I wish we had more who emulated his style,
character and cooperation. Senator Obama is a dynamic new leader for
America. His style and leadership skills far exceed the rest of the pack. The
question of whether he can win has been shattered when you consider that he
received nearly 40% of the vote in the Iowa race in a state where 94% of the
population is white," said the first-term Democrat.
Internal
polling out of Iowa shows that Hillary Clinton has her problems with males and
Democrats in general.
"In
Iowa, Hillary received just 16% support of
all males who participated in the caucuses. 70% of the participants voted
against her candidacy. Nationally, 17% of all
Democrats refuse to support her under any circumstances. There is no
scenario where Clinton can win against any Republican in the fall when
she's converting less than 90% of all Democrats in a general
election," said one local insider when asked to comment on the Clinton
campaign.
According
to media outlets, Obama will be New Jersey today at St. Peter's College in
Jersey City and his efforts to galvanize the Hudson County Democratic
Organization is growing by the day.
"There's
a comfort level with Obama. He's from Cook County. Cook County is Hudson's mirror politically. Obama is a street
organizer and tireless campaigner while Hillary has taken the "Bob Dole entitlement" approach to securing the nomination. She
thinks it's her turn and she's stumbled so far. Look for Obama
to win in South Carolina and make a real race of it in Nevada," said
one longtime observer of presidential politics.
While
there is plenty of primaries ahead, presidential contests are driven by
national momentum and Obama seems
to have the wind at his back.
"Clinton
has fundamentals flaws in her campaign . She was supposed to win this going
away. All the hacks & insiders who
control nothing all have egg on their face. Only Congressman
Steve Rothman was able to read the tea leaves as the only member of
congress to go out on a limb and endorse Obama when everyone in New Jersey was
in a "conga line" for Hillary. Should Rothman seek a senate seat, I'm
sure Barack Obama won't forget who was with him and who was against him,"
said one NJ pollster to comment on Rothman's
elevating status in Democratic circles.
