Goodbye 50 + 1

There are some interesting tidbits to mull over by the political junkies on the site, but here's some morning musing after resounding Obama wins yesterday:

There are two great candidates on the D side, and only one will win.

Given how formidable Hillary was six months ago, credit to Obama for running a great campaign.

How is McCain going to beat the dragon-slayer when he often runs second to the dragon? "My second place candidate beats your field", not in the polls but in the vote.

Total Democratic vote in Wisconsin: 1,110,702
Total Republican vote in Wisconsin: 409,078

The story of the primary is not just the D turnout, but the idea that Obama is running a campaign that is more than 50+1 (aka a Bush mandate, aka McCain's strategery). He brings in new and younger voters, the kind of voter that campaigns are taught 'don't count on them, they won't show up'. Well, so far...

A new Rasmussen poll notes something that makes cable pundits' heads explode everywhere:

61% of Americans would like to see U.S. troops brought home from Iraq within a year. That's up a point from a week ago and two points from two weeks ago. Over the last eighteen weeks, the number wanting troops home within a year has ranged from a low of 57% to a high of 64%.

Twenty-four percent (24%) now want the troops brought home immediately.

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, 34% want troops to remain in Iraq until the mission is complete. That is down two points from a week ago. The number of Americans who want the troops to remain and finish the mission had ranged from 32% to 39% since tracking began.

How do we think that's going to help John McCain? How will Bush's approval (see graph) help Republicans? How will a recession?

Local paper this am:

Rell as McCain running mate? Popular governor could enhance GOP ticket

HARTFORD -- Could Gov. M. Jodi Rell be headed for the White House?

Political pundits have speculated lately about [Connecticut's] Rell, a Brookfield resident, being a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination...

A New York Post story also placed Rell on a short list of McCain's potential running mates. Others to make the list include billionaire publisher Steve Forbes and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Enjoy your coffee...