Why Hillary Clinton Will Win the Democratic Nod

I intend to vote for Barack Obama. So when I first learned he was opening an office here in the Lehigh Valley, I sent two emails to his local campaign coordinator, Bar Johnston. Perhaps she might feed me some information about local events, which I would in turn share with you. They were sent weeks ago, back on March 6.

I never got a reply.

I do receive approximately six emails daily from Barack's national campaign, but locally, everyone must be too busy to answer a simple email. A prominent local elected official is also getting this run around. On the fence, he was supposed to get a call from Obama's camp weeks ago. He's still waiting.

Hillary is beginning to look more attractive.

On Saturday, I visited Obama's Lehigh Valley site for tickets to his speaking engagement at Muhlenberg. While I saw no information about his upcoming appearance, I did see some rather nasty comments about Hillary Clinton.

"Do you think she wakes up a cunt or does she just play it by ear?"

"Do they even fuck anymore?"

I called Obama's local HQs. A nice lady at the other end was honestly horrified by those comments and they were quickly deleted. But how did they get up there in the first place? While I had her on the line, I asked for an Obama ticket.

"We have nothing to do with those tickets. That's handled on a national level. Check back on the web site throughout the day."

I did, but nothing ever showed up.

Funny thing. The very next day, those tickets suddenly became available at the very office that supposedly had nothing to do with them. By the time I found out, it was too late.

Despite its vaunted reputation as a "well-oiled hope machine," Obama's campaign here is both disorganized and unresponsive. I'm not the only one who's noticed. In addition to that local elected official, at least one local reporter agrees. Only two people in Obama's campaign are authorized to talk to the media in Pa. They're slow to return phone calls, even to real reporters.

Want an example? Last week, a cheerful Obama supporter was standing inside the Northampton County voter registration office with piles of completed registration forms. But when a reporter began talking to her, another Obama volunteer shut her up. "We're not supposed to talk to the press."

Obama has written off Pennsylvania. He knows he can't win here, not in a state with a Governor who supports Hillary and who, in his desire to be Secretary of Something, is tirelessly campaigning for her. So Barack actually spotted the Clintons a two week head start, enough time to build up her own momentum. If he thinks that's no big deal and he can make it up in another state, he needs to talk to Rudy Giuliani.

Last week, in search of news about that goofy Joe Long meet and greet, I called Clinton's local campaign headquarters. It was 11 PM, but campaign coordinator Rob Hopkins answered that phone on the first ring. He had no problem talking, and answered every question.

On the national level, Hillary Clinton's relations with the media are reputedly "strained to the point of active warfare in some cases." But strained relations are better than none at all. And last week, Hillary Clinton walked into The Pittsburgh-Tribune for a ninety minute chat with some of her harshest critics. "It was so counterintuitive, I just thought it would be fun to do."
Owner Richard M. Scaife declared, "I have a very different impression of Hillary Clinton today than before last Tuesday's meeting -- and it's a very favorable one indeed. "

Last week, I had lunch with a Clinton campaign worker. He tipped me off that one of the Clintons (Chelsea?) would make an appearance at Northampton Community College before the primary. Turns out he was right, so I'll tell you his second tip. On election eve, the Clintons will swing through the Lehigh Valley.

My impression is that Hillary will be the Democratic nominee for President. She will leave Pennsylvania with both momentum and money. Obama's campaign is in disarray, and Hillary is apparently much warmer and vibrant than commonly thought. Pennsylvania is where she makes her push. If you put your ears to the ground, you'll hear the train rumbling, and it's getting louder and louder.