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Obama = Roger Maris
How many delegates needed to win nomination? 2024
How many more does Obama need? 291
How many is Obama expected to pickup in Guam, Indiana, and North Carolina? 100 (give or take a few)
How many undeclared superdelegates? 233
Will 191 of them endorse Obama by May 7th?
Unlikely.
But, look down the road. Obama can be expected to win about 100 more delegates in remaining primaries and 30 from add-ons to be named.
So, how many new superdelegates does Obama need? 61
A lot of people were angry when Roger Maris hit 61 homeruns in 1961 surpassing Babe Ruth's record. He was considered an outsider despite having won the American League MVP in 1960. Many fans wanted their hero Mickey Mantle to be the one to do it.
Mickey said "It was all I lived for, to play baseball." and Roger was quoted as saying "All I wanted was to be a good ballplayer."
Baseball was better for having those two exceptional and gifted athletes. I didn't get to see them play live, but I'm thankful to witness this historic campaign and for these two talented politicians. Like baseball it's a long season and easy to get frustrated from one game to the next.
Obama will be the one to break the record. I believe he will be our first African American President. When Obama gets the nomination I will celebrate his achievement and hope his hard work earned him new fans. I will not revel in the disappointment of Hillary fans. She's our teammate.
One final note: I look forward to seeing our first woman President one day (maybe it will be one of my daughters).
Comments (6)
Just out of curiosity which delegate tracker are you using for the 291 figure?
May 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com
They might miss an endorsement here or there, but I like that they don't count them until they have an official source.
May 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
On the subject of daughters, it was a little tough taking my 9 year old into the voting booth on Super Tuesday and having her pull the Obama lever. I'm as feminist as they come and expect big things from my girl. It would have been a great moment for the two of us if she could have pulled the lever for a woman.
But the longer this campaign has gone on, the more I'm convinced we will have a woman president in the near future. As rancorous as it has been, the Democratic Party has broken too many barriers and opened too many doors this primary season for Americans to feel comfortable with the simple 2 white guys running against 2 white guys formula. Good for us.
But before someone jumps in, let me add that the first woman president is not going to be Hillary Clinton (nor Hillary Rodham Clinton).
May 1, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I still say Hillary should have ran in '04. I still think she would have won then. And I would have voted for her at that time.
I think the same of McCain in 2000 before he lost his mind and when he really "appeared" speak for common sense.
I dont think either one of them are fit for Presidency now.
P.S. Nice Original Post.
May 1, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I couldn't agree with you more. The election in 2004 was the exact moment when the party needed someone with high name recognition who had "already been vetted" in order to unseat an embarassment of an incumbent in the White House I guess she wasn't ready to lead on Day 1/21/05. And look at the damage that has been done to our nation, to our party, and to our formerly beloved First Lady since then. Tragic on all levels...
I can't wait for the day when we have a President who happens to be female. I can't wait for the day when all feminists, male and female, realize that their fight is not to have a woman, any woman, elected, but rather to have gender be a non-issue in elections. We will have a candidate that can get us there in my lifetime. It just isn't Hillary.
May 1, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed that much of the damage to our nation and Hillary could have been avoided had she run in 2004. But, I suspect the Democratic Party would have been worse off had they won. We would still have had trouble in Iraq and with our economy. I suspect the Republicans would have had some success pinning some of the blame on the Democrats. The only solace I take out of these past four years is that full effects of Republican policies are clear. Those that might never have questioned tax cuts, etc...are doing so now.
May 1, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
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