What an amazing US election year it has been. The democrats had two historical candidates, for the democratic presidential candidate for the United States of America. An afro-american senator Barack Obama, and female senator Hillary Clinton. Two outstanding polititions, both worthy of the presidency. It was a close and sometimes dividing primary election months for the democrats. In the end Barack Obama got the nomination. The first afro-american ever in US history, chosen to be the presidential candidate for a major party.
At the beginning of the primaries, everyone expected Hillary Clinton to win the nomination. She came second in Ioha, and Obama started his race for the withe house. The fight was on. Both campaigns competed for every single vote. And sometimes it got a bit ugly. The race between the two generated a large amount of media coverage, and got many people to registre to vote.
When is was clear that Obama was going to win, many Hillary supporters were sad that their candidate didn´t win. That understandable, everyone want´s their candidate to win. Some of Hillary´s supporters were really fired up for the opportunity of her as the first female US president ever. Some of them wanted her so bad that after Obama won, they said that they wont vote for him. Why not?
Why not vote for Obama? If they are not going to vote for Obama, what are they going to do with there vote? Some have said they will vote for John McCain, others have said they will not vote at all. This is something I don´t understand. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have almost identical political views. John McCain stands all over on the other side on most issues.
The reasons people give is that Obama stole the nomination, was sexist against her, and so on. When they say stole the nomination they are talking about what happend in Michigan and Florida. Florida moved their primary date in May 2007, so that they would be the first state to have a democratic primary. But in August 2006 the Democratic National Committee had adopted a proposal from Rules and Bylaws Committee, to only allow four states to have primaries or caucuses before February 5 (also known as super Tuesday). And you guessed it, Florida is not one of them states. Because they didn´t move it back, the Democratic Committee ruled that Florida´s delegates would not be seated at the Democratic National Convention, and if seated not able to vote. As a result of this the presidential candidates didn´t campaign there. But Florida still held a primary, and Hillary won. So when she needed the delegates she wanted them to count, but was unsuccessful.
A similar situation also happend in Michigan. They also violated party rules and moved up their primary. As a result Obama and the rest of the candidates withdrew their names from the Michigan ballot. They did this from pressure from the Democratic Natinal Committee. But Hillary and Dodd decided to keep their names on the ballot. So not surprising she won that state too. Michigan´s delegates would also not count at the convention because of the date move.
At the last stages of the primaries, Hillary was pushing to get both states to be given back their delegates. She was only doing this because she won both states, and was behind in the delegate count. I understand that all votes should count, but Obama didn´t have his name on the ballot. And Hillary went against her own party rules. If both states were to count, the only fair thing to do would have been to hold new primaries. But because of little time, both states were instead given half votes.
Just days before the convention both states were given full votes. And Hillary told her delegates to vote for Obama, and get behind him to help him become the next president. Starting after weeks after she dropped out of the race, she has been trying to get her following to vote for Obama. It has had much success, but still there are some that wont vote. They are the minority, and getting smaller. But Obama needs all the votes ha can get, so an other Republican doesn´t gets chosen for president.
The last handful that wont vote for Obama; did you vote for Hillary´s policies or for Hillary the person? Because if you look at what Obama´s policies are you will find out that they are 99% alike. Yes she would have been a great president, but Obama is the nominee. He stands for the same issues. John McCain is more of the same. Do you want another 4 years with the same failed Bush policies? Or do you want change? The issues should be the at the heart of everyones vote, not the face on the poster.
Having said all this you might guess that I am a Obama fan. But I would like to say that is the coin was turned and Hillary was the nominee. I would stand behind her, and hope she would win. I sadly cant vote in the US election as I´m not an American. So all I can is use your right to vote!. Even if you don´t agree with my candidate. Because if you don´t vote, I believe you can´t complain much about what the presidents does.
Hillary want´s her voters to vote for Obama, why not follow her?
YES WE CAN (elect Obama as president)
Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet wrote today (02.09.08) that Obama is leading in two recent polls. To positive meningsmålinger for Demokratenes presidentkandidat. Where it says that a poll from USA Today gives Obama 50%, and McCain 43%. Another CBS poll showes Obama with 48%, agianst Mccains 40%. But at the same time, a poll from sunday done CNN showes that the race is much closer. With only one prosent between them. 49% for Obama and 48% for McCain.
VG another norwegian newspaper, is reporting that Obama has 49% against McCain´s 43%. Obama øker ledelsen.
It looks like it will be a close race this year also.
