We were listening to MSNBC last night, and they were discussing patterns in the Super Tuesday voting. We usually watch parts of Tweety and all of Countdown, and I don’t recall exactly which two talking heads were on at that moment, but the two white men who were speaking were very excited that Obama had gotten a couple points more among white men than Clinton had.
Now I’m impressed and happy that there seems to be so little of a racist effect among white Democratic voters. But the excitement they expressed was over the top. “Democrats have had such a terrible time attracting white men!” they said. “It looks like Obama will have a better chance attracting them this time!”
The problem here is two-fold. First, they showed no evidence that Obama had brought more white men into the Democratic fold. Young people, yes, black voters, yes, but no sign that more of those all-important white men were flocking to the Dems because of Obama.
The silliest bit, though, was the excitement that white men were voting for Democrats! Wow! It’s a Democratic primary, stupid people. Everyone who votes is going to vote for a Democrat (unless they’re uncommitted, but even then they’re Democrats).
I would like to think that, if Obama is the candidate, he can make some of those Southern states competitive for Democrats again. But I doubt it. No way is he going to reach the core of the Republican party, nor will Hillary.
A two-point advantage in a Democratic primary is not a world-changing advantage. And the pundits need to get some perspective when they discuss these things (but I won’t hold my breath).
Huge congratulations to