Can Obama and Clinton repair the rift?

He has not lost sight of it. He is just agitated that everyone else does not want to play the game by his rules

i think Kennedy is supporting a needed change in politics. while I do like Hillary, her electability is of concern to me. Obama I think is more electable at this time.

If I stand to be corrected...let me know

Kennedy supporting a change in politics? Irony or ironies

There are a significant number of voters who will never vote for a black man.

There's also a significant number of voters who will never vote for a woman.

Thus my comment about throwing what looks to be a very important election.

A lot of it may be all hype, but one thing I have noticed is that Democrats have this nasty way on inadvertently destroying themselves. Both Obama and Clinton want to be President so badly, that they're willing to get a little too dirty with the politics. The verbal bashing and personal attacks are bound to turn off a lot of undecided voters.

One thing I do give Republicans credit for is how they manage to rally behind their candidate. Even if they don't win the nomination, they all support the one that does have it. They realize that in the end, all they want is a Republican in office for that would mean they would have a better chance in having their conservative voices and opinions heard. Keep in mind, this is the ONLY thing I give Republicans credit for.

I just hope that after the smoke clears, the Dems can put aside their differences and focus on the real prize. I'm more than ready to vote for either Obama or Clinton, as soon as they can figure out who they want to lead the party.

Obama polls better against any of the republican contenders than Hillary.....I agree he has a better shot in the general..........but I'm sure someone will correct me..

Well said.

At the end of the day, the republican base will go and vote for the republican candidate even if he is a pro-choice, pro-gay liberal conservative.

Dems whose candidate is not on the ticket will stay home instead of supporting the party's nominee.

Who will Win? You do the math.

it's not that significant, especially given the political situation. if there ever was a time that a female or black Democrat could fly past such prejudices and into the Whitehouse it will be this election.

That's the thing. There was not ever such a time. And even if the time is now, why add a degree of difficulty to what ought to be a slam dunk election win?

Time will tell, I suppose.

I said this before but I think it bears repeating:

The DEMS are trying to make a point by nominating a woman or a black man; not win an election.

Because they are the candidates who are winning the delagates. It's not like Dean points at his choice for Democratic candidate and says 'you're the man.' A woman, a black man, and a bunch of white dudes are the ones campaigning and the American democratic community has by and large decided that one of these two will be the one to contest the next presidential election on the virtues of the candidates. If that doesn't speak to their electability then i don't really know what will.

I think you may be underestimating the Depth of Bush hatred by democrats that started with him being crowned president over Gore by the Supreme Court. It has been festering and growing in the heart of Democrats for the past 7 years. Hatred is a POWERFUL motivational force, exhibit the RECORD turnout of Democrats and Independents in every caucus and primary held thus far. The Democrats and democratically leaning Independents WILL turn out in record numbers come November.

Perhaps they believe it's a slam dunk election despite these 'difficulties'. Also, if they're right they may (depending on who one supports of course) have the added bonus end result of a competent administration. I suspect they're right, on the first point at least.

As you say, time will tell, quite a lot can go hideously wrong between now and November.

I firmly believe that a party's candidate should only be chosen by voters affiliated with that party. In most of these primaries anyone is allowed to vote for candidates for either party. So it is happening that republicans are crossing over and voting or Obama because he would be easier to beat in an general election and democrats are voting for McCain because he will look like a fossil compared to the dem candidate.