First time in the history of politics that the popular vote leader is asked to quit the race? [View All]

[NJSecularist]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/14/eveningnews/main4097478.shtml?source=mostpop_story

Couric: You have the support of blue-collar white voters. But you only get about eight percent of African-American voters. And that's usually, as you know Sen. Clinton, what Republicans get. What do you think is behind this racial divide?

Clinton: Oh, I think its pride. I think its excitement. I absolutely understand and respect that. But once we get to November, my supporters, his supporters, no matter who they are, are gonna take a hard look at John McCain in the course of the campaign and realize this is someone who didn't support Dr. Martin Luther King holiday.

This is someone who has supported President Bush down the line on so many of the issues that really matter to people no matter who they are and where they live. We're gonna make a very strong case why our Democratic nominee should attract every single one of the 34 million people who have voted for us.

I've received nearly 17 million, Sen. Obama's received nearly 17 million; I'm slightly ahead. Those 34 million people, they will end up voting for the Democrat because there is no reason why they should want to continue the failed policies of George Bush.

Of all voters who have showed up at the polls this year, Hillary Clinton leads among those voters. It's only when you parse the votes into categories where they don't count or when a certain vote in a caucus is worth 10x as much as a primary vote due to some arcane delegate system is when Obama leads.

Even if the delegate argument held any water (it doesn't; neither candidate will reach 2024 pledged delegates), is this the first time in the history of politics where a candidate who leads in the popular vote (or is close) has been asked to leave the race before the convention? Reagan stayed in the race in 1976, Kennedy stayed in the race in 1980, Hart stayed in the race in 1984, Jackson stayed in the race in 1988, etc.

Yet Hillary, who leads among all voters who showed up at the polls, needs to suspend her campaign immediately? :sarcasm: :sarcasm: