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Labels: cabinet members, civil society, clinton popularity, first visit to india, Hillary Clinton, l k advani, mumbai taj hotel, political leaders, Rahul Gandhi, symbolism

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The Democrats are putting the "stale" in stalemate.

Barack Obama needed to "close the deal" by beating Hillary Clinton in Indiana and North Carolina. Clinton needed a "gamechanger" so that she could have a viable path to the presidential nomination.

But as of May 6 night, no deal closed and no game changed.

Obama's big win in North Carolina, coupled with Clinton's narrow lead in Indiana, adds to a sense that his nomination is inevitable. But the muddle also gave Clinton a reason to remain in the race and force the party's superdelegates to decide it.

At least for now, there is no exit plan. We're going to West Virginia! And we're going to Oregon and Kentucky! And we're going to Puerto Rico and Montana and South Dakota! Yeeaarrgghh! .

"There were those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election, but today what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C.," Obama told his supporters here at North Carolina State University on May 6 night. But in the next breath, he acknowledged that he hadn't closed the deal, either. "I want to start by congratulating Senator Clinton on what appears to be her victory in the great state of Indiana," he added, to boos from the crowd.

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Labels: American history, Barack Obama, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, North Carolina, presidential nomination, stalemate

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Clinton and Obama talked briefly and let out a pair of loud laughs during a close vote on a $157 billion economic stimulus plan pushed by Democrats, trying to set a different tone - at least in public - for a race that their closest advisers now say could last into the summer.

The person who broke the ice was Sen.

Edward Kennedy, (D-MA), whose endorsement of Obama played a key role in an earlier awkward Clinton-Obama encounter in the Capitol. Feb. 6, after Clinton won handily in Kennedy's home state, he approached her while she was talking to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA), a prominent Clinton backer.

Kennedy cut in and made jokes at his own expense, prompting Obama to join in on the fun. Kennedy noted before a group of senators that Clinton's New York Giants had just stunned his New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, as well. "It's not been a good month for Ted in terms of contests," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, (D-MO), an Obama supporter.

What a difference nine days makes.

On Jan. 28, fresh off his trouncing of Clinton in South Carolina, Obama was endorsed by Kennedy. During a pair of appearances on the Senate floor, Clinton and Obama studiously avoided each other as his supporters treated Obama like a returning hero. Just before the start of the State of the Union address that night, Clinton reached out to shake hands with Kennedy as Obama turned to talk to McCaskill.

Played repeatedly on political chat shows on cable television, the event was turned into "The Snub."

Labels: Hillary Clinton, Kennedy, Obama

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With almost all of the state's 1,781 precincts reporting, Obama, D-Ill., was winning 38 percent of the delegates being awarded in the competition. Clinton, D-N.Y., took 29 percent to run third behind former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., who drew 30 percent.

Obama's victory came after the longest, costliest and most intensely fought campaign in the history of the Iowa caucuses. The year-long competition produced a huge turnout that temporarily swamped some precincts and reflected the energy and enthusiasm among Democratic voters determined to recapture the White House in November.

Labels: Barack Obama wins Iowa, Hillary Clinton, john edwards

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On the Democratic side, three candidates -Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and John Edwards, former senator from North Carolina -- are running neck-and-neck-and-neck, with the rest of the field fighting to squeeze past one of them to finish third.

Among Republicans, former governors Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts are battling for first place, while the race for third is a toss-up among several contenders.

The closeness of the caucus contests here increases the import of these final days -- and any verbal misstep, breakthrough TV ads or crystallizing moment on the campaign trail -in what already have been exceptionally fluid races.

Iowans are scheduled to vote on January 3.

"We've never had anything like this," said David Nagle, a former congressman and past chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, who has been tracking the caucuses since they gained national attention in 1972. "If you can find a three-headed coin, flip it. That's about the best projection I can give you."

The onslaught in Iowa reflects its centrality to the presidential contest, despite the efforts of politicians in more populous places -- including Michigan, Florida and California -- to cut the state down to size by moving their contests up to January and early February. All that Iowa's detractors managed to do was to elevate the state's import and add uncertainty by pushing the campaign into the heart of the holiday season.

"This is really a caucus like no other," said Jeff Link, a longtime Iowa Democratic strategist and Edwards supporter. "Everyone feels they need to get in as many visits and events as they can between the 26th and the 3rd because it's close. Everyone's going to try to do everything they can in these closing days."

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Labels: Barack Obama wins Iowa, Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee

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