Obama Sets Sights on McCain, Ignores Clinton
Some insiders say Barack Obama is the Democratic presumptive nominee.
May 10, 2008 — -- A funny thing has happened in the Democratic primary race. After months of battling Hillary Clinton and rarely engaging presumptive Republican nominee John McCain directly, Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama has seemed to stop running against his primary opponent and has focused on the Arizona senator.
In his latest stump speech, Obama ignored Clinton and aimed his criticism directly at McCain, whom he would face in the general election if the Democrats tap him as their top pick.
"Sen. McCain is running for president to double down on George Bush's failed economic policies. I am running to change them and that will be the fundamental difference in this election when I am the Democratic nominee for president," Obama said in a speech yesterday in Beaverton, Ore.
The Illinois senator outlined his differences with McCain on the economy, health care and gas prices. Not once did he mention Clinton.
Obama's new focus came as he overtook Clinton in superdelegates, which was the New York senator's last statistical advantage in seeking the nomination. He has 272 superdelegates to her 267.
Analysts said the Obama strategy is aimed at portraying him as the inevitable nominee and drawing the party faithful to him. It's something even some former Clinton administration officials are willing to accept.
"At this point, Barack is the presumptive nominee," said Rahm Emanuel, former senior advisor to President Bill Clinton.
"[Hillary Clinton] put up a good fight and put up a good race, but I think there's a time now where she needs to concede and unify the party," said Leon Panetta, President Clinton's former chief of staff.
Meanwhile, Clinton refuses to give up hope or disappear, and she is pleading for time and donations.
"Give me your votes. This is no way over yet," she said.
And while the Obama camp has conceded he'll lose to Clinton in Tuesday's West Virginia primary, it is hedging its bets on Oregon to help it seal the nomination and put it over the top.
"The fight for the nomination is a lot about math. That's where Barack Obama is strongest," said Mark Halperin, an ABC News political analyst. "But it's also about psychology, and these defections away from the Clintons of some longtime friends is backbreaking in terms of both the math and psychology."
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