SPECIAL UPDATE: U.S. CAMPAIGN Y2K--THE FIRST ELECTIONS OF THE MILLENNIUM
WHERE DOES THE TRAIL GO NEXT? Come along with me and see here at the Suite....
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And here's your monthly update on what's hot, what's not, who's up, and who's down on this thing we call U.S. CAMPAIGN Y2K!!!
(1.) I WAS HALF WRONG AND 1/4 RIGHT!!
Last time, I predicted that Keyes and Bauer were out after South Carolina. Well, folks, even your faithful reporter makes a few mistakes (sorry to say...)! Bauer did take his proper exit--and shocked even the most strident of Christian conservatives by endorsing the more liberal McCain. But, it was Forbes that I messed up on--because after Delaware didn't go his way, he decided to go stage right. And I didn't count on Keyes being a tenacious fighter. Despite his continuous single-digit showings, Keyes drums on as this campaign's Energizer bunny--he keeps going and going...
(2.) THE REFORM CONNUNDRUM
Meanwhile, it seems that not all is well in the Reform camp. After Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura makes his break with the very strong divided party, Donald Trump decides also to become an ex-presidential candidate--therefore leaving ideological maverick Pat Buchanan in the catbird seat. (Unless a possible draft Perot movement comes along...Perot seems to be the best uniting force in that Byzantine party.)
(3.) BRADLEY LOSES WASHINGTON AND SUFFERS A SEVERE BLOW; GORE NOW FOCUSES ON ATTACKING GOP CANDIDATES; BOTH TRY TO STOP THE BLEEDING OF MCCAIN...
Despite Sen. Bradley's intensive investment in the results of the non-binding Washington State primary, it all came to naught with Gore again coming out on top on the Democratic side. Bradley now focuses his efforts on such things as a pre-Super Tuesday paid five-minute network TV appearance--with his survival on the line. Gore, meantime, is now acting as if he has already wrapped up the nomination and starts attacking the deep divisions in the Republican Party and elaborates on the fall campaign he intends to wage. Both Democratic candidates, though, still face one nagging thorn in the flesh--how do you stop independents and moderate Democrats for voting for McCain and how do you counteract his appeal? NEXT FOR THE DEMOCRATS AFTER SUPER TUESDAY I (today!!)--Colorado (10th) and Arizona (11th)!
(4.) MCCAIN AND BUSH: IT'S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK (or--YOU WIN SOME AND YOU LOSE SOME)!!
McCain has proved to be quite the spoiler in this campaign for BOTH Democrats and his GOP brethren--Bush in particular. His reliance on crossover Democrats and Independents has definitely turned the race from a shoo-in for Bush to a knock-down, drag-out fight. Michigan and South Carolina proved to be real momentum builders for McCain because of this strategy. But don't count Bush out just yet. Thanks to a 8-to-1 religious conservative turnout for Bush (in which McCain's remarks against Pat Robertson, et al. didn't help his case much), Virginia went firmly into Bush's pocket. Soon afterwards, Bush further fattened up his delegate count with victories in North Dakota and Washington.
