The Daily Novel

Barack Obama’s landslide win in South Carolina makes him very definitely the most probable winner of the Democratic nomination. In trouncing Hillary Clinton two to one, he confounded the opinion polls which had been predicting that if he did win it would be a narrow margin. Clinton was expected to do well there they are well known and mostly popular in the state. South Carolina is the first state to declare which has a slight majority of non-white voters. But the reasoning of many of the commentators, and of several opinion polls, is that the Clintons have been picking up a decent chunk of the black vote and a bigger proportion of the Latino vote. Because of their excellent track record in supporting the rights of these minorities.

In the event Obama got 80 per cent of the black vote and and more than them of the Latino vote. Equally important it was a huge turnout. Obama again took the bulk of the young people’s vote. And it is now absolutely clear that much of his success is due to the fact that he has caught the imagination of young people.  He has stirred them to politiccal involvment. It is not a matter of them switching their vote. They have been stirred to vote whereas they might not have bothered.

Later today, if the leaks are to be believed, Obama is going to appear on platform in Washington with Edward Kennedy by his side pledging support. This is an enormous boost, and, particularly for a man who was virtually unknown nationally when his campaign started. Kennedy, whose career took a nose dive, after his moonlight drive over Chappaquiddick Bay, which led to the death of young female Democrat, has served his penance and established himself as the elder statesman of the Democratic Party. Additionally he has acquired a substantial following amongst young people by speaking out on issues which more careful politicians avoid.

The other reason Obama was not expected to do well in South Carolina is a significant part of the white population in this southern state are more used to dealing with blacks as servants ratther leaders. There is still a lot of unconscious racism, as there is in other parts of the US. Obama’s massive victory does not prove that he will not suffer at all from such unconscious racism, particularly if he wins the Democratic nomination, and and thus becomes the clear favourite to be the next President.

In the run up to South Carolina, the Clintons indulged in some nasty anti-Obama campaigning, in an effort to win more of the coloured vote and in an effort to suggest  he was guilty of forming friendships with people of dubious financial probity. Thus far they have only managed to unearth one. It as at least possible that this tactic has mis-fired. It could be one reason why South Carolina’s voters trounced the Clintons.

But as I pointed out in my last blog this kind of negative campaigning makes it more difficult for Clintonites and Obama freaks to work together to defeat the Republican candidate next November. It is time for both Clintons to face up to the fact that Obama might win the nomination, which would, of course, be a bitter disappointment for Hillary. Almost as big a disappontment as when she found that husband Bill was fooling around with Monica Lewinsky. But Bill the political Rottweiler is no better for her than Bill the sexy alley cat.

It is time for both of them to start thinking of America. In terms of policies and basic values Obama is the candidate who is the same side as the Clintons. If they really care as much for America, as their speeches claim (and I think they do) they should be already concentrating on their Plan B. If Hillary loses to Obama, what can the Clintons do to help Obama win the White House.

And if Obama becomes President what can they do to serve the new President. Hillary has the capacity of being a very effective Secretary of State. Bill could perform an invaluable ambassadorial role in helping to restore America’s reputation the world after the battering it has taken during the Bush regime.