News Compass

Thursday, April 17, 2008

"THE BOSS' Backs Obama as more Democrats Believe Obama is more Electable than Clinton

From The Guardian UK, article by Suzanne Goldenberg

Barack Obama, fighting off charges from Hillary Clinton of being out of touch with the working class, today found a powerful new champion in the man who wrote the anthem to the blighted towns of America: Bruce Springsteen.

The endorsement from Springsteen, revered far beyond the rust belt for songs such as Born in the USA, was a coup for Obama who has been struggling to end a damaging controversy ahead of Pennsylvania's primary next Tuesday.

The nod from The Boss - as Springsteen is known to his fans - could prove especially important to Obama's support among white working-class males. The Democratic frontrunner was also endorsed by a Pittsburgh newspaper.

The expressions of support could help Obama fight off a relentless barrage from Clinton and on cable television shows for a recent comment that small town voters channelled their economic frustrations into God, guns and bigotry.

In a posting to his website, Springsteen called the row a distraction from more important issues. "Like most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest."

The posting added: "He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

The endorsement from Springsteen could help Obama get back to narrowing the gap with Clinton in Pennsylvania - a trend that was disrupted by a furore over his remarks at a San Francisco fundraiser.

In his comments to California supporters, Obama had attributed the economic frustrations of small town life to his performance in rural areas. "It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them," he said.

Clinton had pounced on Obama's comments - knocking back a shot of whiskey with a beer chaser in a bar to show her working class credentials and waxing nostalgic about girlhood duck hunting outings with her father.

She aired a new television ad with Pennsylvania voters accusing Obama of being insulting and out of touch. After news broke of the Springsteen endorsement, she moved to further shore up her own working class credentials with an endorsement from a building trades union.
Obama, rather than disown his remarks, has hit back with two new television ads of his own. Yesterday, he wore a flag pin in his lapel again; Obama has said he removed the patriotic emblem after the Iraq war.

One of the ads opens with footage of a crowd in Pittsburgh jeering Clinton when she tries to capitalise on the controversy in her speech. "The same old Washington politics won't lower the price of gas or help our struggling economy," the ad says.

The candidates have also put out duelling ads on lobbyists.

But Obama's decision to keep the row alive does appear to have hurt his chances of catching up to Clinton in Pennsylvania.

Preliminary polls show that Obama's recent gains against Clinton have stalled.

That could leave Clinton with the big win in Pennsylvania that she hopes will turn around her campaign.

However, even if Clinton takes Pennsylvania as anticipated, it could prove an empty victory.

A Washington Post-ABC News opinion polls today showed Clinton's overall support in the Democratic race continues to crumble. Some 51% of Democrats would now prefer to see Obama as the party's nominee against 41% for Clinton.

Even more worrying for Clinton, Democrats now consider Obama to be more electable than her by a 2-1 margin. Her unfavourable ratings have also risen -- up to 54% among Democrats and nearly 60% among independents.