Obama makes it closer

Texas and Ohio were supposed to be cakewalks for Hillary Clinton.

With four days to go before the primaries in those states as well as Vermont and Rhode Island, take a look at these numbers from the conservative Rasmussen poll:

Ohio: Clinton 47, Obama 45.
Texas: Clinton 44, Obama 48.

The Texas numbers include those who have voted in advance polls; and mark a huge embarrassment for Mrs. Clinton who a fortnight ago was leading in the double digits. There are no advance polls in Ohio, as far as I know; but again, Clinton was way ahead at one point but is now has fallen within the margin of error.

Pennsylvania isn't scheduled to vote until April 22. It's a rustbelt state, and one of two states with a majority Catholic population (the other is Rhode Island). Natural state for Hillary? The numbers right now: Clinton 46, Obama 42.

What has Obama done right that Clinton hasn't -- and I don't just mean not going on daily donut shop runs for the entire Clinton posse?

The key to this year's election won't be youth, or Hispanics, or women. I think it's the evangelical vote. Until now evangelicals have been identified as being almost entirely Republican. Much to my chagrin and that of others, the MSM continues to make this characterization and it is a false one. The characterization is true only insofar as those evangelicals who actually vote. The majority of "born-again" Christians are actually Democrats or independents and who support a social gospel or "liberation theology" approach to the world; but haven't felt the need to vote or have voted Republican over moral nitpicks.

Both Clinton and Obama are evangelicals and appeal to that constituency; but it's Obama, I think, that has been able to tap into the sentiments of Republicans who feel they have been betrayed. Just as there were Reagan Democrats who were such and formed the basis of the so-called "Republican Revolution" because they were slighted by Jimmy Carter after he went after Bob Jones University's tax-exempt status, there are this year Obama Republicans who don't like either John McCain or Mike Huckabee and see the guy from Illinois as the only "moral" alternative.

They have read their Bibles and have come to the conclusion that Jesus would not have gone to war in Iraq, would not have supported torture or Gitmo, would not have voted to make the tax cuts permanent, would not have coddled the environment that attempts to repudiate the corporal acts of mercy and only accepts one of the spiritual acts (admonishing the sinner).

Clinton is a fine woman, but the bottom line is she is seen as a Washington insider. By its very nature, the Mile of Destiny between the Capitol and the White House are so full of corrupt people that a Clinton would not be able to change the tone of debate. In other words, she's seen as part of the sin that must be purged. Obama has been in Washington less than four years, and in the minds of many hasn't had time to be corrupted.

One wonders how this will all play out in the end or if Clinton will find a huge skeleton in the closet that Obama doesn't want the world to know; but for now all the attempts to smear Obama have bounced off like -- a non-stick coating.

Clinton still could win if she mobilizes her troops -- but that would neccesitate getting the overall turnout herein to 90% or more. I just don't see it happening. It's all about hope, not just solutions. One can't offer solutions without offering hope first.

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