Indiana vs. North Carolina

Howard Dean almost got it right. What the loser does will be of course be extremely important, but Democrats’ chances in November will be determined by how the winner wins. Obama, long an advocate of letting the nomination be decided by the voters, now wants the super delegates to prematurely decide this blood bath. Problem is, no one else is buying it. Last week Clinton picked up the endorsement of the Governor of North Carolina and the Indianapolis Star. In the past month Hilary has won more states, more delegates, and more votes. Washington might consider this race over, but we voters say otherwise.

Delegates=Democracy?

All right, let’s get it straight. The delegate process employed by the Democratic Party is designed to nominate the strongest possible candidate. That it is meant to be a direct representation of the will of the voters is a ridiculous, and potentially dangerous, myth perpetuated by the Obama Camp. In Texas Clinton got the most votes, but as a result of the dual caucus/primary system Obama walked away with more delegates. The Obama Campaign could, in the interest of honesty, argue that this result demonstrates his strength as a General Election candidate and push the idea that his voters are more enthusiastic and dedicated. Instead he and his supporters would rather have us believe that a system that favors the loser somehow resembles democracy.

Electability

Last Tuesday Sen. Clinton pulled off a near sweep in Ohio. She won all but four most solidly democratic counties (all of which will go democrat in the General regardless of the nominee) by winning over a majority of almost every major demographic group, most importantly white working-class voters, that Democrats will need to claim victory in November.

Obama has staked his claim on early national polls, which also show Clinton beating McCain by a slightly smaller margin. Of course early polling once showed Giuliani running away with the Republican nomination so their credibility is highly speculative at best. Obama’s claim of support among independents and republicans voters makes for good campaign speeches, but it is hardly evidence of his chances in the General Election. Unfortunately for Obama and the Democratic Party, his appeal to cross-party voters is artificially skewered by states that have held open Democratic primaries and closed Republican contests, and most of the small states in which this support has put him over the top will almost certainly go for McCain by 60% or greater come November.

As the primary goes on North Carolina and ultimately to Pennsylvania, Clinton can continue to win, and in doing so claim the support of democratic voters and prove her appeal as the stronger general election candidate.

Electability

Last Tuesday Sen. Clinton pulled off a near sweep in Ohio. She won all but four most solidly democratic counties (all of which will go democrat in the General regardless of the nominee) by winning over a majority of almost every major demographic group, most importantly white working-class voters, that Democrats will need to claim victory in November.

Obama has staked his claim on early national polls, which also show Clinton beating McCain by a slightly smaller margin. Of course early polling once showed Giuliani running away with the Republican nomination so their credibility is highly speculative at best. Obama’s claim of support among independents and republicans voters makes for good campaign speeches, but it is hardly evidence of his chances in the General Election. Unfortunately for Obama and the Democratic Party, his appeal to cross-party voters is artificially skewered by states that have held open Democratic primaries and closed Republican contests, and most of the small states in which this support has put him over the top will almost certainly go for McCain by 60% or greater come November.

As the primary goes on North Carolina and ultimately to Pennsylvania, Clinton can continue to win, and in doing so claim the support of democratic voters and prove her appeal as the stronger general election candidate.

Today I Voted

I've done it. The absentee ballot has been marked, placed in the affidavit envelope, sealed in the manilla envelope, and on it's way to Richard Arrington BLVD., Birmingham, AL. I have for the first time voted for the guy who is no longer running. If Iowa and New Hampshire have too much influence, it is because we allow them that influence. The field has narrowed since those early states, but all candidates remain on the ballot in Alabama, so I am not confined to deciding between the only two officially left in the race. After much reflection, I find that I cannot endorse either of the remaining Democratic Candidates over the other. Obama promises hope, but to what end. he has run his campaign as a centrist, hoping to engage Independents and even Republicans. But when November comes, Republicans will support their Candidate and the Independents will determine their choice based on an issue, or a clever campaign. Most concerning for me is that I am a Democrat, and Senator Obama, regardless of what letter may appear next to his name, has not been running for the Democratic nomination, but for the nomination of the non-existent Independent Party. Any candidate can spin a tale of hope, but to what end is it for if his or her policies will not bring the possibility of hope to those who need it most. Senator Clinton brings with her history and experience. I have lived through the Clinton years, and like many Democrats remember it fondly. but these memories are shped more by what has happened since than by what occurred during Bill Clinton's Presidency. The Clinton years are this country's past, not it's future. Today my hope is that regardless of the nominee, the Health Care proposal placed on his or her desk originates in the office of Sen. Ted Kennedy. It is my hope that the economic policies of the next four years are written for the benefit of those of us who do not have the luxury of investing our money, because after bills and food are paid for we have nothing left to invest. I still believe that we can be one nation in which all of us work for the benefit of one another. It is for this reason above all that this morning, though he may have withdrawn from the race, I cast my vote for John Edwards.

Slash plays guitar, but he ain't getting back together with Axl Rose this week.

Industry 101: Public Relations

The folks at Music Nation are blowing out the walls of the music industry and answering every question your independent band hasn’t thought to ask. They got the mainline to the unsung heroes that can literally make or break an artist.

This week, learn all about the wonderful world of public relations, or, as you've heard it called, PR, from Kristina of the Cohn & Wolfe agency.


When should a band consider PR? What level of success should they have achieved when they come to you and say, "Okay we've made it this far, now how can you help?"

A band should consider hiring PR if they are DIY and not receiving media and find a firm that understands the entire spectrum that connects and enables our digital world and focuses on building an artist’s reputation.

An agency's connection with influential music blogs like Stereogum, Fluxblog, Ultragrrrl, PerezHilton.com and The Lefsetz Letter can turn a virtually unknown song into a digital hit overnight, as was the case with The Knockarounds, an indie band that snagged fans before fame because of YouTube. YouTube can give your group a platform, but bands need to leverage social media with PR experience to break through the noise and clutter and get that one reporter behind them at a top industry paper (hard copy or online) and that will increase their visibility tenfold.

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