The 'Comeback Kid', Mark II! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7359957.stm

...hardly a kid! More like a two-faced annoying, strident harridan with a fat arse!

As the contenders appeared on the US morning talk show circuit, Mrs Clinton was asked how she would respond if Iran launched a nuclear attack on Israel, and replied with a stark warning. "If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... we would be able to totally obliterate them," she told TV network ABC. "That's a terrible thing to say, but those people who run Iran need to understand that, because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic." In response, Mr Obama said: "Using words like 'obliterate' - it doesn't actually produce good results, and so I'm not interested in sabre-rattling." He said only that Iran should know he would respond "forcefully" to an attack on any US ally. Obama is a pussy, I really don't have a lot of time for him. There are too many times when he gives the impression of having attended the Tony Bliar School of Politics!

Ah have not had sexual relations with that woman! Not really, I just don't like Obama. I think that Clinton(s) would be fun and it's about time the US had someone in office that would shake things up and that is something she would definitely do. As for McCain, I think he's the right man at the wrong time - 15 years ago would have been right. The ONLY candidate I would like to see succeed would be Ron Paul, but that isn't going to happen unfortunately.

If anything I have a tendency to support the underdog, particularly if there are obvious faults with the favourite. I certainly don't like the way that Iowa and Florida have effectively been kicked out of the primaries, losing significant delegates for Clinton. Some claim it was because they wanted to be the first to get their votes in, but that seems a little too childish even for Americans. No, give her a fair crack - and given that Obama has been spending 3 times as much as Clinton I personally thinks that she deserves every break she can get.

This outcome of this little spat looks likely to be more interesting than the actual presidential race. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/08/hillaryclinton.barackobama

It seems fairly clear that Obama will be the candidate and McCain will be president. Too many people don't like Obama. Me included.

Suspiciously, it looks like peace is about to break out. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/09/barackobama.hillaryclinton Don't you just love stage-managed media politics?

Having watched a lot of this 'as it happens' in the last two weeks I think that I can safely say that Obama is fast realising that he will not get to be President without Hillary on the ticket. His position is precarious, especially if he gets to 2025 delegates before 31st May, when the Democrat Rules Committee meets. Hillary still has a chance of getting the nomination if the rules committee decides to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates, which they ARE going to do. She has won all of the 'swing states' many of which became 'Reagan Democrats' and 'Bush Democrats' in past elections. Obama cannot carry states like West Virginia and they are critical to getting elected. Right now I would say that Obama is probably the most worried man in America. He has outspent Hillary Clinton more than 3 times over and she still keeps coming. She will not stop until the very end as she has absolutely nothing to lose. This is most definitely not stage managed Jack, this is very much for real. Having watched Obama flip-flop between taking on Hillary and pretending that he is the Democrat candidate it is not difficult to see that he is in trouble. All of the delegates that have switched sides have immediately come out and said that Hillary should stepm aside, but I think that the tide is going to turn back in her favour if she gets any more results like WV last night. Obama can´t take any more hits like that and win the Presidency. A 42 point margin was massive and should not be undrestimated.

Just to clarify a few things: The swing states are those who would normally vote Democrat but don't like the Democrat candidate, it happened with Dukakis and Kerry, it would not happen with Clinton but it will happen with Obama. 2025 is the magic figure pre-May 31st. If he gets that number before the day the con-*test*-('") is officially over. If he doesn't then the number moves to 2209 and Hillary gets a large number of delegates added back in - how many? Nobody knows yet, that is the subject of negotiation, but Clinton wants them in direct proportion to the votes cast, as with the rest of the primaries. If she gets that then she is very much back in the race. Right now she is on a roll and Obama is in danger of getting trapped on the ropes, not knowing which way to turn. He didn't campaign in W.Virginia much at all, he knew it was pointless, instead he turned his attention to Florida and Michigan and behaved as though he was fighting the Presidential election. That is being reported in some quarters as a mistake. He was showing disregard for the Primary process and taking voters who haven't yet voted for granted. Something that may well come back to haunt him.

Got to hand it to Obama. Came up with the perfect answer to Clinton's landslide in WV --- Edwards finally endorses Obama! Many people over here are wondering why it has taken him so long to make the jump... but then most of them are a bit dim to say the least! By declaring yesterday he stole the headlines from Clinton completely. My betting would now be on an Obama/Edwards ticket in November... you heard it here first! He can deliver some of the votes that would have gone to Clinton/McCain and that would be a lot less painful for Obama than riding with Hillary. I think that they have been sitting on this option for some time, like playing a Joker for double points, they did it perfectly!

A CaFE exclusive Tony - a first I think!

I haven't seen or heard anyone else making that connection yet, but I would be tempted to put a big bet on it...