PRESUMED NOMINEE: Barack Obama currently possesses 2162 and counting

The drama and tension popped like that the net holding convention balloons upon the realization that the Democratic Party had finally come to an end to its competitive primary process. During the day as the polls in South Dakota and Montana remained open 27 1/2 new superdelegates were gathered putting Obama within 4 of clinching the nomination. Then five minutes before South Dakota closed the full force of the flood gates were opened and 36 more votes were gathered, mostly from the Governor's, Senator's and Congresspersons. Most notable were the ten switches yesterday and today seven more superdelegates have come over, another switch notably former VP Walter Mondale and also Rep. Raul Emanuel who is both a personal friend of Obama and former senior aide to the Clinton's.

There still remains 35 Add-On superdelegates to be determined through June 21st where Obama is expected to gain at least 20 and an additional 108 automatic superdelegates, plus 4 1/2 Edwards delegates to make their voting preference known. The next key number to watch for those scoring is 2208, the original clinching number where if Michigan and Florida delegations had full votes. When Obama reaches this number Clinton will not have any votes to do serious mischief at the convention. Look for remaining 34.4 high ranking superdelegates to move forward through this week and furthermore watch for significant defections from the eroding Clinton cache now at 183.5.

Finally I called my 80 year old father last night to get his comment on the historical significance of a bi-racial man being nominated for President in his lifetime, actually the question was whether he ever thought he would live to see that day? His response was that in 1910 Theodore Roosevelt stated that it would take a hundred years for the Blacks to ascend fully into our society and gain full political power. He was almost right, it has taken 98 years. He further added that it is now our cause to protect Barack Obama for there are a lot of kooks out there who still are racially psychotic. Lastly he said the actual question is whether I thought I would live to vote for a Black-American for president, and I hope I live to November when I cast my absentee ballot.

For any of you reading this blog just take a moment to understand the significance of this event. Barack Obama, the man with a culturally funny name, an offspring of an East African student and Kansas woman, who was basically raised by a twice divorced, single mother and grandmother through the '60's and '70's when race was still an enormous issue. His families economics were humble if not working poor, provided collegiate scholarships to the best our nation has to offer. Emerges in his middle age as a politician to challenge the most powerful party family and campaign team and goes and out performs, campaigns & organizes them, raising more money from more donors and through a historical contest bests them gaining the endorsements of the party leaders and insiders. This is Lincolnesque, and we aren't done yet.