Democratic Primary: Odds and Ends

First, TPM's Josh Marshall looks at where we stand, then some roundups from me-



Sen. Clinton's new line of attack against frontrunner Barack Obama is that he is all style, no substance... "My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions," she says. Obama fought back with a speech in Wisconsin on the economy, in which he takes on the credit card industry. He also proposed the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank, an overdue idea.

Speaking of the economy, is NAFTA the elephant in the room for the Clintons in some of the later contests?

Sen. Clinton's campaign gurus, meanwhile, continue to insist that any of the two dozen states that voted for Obama are not 'significant' (stay classy, folks). And while some may question the Clinton's embracing of the Giuliani strategy, the fact remains that she does appear to be ahead in Ohio and Pennsylvania. You know, the significant states.

If though, at the end of the primaries, Clinton is behind on delegates and in the popular vote, will she risk a Democratic civil war by using the superdelegates to make her the nominee? Answer: Of course she will.

And with a movement starting to stop the superdelegates from abusing their power, many sympathetic ones are speaking out. Ari Emanuel, for instance, is a powerful Hollywood talent agent, whose brother also happens to be congressman Rahm Emanuel, one of the most powerful House Democrats (and thusly, a superdelegate). In a blog post, Ari has a message for his brother and other superdelegates... no funny business, guys!

Finally, while an Edwards endorsement is debated, don't expect Al Gore to chime in until convention time.