April 9, 2008
Volume 43, Issue 8a
Washington, DC

To: Our Readers

Outlook

1. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) is on the edge. Though she still can be nominated (see below), super-delegates are poised to leap to Sen. Barack Obama (D) if there are any further problems for Clinton. Her slippage in the Pennsylvania polls is most worrisome for her.
2. The resignation of Mark Penn as Clinton's campaign manager looks like a non-resignation. Several prominent Democrats say they have been told Penn that he will go on as before (except for the television appearances). Clinton owes his company at least $2.5 million in unpaid bills.
3. Advisers within Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) campaign have two major strategic worries: a) his age--a problem that will be hit hard by the Democrats; b) the danger of being seen as "Bush III." The second is the more difficult, more perplexing problem that will be a big part of the general election campaign.

McCain, badly outraised by Obama so far in the money derby, is trying to turn a disadvantage into an advantage by accepting public money and chiding Obama for failing to do so. That's a pretty technical issue to accomplish much.

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