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Extended Campaign Helping Democrats´ Efforts in November, Say National Democratic Strategists Robert Weiner and John Larmett in Washington Times Op-Ed

WASHINGTON, April 3, Apr. 03 /PRNewswire/ --

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Democrats' extended primary campaign could help their efforts for November's general election," national Democratic strategist Robert Weiner, a former White House and congressional public affairs director and chief of staff, and John Larmett, former congressional legislative assistant, assert today in a Washington Times op-ed.

"The extended campaign is allowing Democrats to continue their all-time record turnout and fundraising get media for their message while McCain has to scramble," the two said. Polls show Obama with a 6 point lead over McCain, and Clinton with 5% -- virtually identical -- even before the post-nomination process when Democrats will stand united and will focus exclusively on their differences with McCain.

Weiner and Larmett emphasize, "There are two months between the convention and general election -- a political eternity for Democrats to show unity with a message against the Bush-McCain tax cuts for the rich, the Iraq War's cost in lives, injuries, time, and dollars, and the impact of those policies on the deficit and sinking economy."

Weiner and Larmett also argue that voters and superdelegates are entitled to clarify both candidates' electability in the final ten contests. "If Senator Obama were to run the table with all or most of the remaining ten primaries including Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina, he would deserve to be declared the winner; so would Senator Clinton if she won most, since momentum is critical as a general election indicator. Moreover, Clinton has an extraordinarily strong case that since she won the DNC-banned Michigan and Florida primaries (worth over 300 delegates) and is ahead now in those critical states, it is outrageous to discount or simply split them. Democrats cannot be seen as the new Katherine Harris of Florida, stopping the counting -- the resentment will cost in the general election."

Weiner and Larmett point out that "FDR, perhaps the Democratic Party's all-time greatest luminary, was selected on the fourth ballot and defeated an incumbent president during a downwardly spiraling economy---a familiar environment now. If an extended campaign with a brokered convention worked for FDR and others, why isn't it OK for Clinton and Obama?"

Link to article: http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/EDITORIAL/1 03967000/1013

Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700