Two important things happened yesterday, despite being largely overlooked by the media:

1. Barack Obama won the Wyoming caucuses. Yeah, Wyoming's not a very populous state, but a win's a win - especially given that three Clintons (Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea) were crisscrossing the state all last week trying to drum up support, and given that the dominant narrative is still that Barack Obama can't win with white people (despite his having won the whitest state in the union, Maine.) It also lays bare the Clinton strategem: concentrate on the big states, virtually ignore the smaller ones. We saw that last month when the Clinton campaign was trying to make the whole story Ohio and Texas, ignoring the many states whose primaries and caucuses fell between Superdupertuesday, the Potomacs, and Mar 4, and we see it again as they, like an undergrad who didn't study for a test, try to cram at the last minute and get walloped badly. But that doesn't even compare to the second important thing that happened yesterday, which was...

2. Bill Foster won a special election for the Illinois 14th congressional district, the seat being resigned by Dennis Hastert. Why is this significant? Several reasons:

• It portends ugly times ahead for Republicans in the fall. Hastert was the Speaker of the House, and the Democrats are in the middle of a rather nasty primary campaign; that they could still best a Republican in a leaning-R swing district is indicative that the tide really is against Republicans this year, even Republicans who, like Jim Oberweis, aren't incumbents.
• It speaks to Barack Obama's coattails. Barack Obama took time out to cut an ad for Foster, and that is credited with helping propel him to victory. Sure, it's Illinois, where Barack Obama is only slightly less popular than Michael Jordan, but still it's a sign that Barack Obama really can get Democrats elected across the country. We saw it in 2006, where he crisscrossed the country raising funds and enthusiasm for Democrats, and we're seeing it again. That should make a strong case to superdelegates, particularly of the Congressional variety, that the train to a massive majority and progressive agenda is being operated by none other than Barack Obama.
• Finally, on a more direct primary-related note, Foster will be a superdelegate - and predictably, he's endorsed Barack Obama. Chalk one more up for the lanky Senator from Illinois.

So all in all, Saturday was good for the Democratic Party and good for Barack Obama.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Foster, Politics, Primary Election 2008