Unconfused by extrasolar journalism
10:11AM Mar 25, 2008 in category 
by George Frink
Gallused-overall wearing North Carolina tobacco farmers from whom I first learned to read a newspaper would have described current Democratic primary coverage in terms that I reserve for barnyards.
They and their descendants aren't confused, but anyone visiting from Mars or an extrasolar planet might be misled by hyperventilating media coverage into believing there is a cliff-hanger race between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Here in the Old North State we can enjoy the attention of Clinton and Obama campaign visits, and should vote with enthusiasm come the May 6 primary, without buying into the myth.
Grandaddy always said "every vote counts," even if you know who's going to win. I believe that were he alive today, he'd observe that Obama is going to win. And to tell the truth, Grandaddy broke fresh starch on khaki trousers every day, but clothing is beside the point.
After appropriate sarcasm, Politico runs through the math in nice detail, explaining why Ms. Clinton's candidacy is history.
Others say that if she is maybe, perhaps, just ever so possibly to re-create a chance of winning the nomination, Ms. Clinton has to win, well, North Carolina.
Which whiplashes me back to the concept of extrasolar journalists and pundits, since the polling news in that regard forecasts little or no such possibility.
Obama now has and is consolidating his lead here.
Could it be that "down home" we're collectively smart enough to understand issues like loyalty to one's home church, and make allowances, rather than have our heads turned by the spin?
Absent some kind of substantial and unexpected revelation, Ms. Clinton and the extrasolar journalists can take a nap. Rural and urban Tar Heels alike have this thing sorted out, thank you.
Addendum: A survey by Public Policy Polling, done before Ms. Clinton admitted she "misspoke" about having braved sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996, showed Obama with 55 percent to Clinton's 34 percent among likely voters in the May 6 primary.
