ENPR: Hillary's Wins Raise Prospect of the Unthinkable -- A Contested Convention

by Robert Novak and Timothy P. Carney (more by this author)



Outlook

1. Think about the unthinkable: a contested Democratic convention in Denver, with the identity of the Democratic presidential nominee unknown until just before Labor Day. That's the impact of Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) remarkable performance Tuesday that broke her long losing streak against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.): a big win in Ohio where she was supposed to win narrowly, if at all, and unexpected wins in Texas and Rhode Island.
   
   
2. A group of prominent Democrats was being formed secretly to go to Clinton to ask her to bow out for the sake of party solidarity. Now, neither candidate, counting their current super-delegates and potential unpledged delegates, can win a majority of delegates even after the Pennsylvania primary April 22. It is hard to imagine either bowing out. That raises the possibility of carnage in Denver with the super-delegates and the disputed Michigan and Florida delegations in play.
   
   
3. The budget fight in Congress beginning next week will be a many-sided political battle touching on issues ranging from Iraq to immigration. Look for Republicans to launch an attack on earmarks and force Democrats to vote on Clinton and Obama spending plans.