The Philly-based radio talk show host was the only Pennsylvanian on the panel on this evening's Race for the White House on MSNBC. He saved his bombshell for last. Nothing in the kibitzing preceding the show-closing Predictions segment foreshadowed Smerconish's surprising suggestion. But when it came time to break out the crystal ball, Smerconish unloaded.
MICHAEL SMERCONISH: Mine's a two-parter. Part one: Tuesday in Pennsylvania, Barack Obama 51, Hillary Clinton 49%. Part two: Thursday, 4 PM Eastern: Hillary Clinton suspends her campaign.Story Continues Below Ad ↓
DAVID GREGORY: Wow! Based on what? Not a big enough victory there?Gregory apparently hadn't heard his guest. Smerconish repeated his prediction, but doesn't want to be around if proved wrong.
Co-panelist Rachel Maddow predicted that Hillary might reach deep into her bag of tricks to stave off the defeat Smerconish foresaw.SMERCONISH: She loses! She loses! And by the way, David, I'm unavailable next week in case you want to have me back. I won't be around to clean this up.
RACHEL MADDOW: My prediction is purely political, which is that heading into Pennsylvania on Tuesday, if Hillary Clinton has an ace in the hole, that would be the time for her to play it. We're going to see it between now and Sunday morning, if there is anything else negative to be unveiled against Barack Obama.
Smerconish's soothsaying is in line with the stunning Newsweek poll issued today showing Obama with a 19% lead nationally over Hillary among Dems. But it flies in the face of Pennsylvania-specific polls such as this one, that still show Hillary with a Keystone State lead. On this evening's Hardball, Chris Matthews predicted that Hillary would win PA by 10 points.
So, what do people think? Will this long, strange trip come to an end next week?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Poof shes gone
April 18, 2008 - 22:25 ET by Redrowan2000Now if Smerconish could only make Barry Hussein and the old man McCain go away too. That would be great.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down"
Red
No End In Sight
April 18, 2008 - 23:06 ET by CGattonSorry, Mark, but I fail to see an end yet. She's just too tenacious. I'll hazard a 56% to 44% Hillary win in Pennsylvania, but believe me, it's a proper anal extractus swag.
V/R
Clyde
"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC
Hillary Clinton isn't going anywhere near Poof.
April 19, 2008 - 00:04 ET by R D HelmThe only thing that will knock her out of this race prior to the convention will be if she ceases breathing between now and then.
And that just ain't gonna happen.
The dem convention is going to be a raucous affair. If I were Al Gore, I'd be keeping my calendar clear.
Theme for Election '08: Who cares?
Agree, RD...they will have
April 19, 2008 - 08:06 ET by motherbeltAgree, RD...they will have to drag her out of the convention hall by her heels....and she will leave fingernail marks in the floor the whole way...LOL
I am still of the opinion...
April 19, 2008 - 00:31 ET by heldmyw...that the Clinton machine will not give up until the last operative is dead. Think "kamikaze".
If Hillary isn't going to be the candidate, she will do everything possible to poison SNObama's chances in the general to knock him out.
Why? So she can run again in 4 years, of course! It'll be her last shot, but she will go for it, and Bill will be right there with her, more desperate than ever, hoping to wipe the blue-dress Presidue from his "Slick Willy, the Panatela President" legacy.
Betcha!
useless predictions
April 19, 2008 - 04:12 ET by OrroPolls, like statistics, are interesting but easily manipulated to favor or support your view. In this case Smerconish is clearly supporting Obama and his predictions suitably show this.
Orro http://www.dragonlas...
I agree, and it infuriates
April 19, 2008 - 08:08 ET by motherbeltI agree, and it infuriates me to no end that they use polls and "predictions" to force people out of the race. I am no Hillary Clinton fan, but IMO if she wants to stay in until the last dog is hung, that's her right.
Hitlery quit? Never, never never!
April 19, 2008 - 11:05 ET by jefflebowskiHitlery would rather sell her entire family off for medical experiments than give up running for the Presidency. If there is one thing that is certain, she will say or do anything and try to destroy anyone who gets in her way to win the nomination. I may watch the demonrat convention for the first time in my life. Better than rasslin'.