Timeless: Clinton v. Obama
Colin Kavanaugh
Primary Day at 34th and Walnut
One year ago today, Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama by 9 percentage points in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary. Wow.
On Penn’s campus alone, the lead-up to the primary was incredible. Visitors during that 6-week build-up period included Chelsea Clinton at Perelman Quad, Bill Clinton in Irvine Auditorium, Hillary Clinton in Houston Hall for a big economic speech and all of the Clintons in the Palestra for the final primary-eve campaign stop.
Stephen Colbert graced us with his presence for a WEEK in Zellerbach Theater. On Colbert’s Penn show, his guests included Michelle Obama, Gov. Ed Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews (a Philly native), former candidate John Edwards (remember him?) and Hillary Clinton. Obama appeared on a giant screen behind Colbert for a satellite interview.
Sen. Casey and Obama at a diner on April 21, 2008
Penn Democrats endorsed Obama and allied with Penn for Obama to get out the vote while The Daily Pennsylvanian endorsed Clinton.
And despite Obama’s lead in delegates one year ago, Clinton’s victory in PA signaled a deep divide between “latte liberals” and “Dunkin’ Donuts Democrats” (The phrase is one of many things I miss about that campaign).
Having covered the primary campaign for the DP as the politics beat reporter, I witnessed the event first-hand. It was, to say the least, one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. I came to know politics in a whole new way. And if you had told me a year ago that Clinton would be Pres. Obama’s chief diplomat leading his foreign policy, I would have thought it to be sheer lunacy.
Good times. Unbelievable how things have changed.
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