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Did you see the Daily Show last night? He excerpted a clip from the Stephanopoulos show, where Clinton said, when asked about economists’ lack of support for the gas tax holiday, “I’ll tell you what,” and then went on to suggest economists were somehow members of the elite. And then John Stewart said “What HAPPENED to her?” I do think it’s notable, that at least on this one issue, Clinton departed from the “wonk” approach that’s characterized her campaign. So one of the things I’d like to find out is how that played. It’ll tell us something about what will play in November.

Clinton leads by 10. 55-45. Good solid win if that number holds up, allowing her to continue to try and run the table. But too early to call the final margin

It’s pretty undeniable that this race has gotten to a pretty — dare I say it? — bitter place. And there are some blacks who would NEVER vote for Clinton if they feel she somehow stole the nomination. But would Democrats regroup in November? Hard to imagine, given how high Dems say the stakes are, that that wouldn’t happen. On the other hand, Obama won a big state, with more delegates tonight, than Hillary Clinton. So a Clinton nomination still looks like a long shot.

Her and Bill’s fighting style was largely a reaction to the 1988 failure of Michael Dukakis to respond to attacks by Bush 41. Dukakis thought they were so unfounded they wouldn’t stick. Ha! And of course, the GOP then had the only serious fundraising machine. BC’s vow was never again will the Democrats be the party that doesn’t play hardball. And no one named Clinton has lost an election since.

just heard an obama official say he won a majority of whites in NC under age 65.

also, so much is made about his possible weakness with white working class voters in november. but what about her potential weakness with blacks after the nature of this campaign? remember mark green losing to bloomberg largely because black and latino democrats were so pissed at the last minute racial campaigning against ferrer, rightly or wrongly attributed to green. they may not vote for mccain, but many might be grossed out enough to stay home.

I wonder if there is a psycho-graphic that measures people’s attraction to the candidates’ styles. Clinton hits hard, which might engender respect in many people as a potential president, while it turns others’ stomachs. Obama, when in political trouble, as with Wright, tends to explain himself. Some see that as less divisive, I suspect, while others see it as a little too intellectual. What think?

Yes, it does look like the electorate has become even more racially polarized, however, I’d argue that with Obama racking up margins well north of 85 percent beginning two months ago, it can’t get much more polarized than that. And, yes, Hillary Clinton did well (in polling) early on, but I think that was a result of Obama’s status as a relative unknown, even in the African American community. In the 2000 Senate race, nowhere was Clinton more popular than in black churches, and when Bill Clinton moved his office to Harlem in 2001 it was as if a national holiday had been declared. By contrast, Obama had yet to introduce himself to many black voters.

Just saw Dobbs’ jaw drop at how racialized the black vote is (more than 90 percent in both states.) He just about accused black voters of being racist. It’s like the first time he ever realized people perceive things partly through a racial lens, and he first noticed it when black people did it. David Gregory reminded him that the black vote was very split until the Clintons racialized the campaign. Paul Begala said Obama has to reach whites now other than the “NPR tote-bag-toting” crowd. Actually seems to me after hundreds (thousands?) of phone calls and web posts that our listeners are very divided.

I’m curious to see if the exit polls measure the effect of the gasoline tax holiday proposal. Seems to me this is classic Bill Clinton-style triangulation. It defines McCain who wants a gas tax holiday with no windfall profits tax to pay for it as too far to the right, and Obama who wants the oil company tax but no gas tax holiday as a liberal without real people compassion. You may see it as a thing of populist beauty or of Machiavellian evil, but it’s classic Clinton!