While Hillary Clinton will embrace her West Virginia victory, Barack Obama headed to a state he already won in this Democratic endurance match. The candidate visited Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he gave a speech on the economy. In his prepared remarks, there was no reference to the Mountain State’s primary and no mention of Hillary Clinton - another sign the campaign is preparing itself for the general election before he has actually secured the nomination.

Today the Obama camp sent out a memo to reporters, where they admitted “there is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky next week.” But the memo went on to say, “With 49 contests behind us and only six to go — including several states where we expect to do well — Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates. And for perspective, while 28 pledged delegates are up for grabs this evening, Obama has won the support of 27 superdelegates in the course of just the last week putting him less than 150 total delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination.”

Despite the campaign’s growing confidence in an Obama nomination, in today’s memo they are still trying to assure  some in the Democratic Party who are skittish about Barack Obama’s chances in the general election as he has not been able to win states made up of white, working class voters such as West Virginia. The lengthy memo then debunks what the campaign described as “five myths about Obama’s support.”

1. The race for the nomination has left the Democratic Party divided

2. The primary has hurt Obama with swing voters and Republicans

3. Obama will not get the support of white voters

4. The campaign has hurt Obama’s standing with women voters

5. Obama cannot win working class voters

Read the full memo below.

TO: Interested Parties

FR: The Obama Campaign

RE: West Virginia and Obama’s Strong Position in the Race Ahead

DA: 5/13/08

West Virginia

There is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky next weeks. She has poured resources into both states and she, former President Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton have all campaigned extraordinarily hard there.

The Clinton campaign has already been touting their margins in these states – In fact, Bill Clinton said that Hillary can win West Virginia with 80 percent—and the West Virginia Senate Majority Leader said Clinton needs to win by “80-20 or 90-10.”  And in keeping large margins in perspective, it is worth noting that, while Senator Clinton will win big in West Virginia, Barack Obama won neighboring Virginia by 29 points.

But with 49 contests behind us and only six to go — including several states where we expect to do well — Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates. And for perspective, while 28 pledged delegates are up for grabs this evening, Obama has won the support of 27 superdelegates in the course of just the last week putting him less than 150 total delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination.

(more…)

David Wilhelm, Bill Clinton’s ‘92 campaign manager came out in support of Barack Obama today on a conference call with reporters - a big symbolic get for the Obama campaign. Obama senior advisor David Axelrod told reporters, “I think there are a lot of people who were for Bill Clinton who are for Barack Obama today, so he represents a whole group of people who are coming our way.”

On the call, Wilhelm explained why he is backing the newcomer Obama over his old boss’ wife. “He has momentum, perhaps undeniable momentum among Democratic primary voters,” he explained. “We should embrace the candidate who owns change, who owns optimism, who owns the future, who owns idealism, who knows that change is is competitive advantage and is prepared to drive that message of discipline and enthusiasm at every opportunity,” he said.

As a former campaign manager, Wihelm said he especially appreciates organization - and the Obama campaign clearly impressed him. “It has been a masterful campaign - he has out-worked, out-organized and out-rasied his opponents every step of the way. As a former campaign manager, I know organizational excellence when I see it. And the Obama campaign, win or lose, will serve as a model for future generations to come.” He added, “The Obama campaign has overcome truly daunting organizational odds, not to mention the aura of inevitability and that should provide Democrats with confidence.”

Aside from the symbolic value of his support, Wilhelm will also provide tangible tactical help. He explained that the campaign has not been shy about asking for advice - and help with the race for superdelegate support. Wilhelm, also an Ohio superdelegate himself, decided in part to announce his support now “to begin the process that, I think it’s inevitable, of evening up the superdelegate count,” in other words, help spark some kind of domino effect.

Acknowledging the potential superdelegate pitfall for Obama - one where he might win a majority of pledged delegate support, but lose the superdelegate vote, Wilhelm stated, “If superdelegates overrule the choice of Democratic primary voters, that would be a very difficult and divisive scenario for the party. I think it’s unlikely scenario at the end of the day. I think it’s one we should work hard to avoid.”

Which is why Wilhelm will be working the phones to start convincing other superdelegates to support Obama.