"MOMENTUM" IS NOT THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL IN POLITICS

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     The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "momentum" as "the strength or force that allows something to grow stronger or faster as time passes."  It is perhaps the most baffling word in the English language...especially at this time on the calendar.

     With the Presidential campaigns in full swing, Americans are constantly hearing about "momentum."  Turn on a television or radio...pick up a newspaper or magazine...or log on to the Internet...and journalists - in all forms of media - are using the word "momentum" to describe how particular candidates are doing.

     When Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump gained ground by capturing the majority of delegates on both March 1st and March 15th, 2016...it gave - according to political pundits - the "momentum"...to accelerate full speed ahead with their respective runs for The White House.  Similarly, "momentum, momentum, momentum" has been shouted whenever Democrat Bernie Sanders

has won a couple of caucuses or primaries...or polling seems to go his way.  Republican Ted Cruz has found his momentum during victories for his campaign...while momentum for Republican John Kasich has not - except for his win in Ohio - been as great.

      But why is "momentum" the big deal that politicians, journalists and voters make it?  Or is it?  Why if a candidate's success continues to grow...do people seem to go with the crowd and flock behind a winner?  Or do they?  I'm not a psychologist or a sociologist...but if this is all true - which sometimes it is - then this is a human mystery to me.  

     In sports...that certainly is not the case.  Fans of baseball's New York Mets are die-hard...as are those who root for the Chicago Cubs...the Boston Red Sox...and my team, the New York Yankees...among others in all athletic competitions.  Fans cheer-on their favorite club whether they win or whether they lose.  We never switch to the "other guys" because they have a higher percentage in the "W" column.  But with politics...it appears - at least, this year - to be different.  

     At the beginning of a Presidential Election Cycle, it's widely discussed that if a candidate wins Iowa and New Hampshire then the race is virtually over.  That, of course, is not always accurate.

     Does each American voter not have a mind of his or her own?  Do we live in a country where "Follow The Leader" is the only game in town?

     As regular readers of The Controversy are well aware, I have all along supported Hillary Clinton for President.  I am completely confident that she will win the Democratic nomination and then be elected the 45th President of the United States.  But if Bernie Sanders' "momentum" changed the delegate-math and - as improbable as I think it is - began beating the former Secretary Of State with overwhelming wins...I, in no way, would alter my allegiance from Mrs. Clinton to Mr. Sanders.  

     The fact of the matter is that Secretary Clinton only needs to achieve 34% of all delegates in the remaining primaries to secure the nomination.  Thus, Senator Sanders needs 66%.  It virtually cannot happen for Mr. Sanders.

     Whether "momentum" applies during one week or one month, it does not necessarily mean that polling - and winning - will continue to travel in the same direction as a campaign moves forward.

     With the Wisconsin Primary today - April 5th, 2016 - both Sanders and Cruz stated previously that winning in "The Badger State" would be significant...and will impact voters nationally...thus paving the way for each of them to be triumphant as the Democratic and Republican nominees.  Both the Vermont Senator and the Texas Senator were on top in Wisconsin.  However,  "spillover effect" or not...as I wrote above...it's highly unlikely that Mr. Sanders will be his party's nominee...and - as for Mr. Cruz - the jury is still out on that one.  But as I've written in the past...I'm not so sure that Donald Trump will accomplish the 1,237 delegates needed to be nominated...which opens the door for Ted Cruz...John Kasich...or any other Republican...if a contested GOP convention in Cleveland...becomes a reality.  Quite frankly...that is becoming more and more...of a good possibility.

     "Momentum" might build over the next several weeks...and it may be the buzz word of the year.  But I believe Americans - when push comes to shove - will think for themselves...and will prove to be more sophisticated than to buy in to the hype.  Therefore...for me... momentum...is nothing...but malarkey.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.

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Photo credits: abcnews.go.com (Hillary Clinton #1), cruxnow.com (Donald Trump), slate.com (Bernie Sanders), businessinsider.com (Ted Cruz), ohiopolitics.blog.daytondailynews.com (John Kasich) and politicususa.com (Hillary Clinton #2)

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