Sen. Hillary Clinton closed out her tireless campaigning ahead of Feb. 5 with a nationwide town hall to answer voter submitted questions as she campaigns to become the Democratic nominee and the first female American president.
“I’m going to listen to people’s questions and tell them how much we can achieve if we work together to restore our economy, end the war in Iraq, and reclaim the promise of the American dream,” Clinton wrote in an email message urging supporters to participate.
While her rival Illinois Sen. Barack Obama made his pitch in a Super Bowl ad, Clinton will broadcast her nationwide meeting on the Hallmark Channel, XM Satellite Radio and will stream it on her campaign Web site. She then wraps up the evening with an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.
With all 22 of the states voting on Feb. 5 awarding delegates in a complicated proportional system, the Democratic winner in a state may only win a slightly larger share of the delegates, setting the stage for a longer than anticipated numbers showdown with Obama.
In Tuesday’s voting, analysts have said Clinton has the advantage of name recognition and should do well in her home state of New York; New Jersey; Connecticut; and Arkansas, where her husband was governor before he won the White House. Campaign strategists have also said they hope to do well in Arizona and New Mexico with their large share of Latino voters who have up to now appeared to favor Clinton.
The going appears tougher in the state of her birth, Obama’s home state of Illinois, though Bill Clinton has made appearances in the state looking to pick up at least a portion of the 153 delegates, or in Georgia where Obama has strong support from African-American voters.
Many eyes will be on California where the two are fighting for their share of a whooping 370 delegates. Clinton is banking on her Democratic star power but in recent days has seen Obama make a comeback up with big-name endorsements and a coinciding surge in the state polls.
On the campaign trail, Clinton returned Monday morning to the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, Conn. where she worked as a law student to hold a town hall on children’s issues. After an introduction by Penn Rhodeen recalling Clinton’s work at the center, Clinton gave what many in the media have described as an emotional response and were quick to compare it to her “tearing up” before the New Hampshire primary.
“Well I said I wouldn’t tear up,” Clinton said after the introduction. “Already we’re not exactly on the path.”
Was it as big a deal as some in the political press made it seem? Watch the video and judge for yourself.
Clinton is running a series of ads before Tuesday, including one titled “Freefall” that targets the economy — an issue that has risen to the top of voter concerns — using the metaphor of a skydiver to represent the falling economy and Clinton as his parachute.
Clinton is also running an ad focusing on energy in California, Spanish-language ads in Arizona and California, one that promotes her New York Times endorsement. and one called Can Do that will air in Feb. 5 states.
Former President Clinton continues to join his wife on the campaign trail, hosting roundtables of his own in Santa Ana, Sacramento, Stockton, and San Francisco Calif.
“You know we have always been there for you, in good times and bad, we’ve been there for California,” Bill Clinton told the crowd in Santa Ana.
The couple’s daughter Chelsea is scheduled to meet with students in Delaware and will make visits to New Jersey and Connecticut.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton has an “election night celebration” planned to kickoff at 8 p.m. EST in New York, N.Y.
I just watched one of Obama's ads called "Join", and it looked like a rock concert. Saw his attack on Hillary's health care and it looked like Harry and Louise all over again. Strange, a Republican like attack on health care from Obama. I guess he wants us to do it ourselves.
I heard Jim L say there was not a dime's worth of difference between Hillary and Obama. I think he should read Krugman's blog.
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I just watched one of Obama's ads called "Join", and it looked like a rock concert. Saw his attack on Hillary's health care and it looked like Harry and Louise all over again. Strange, a Republican like attack on health care from Obama. I guess he wants us to do it ourselves.
I heard Jim L say there was not a dime's worth of difference between Hillary and Obama. I think he should read Krugman's blog.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/health-care-thoughts/