Hours after Politico.com backtracked Monday on its earlier story that Sen. Barack Obama might declare victory in the Democratic race after Tuesday’s Oregon primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent out a memo calling the idea “a slap in the face to the millions of voters in the remaining primary states and to Senator Clinton’s 17 million supporters.”
“There is no scenario under the rules of the Democratic National Committee by which Senator Obama will be able to claim the nomination tomorrow night,” Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson wrote in the open memo entitled, “Mission Accomplished? Not so fast.”
“He will not have 2210 delegates, the number needed with Florida and Michigan included in the process, nor will he have 2025 delegates, the number needed to secure the nomination without Florida and Michigan,” Wolfson wrote.
Campaigning in Kentucky ahead of that state’s Tuesday primary, Clinton said that she had not only won more popular votes than Obama, she had won states totaling far more electoral votes.
“The states that I’ve won total 300 electoral votes,” she told about 300 people in a high school gymnasium in Maysville, the New York Times reported. “The question is who can win 270 electoral votes? My opponent has won states totaling 217 electoral votes.”
The New York senator added, “This is nowhere near over. None of us is going to have the delegates we need to get to the nomination” after results from Oregon and Kentucky are tallied Tuesday night.
She also warned Obama and his supporters not to claim the nomination based on winning a majority of pledged delegates or some other yardstick before the final primaries on June 3 and before the fate of the Michigan and Florida delegations are settled, according to the Times.
“In another sign that the Clinton campaign won’t be throwing in the towel anytime soon, it has announced its first TV ad in South Dakota, which has its contest on June 3,” MSNBC.com reported.
Obama’s camp, while backing off the idea of declaring victory this week, continued to look forward to Tuesday’s contests as a key milestone in the epic Democratic race.
“A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a memo to supporters Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Obama also picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Monday, less than a week after Clinton overwhelmingly won the state’s primary. The Illinois senator reportedly attracted a record crowd of 75,000 people to a rally in Portland, Ore., on Saturday — a state Obama is looking to for a win, although recent polls show Clinton edging in on his lead.
Obama plans to speak from the general election battleground state of Iowa on Tuesday night while Clinton expects to speak in Louisville, Ky.
I agree with Hillary Clinton that "this is nowhere near over". As a bystander watching all these from Australia, I cannot see why the Democratic Party should shoot their own foot by excluding Michigan and Florida because of some minor procedural rules. I say fine them a sum of money, accept their delegates, and move on!
HILLARY CLINTON IS THE GREATEST CAMPAIGNER IN AMERICAN HISTORY !!!
HILLARY CLINTON CAN BEST WIN IN NOVEMBER:
IT'S ABOUT ELECTABILITY !!!
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania, and loss in Indiana and West Virginia makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Sen. Obama has zero chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources without Hillary Clinton. Zero chance.
It is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Sen. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Sen. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Sen. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Sen. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Don't be fooled by the pledged delegate, and math arguments. Neither candidate has the necessary pledged delegates. The entire delegates counts, and votes from Florida, and Michigan are not even being counted. Plus the democratic caucuses, and primarys have been heavily corrupted by fraud, and vote cheating. The only relevant question now is who can best WIN IN NOVEMBER and take back the Whitehouse for the American people. And the answer is HILLARY CLINTON. Everyone knows that now.
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. Cynthia Ruccia - I'm with ya baby. All the way. "Clinton Supporters Count Too."
I want comment first on a role of media that tried so hard to tell us for whom to vote. Obama turned into a celebrity, thanks to the media and those, who are behind it. I feel, we've been manipulated a big time again...
Obama has his pluses, but a lots of minuses as well. We can not afford experiments with our future by somebody who is so unexperience or no another era of republicans for sure.
Working class, Arline.
There will be a national war if the courts decide now to change the rule. If this was an issue the issue should have been cleared prior to Hillary Clinton losing. This will direct many in not trusting the legal system. Hillary is a bias sore loser. The rules were set she signed the documents as well as Obama, tough luck. She's out she needs to be kicked out, her and her husband. That's why the nation is in the place it is now because of people like her.
I am a contributor to the PBS in Baltimore. I am a Master's prepared Nurse and do not fit the profile reported in media. I am a Clinton supporter and I am upset about the biased reporting of this election. White males have named Obama the winner for months and promoted his virtues in spite of no experience.
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I agree with Hillary Clinton that "this is nowhere near over". As a bystander watching all these from Australia, I cannot see why the Democratic Party should shoot their own foot by excluding Michigan and Florida because of some minor procedural rules. I say fine them a sum of money, accept their delegates, and move on!
HILLARY CLINTON IS THE GREATEST CAMPAIGNER IN AMERICAN HISTORY !!!
HILLARY CLINTON CAN BEST WIN IN NOVEMBER:
IT'S ABOUT ELECTABILITY !!!
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania, and loss in Indiana and West Virginia makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Sen. Obama has zero chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources without Hillary Clinton. Zero chance.
It is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Sen. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Sen. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Sen. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Sen. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Don't be fooled by the pledged delegate, and math arguments. Neither candidate has the necessary pledged delegates. The entire delegates counts, and votes from Florida, and Michigan are not even being counted. Plus the democratic caucuses, and primarys have been heavily corrupted by fraud, and vote cheating. The only relevant question now is who can best WIN IN NOVEMBER and take back the Whitehouse for the American people. And the answer is HILLARY CLINTON. Everyone knows that now.
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. Cynthia Ruccia - I'm with ya baby. All the way. "Clinton Supporters Count Too."
I want comment first on a role of media that tried so hard to tell us for whom to vote. Obama turned into a celebrity, thanks to the media and those, who are behind it. I feel, we've been manipulated a big time again...
Obama has his pluses, but a lots of minuses as well. We can not afford experiments with our future by somebody who is so unexperience or no another era of republicans for sure.
Working class, Arline.
This woman is showing she's a fighter... and a good one.
She deserves a chance.
There will be a national war if the courts decide now to change the rule. If this was an issue the issue should have been cleared prior to Hillary Clinton losing. This will direct many in not trusting the legal system. Hillary is a bias sore loser. The rules were set she signed the documents as well as Obama, tough luck. She's out she needs to be kicked out, her and her husband. That's why the nation is in the place it is now because of people like her.
I notice you only take in the comments of Hillary Clinton you bias pigs!!!!
She showing she's a lair and she's desperate to keep a black man out of the white house let's call it what it is!!!
I am a contributor to the PBS in Baltimore. I am a Master's prepared Nurse and do not fit the profile reported in media. I am a Clinton supporter and I am upset about the biased reporting of this election. White males have named Obama the winner for months and promoted his virtues in spite of no experience.