CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
March 11, 2008 – 4:09 p.m.
Clintons Covering Pennsylvania Like A “Wet Blanket”
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
CANONSBURG, Pa. — New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will win the majority of popular votes and the Democratic presidential nomination “if she gets a big victory in Pennsylvania,” former President Bill Clinton told a packed senior center in this borough south of Pittsburgh Tuesday.
And if Canonsburg is any indication, the New York senator is on track to do very well in the Keystone State.
President Clinton worked the western part of the state while his wife was in the eastern half at the front end of a six-week sprint until Pennsylvania’s primary.
“Hillary, Chelsea and I expect to cover Pennsylvania like a wet blanket between now and April 22,” he said.
Echoing his message that Hillary Clinton had to win the March 4 Texas and Ohio primaries to stay in the race — which she did — Bill Clinton said the New York senator needs to run up the score in Pennsylvania to build momentum in ensuing primaries, win the overall popular vote and secure the nomination over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama .
“I think she’s got to win a big victory in Pennsylvania,” he said. “If she does, she could be nominated.”
A poll released today by SurveyUSA has Clinton leading 55 percent to 36 percent with a 4 point margin of error. The survey was conducted March 8-10.
Nearly eight years after he left office, Bill Clinton remains popular in this overwhelmingly Democratic enclave, according to residents and local officials.
Some attendees of the town-hall style event said they like the idea of getting two presidents by electing Hillary Clinton. Others said they were voting for the senator on her own merits.
“It’s about her,” said Samuel J. Amorose, 86, a longtime local labor leader.
Amorose recalled sitting in the Oval Office in the mid-1990s after being invited along with a handful of other senior citizens to discuss Social Security and Medicare with the president. Hillary Clinton was engaged in the meeting, he remembered.
“These are down-to-earth people, he said.
Perhaps more troubling for Obama — and Democrats in general — is the resistance many of the Democrats here have to his candidacy.
Several die-hard Democrats said they would vote Republican and back Arizona Sen. John McCain if Obama wins the Democratic nomination.
The reasons for the lack of enthusiasm for Obama range from his short record in the national political sphere to a perception that he and his wife, Michelle Obama, are not sufficiently patriotic.
“I’d vote for McCain,” said Rosemary Sobeck. “I don’t think [Obama]’s got enough experience.”
Minnie Konovich, who sat in the front row, said an image of Obama standing without his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem hurt him, in her eyes.
“I don’t like him because he won’t acknowledge our flag,” she said. “He just stands there and does nothing.”
Asked whether he would be there if the telephone rings at 3 a.m. in the White House — a reference to a controversial Hillary Clinton ad suggesting she is better-equipped than Obama to handle a crisis — Bill Clinton indicated that won’t be his call.
“I will do whatever I am asked to do if you elect her president,” he said. “I’ll do whatever she wants me to.”
Comments
Jonathan Allen - you call yourself a reporter? shame on "....an image of Obama standing without his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem hurt him, in her eyes. "I don't like him because he won't acknowledge our flag," she said. "He just stands there and does nothing." Did you correct her that she is wrong? or at least tell your readers that that assertion is incorrect. This is a typical one sided reporting to undermine Senator Obama. Shame on you.
SIGH BIG BIG SIGH....Clintons are doing and saying anything to get to the Whitehouse. Every citizen in every country with a TV or computer since the 90's didn't expect anything else, so why should the American people? Are you soooo blind!! THE most corrupt couple in American history!! Why on Gods green earth do you keep electing them? What has Clinton, as senator, done FOR New York? With ALL that experience she keeps talking about, must have been something HUGE. Her senate record must be something astounding. Why don't you look it up?What a joke. The US will be the soap opera the rest of the world tunes into if the Clintons get back the Whitehouse. The world will watch, sigh, shake it's head and wonder why they didn't learn the first time around
Don't criticise someone for taking a view on why he wants to vote for one person over the other. Participation should not be mocked - she formed a view on what she saw. And he rview is as good as anyones to report.
By the way Clinton did Not "win" Texas. between the 2 types of votes there Obama got the most delegates. Delegates, you know , they count them so the one that gets to 2024 first WINS the nomination.
Wow. The author of this piece didn't even try to mask his over-the-top bias toward Senator Clinton. Bill Clinton said if his wife wins Texas and Ohio then she will be the nominee. Now he's regurgitating that to include Pennsylvania. And after Pennsylvania, when it is still unclear who will take the nomination, Mr. Clinton will say the same thing about the next primary. There have been many outspoken Obama supporters who say they will vote Republican if Senator Clinton wins the nomination. The author of this piece cherry-picked his points of argument in a most egregious manner. Robert Montgomery, Illinois
Democrats that hate Clinton + democrats that cannot accept Obama = President McCain. The fact is that neither Clinton nor Obama can win the nomination based on pledged delegates. The numbers simply are not there. It will come down to the super-delegates. So, the nomination will be decided by the party leaders. When that happens, most Clinton supporters will not vote for Obama if Obama is chosen, nor will most Obama supporters vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. This should not have happened. Maybe we can correct the situation for 2012: no more caucuses, winner takes all delegates, and all states vote on the same day. At least, if the candidate you are backing loses, the pain will be over quickly. What's going on now is patently ridiculous.
Clinton has the nomination all wrapped up....Obama should start to be nice to her and hope she asks him to be vice president... But since Obama's wife has been so rude, they might have blown any chance of that. They might end up back in Illinois with their friend Rezko.......Hillary will be the next President of the United States.
In response to Martha, I'd point out Hillary got 101,029 more votes in Texas than Obama did. So while it's true he got more "delegates", she was the clear choice of "we the people." Martha, you're using the same argument that Bush used against Gore in 2000. He said he won because he got the the most "electoral" votes even though he lost the popular vote by over half a million votes. Do you really want to make that comparison??
Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.
Stephen, I like your argument of going with the candidate who has gotten the most votes from "we the people". Added up all the states that have gone so far and you get Sen. Obama. He has won twice as many states has her, has gotten more popular votes, and more delegates, so he will be the nominee after the convention.
DON'T BE DUPED!!! Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon. But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. "Carpe diem" (harvest the day). I think Hillary Clinton see's a beautiful world of plenty, and comfort for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it's time America. Do this for your-self, and your children's future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now. You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don't want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-self. Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama's. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE! As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help. Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton. If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON'T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose. The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy. I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton's offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama's place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. But the time to act is soon. The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses. Fortunately the Clinton's have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton's. Only the Clinton's are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen. "This is not a game" (Hillary Clinton) Sincerely jacksmith...
Mike...the key phrase in your comment is "states that have gone SO FAR." There are still elections to be held and votes to be counted. So just wait until it's over to see who comes out ahead. The number of states he's won doesn't mean anything. One candidate could win 39 states in November and still far short of the required 270 electoral votes. While the other can win just 11 states and be elected President. The popular vote is the true democratic way to go.
A big Clinton win in Pennsylvania will demonstrate that Hillary's retail campaigning, Gov. Rendell's organizational support and Bill's star power can win a Democratic primary. Nothing more. Should Obama not be blown out, or even manage a tie, it would show that the Clinton's massive political firepower is ineffective. The reality in this primary is that without a landslide victory, Hillary Clinton cannot make a reasonable case for her nomination.
What has Clinton, as senator, done FOR New York? With ALL that experience she keeps talking about, must have been something HUGE. Her senate record must be something astounding. Why don't you look it up?What a joke. People should look up Senator Clinton's record in the Senate. Contrary to the previous commenters assertion, Senator Clinton has a distinguished record of bipartisan accomplishment as a Senator. Many will deride the six major bills that her record rests upon, but one should recognize that this is not an age in which the Senate is inhabited by political giants. Nevertheless, Senator Clinton has sponsored and been a key contributor on the major Senate bills that defined the government's policies regarding the salient issues during her time in office. Robert Chapman Lansing, NY
It will come down to the super-delegates. So, the nomination will be decided by the party leaders. When that happens, most Clinton supporters will not vote for Obama if Obama is chosen, nor will most Obama supporters vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. The Democratic Party is bigger than these two nominees and the average Democrat is bigger than this commenter thinks. People may well passionately support Hillary, and will come around to Obama if he is nominated. This is because they are committed Democrats who supported people like Mike Dukakis. In my view, there is still some question as to whether the Obama people will be disillusioned if he fails to win the nomination, but I still have faith in the Democratic rank and file to do the right thing in November. The recession, the on-going stalemate in Iraq and the climbing cost of living will push the public toward whichever of the Democrats finally wins the nomination.
Jack Smith asserts that 30% of Obama's votes come from Republicans trying to sabotage the Democrats' nomination process. I am curious about the source of his assertion. My hypothesis has been that Obama appeals to independent thinking GOP moderates and independents and that they are voting for him because they like him. Since I live in NYS and we have a closed primary, I have been able to test my hypothesis at home. Do any other readers have a sense as to whether Obama's high level of independent and GOP support stem from sabotage rather than from real attraction to both the candidate and his message? Robert Chapman Lansing, NY
you obama people are such crybabies. obama finally starts getting the same type of press that Hillary has gotten the entire campaign and you all just cry like little babies. boo hoo
Do you in Pennsylvania want Bill and Hillary back in the Whitehouse? Have you forgotten what we went through--vouchergate,travelgate,impeachment,jennifer flowers,paula jones, monica lewinsky,etc. You don't think the republicans are going to dig this up all over again? A vote for Hillary is a vote for Bill Clinton. If Pennsylvania is not moving forward to change this country then it is going to be a sad day for us all.
Hilary consults a higher husband.
Does anybody really believe Obama would lose the "big states" of California and New York? Obama is running 15% ahead of McCain in California polls. Does anybody really believe Hillary would win Texas? It's staying Republican. Meanwhile, Obama leads McCain in the polls, and Hillary does not, in several of those small states that were Republican in the past election.
I along with all my friends who are all democrats have sworn to vote for Mr. McCain if Obama gets the nomination. We do not want another Jesse Jackson to lead us. Please lets get some one with the experience to run our country and not a person who will not know what to do in an emergency We do not want this person to learn about our government at our expense. Thanks for listening
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