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What Should We Expect to Hear from Camp Clinton Tuesday Night?

March 02, 2008 4:49 PM

I think the Clinton campaign is quite prepared to continue after Tuesday, even if she gets trounced in Texas delegates. In fact, I think many Hillary Clinton supporters expect that will happen.

The hypothetical some Clinton supporters posit -- Barack Obama wins Vermont, Rhode Island is close, Clinton wins Ohio, Obama wins delegates in Texas but the popular vote is either close or perhaps Clinton wins it.

(As you may know, the Texas system is thought to favor Obama for two main reasons: First, one third of the delegates will be chosen in an evening caucus, and the organization and enthusiasm of the Obama campaign means he has done well in caucuses. Second, two-thirds of the delegates will be chosen in a primary where Obama-leaning districts -- black, upwardly mobile white -- have more delegates. Why do they have more delegates? Because those districts turned out to vote for the Democrat in 2004 and 2006.)

In any case, if that's the scenario, and Clinton can claim at least two if not three victories (Texas popular vote being one of them), I don't get the feeling that Sen. Clinton will be at all inclined to drop out.

The questions her supporters may ask if that scenario plays out:

If -- after 11 straight wins and outspending Clinton 3-to-1 -- Obama can't put her away in two big states, what does that say about his strength as a candidate?

What does it say about what Democrats want?

Will it show that Obama has a glass jaw on national security? If he can't beat Clinton on that debate -- if her "Children" ad works -- her campaign may continue to make the case to voters (and to superdelegates) that McCain will eat his lunch on the issue

If neither of the two candidates can reach the magic number of delegates to clinch the nomination, why should Clinton be the one to drop out? "She could go on vacation for the next six weeks and he still wouldn't be able to wrap it up," is a common refrain.

Is there not a big double standard in the expectations game? If their situations were reversed, they say, no one would be calling for Obama to drop out. They'd be calling for her to put him on the ticket.

These open primaries have allowed independents and even Republicans into what's supposed to be a Democratic process. Some hypothesize that according to exit polls Clinton has actually won Democratic voters, and Obama is only ahead because of the non-Democratic riff-raff. Isn't that relevant?

* * *

Please note: Those are not my questions, it's what I imagine we may hear from Clintonistas Tuesday night, unless Obama has a stellar evening.

The bottom line is I do NOT get the impression at all that even if Obama walks away with even more of a delegate advantage Tuesday, Clinton will be inclined to drop out.

What say you?

- jpt

March 2, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (106)

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I think the people who are donating still to Hillary campaign are doing so that she fight on till the convention. Democrat chairman Dean and Brazille should be threw out of the party for throwing out the votes of Michagan and Florida. We would not be in this mess. Hillary would have a large delegate lead.

Posted by: TO | Mar 3, 2008 9:05:31 AM

It doesn't matter what message is spun to the public; what matters is the reaction of her large backers writing the checks and the party leadership. If the money dries up and the party says "party over", she's done.

Posted by: Frank | Mar 3, 2008 9:04:30 AM

Hillary should fight to the end. If Obama is the nominee I will vote McCain (and Republican for the first time in my life). Sorry, I can't drink the kool aid.

Posted by: Kathi | Mar 3, 2008 7:22:53 AM

I hope we hear......
nah nah nah nah
nah nah nah nah
hey hey hey
good bye.

Posted by: SE Croft | Mar 3, 2008 7:11:42 AM

One night sit and listen to all their so called unbiased coverage on this. Go online to the websites and see if the main article is about Hillary and usually negative or she needs to drop out. Count the number of times they bash Hillary vs. O'bama and draw the judgement yourself. They think we are idiots. Really people just give your vote to the press. The press has caused most of this out of control election.

Posted by: Cactus | Mar 3, 2008 6:41:16 AM

It's over for Hillary on Tuesday night.

GO-BAMA!

Posted by: Dan | Mar 3, 2008 5:14:20 AM

For the sake of the democratic party, Clinton needs to continue on. A big chunk of her voters will go to McCain because the Republican machine will dig so much dirt (real or imagined) that those emotional votes that Obama counts on will dry up so fast. Even with the media being led by the nose, the few nuggets that we uncover about Obama are all very troublesome: vote present on most of the big issues, muslim or not? his relationship with the mobster Rezko who has relationships with terrorists, his reluctance to reject Fakkahan, etc. and this is just the beginning...

At least, the republican has tried multiple times to topple Clinton and they failed, twice with Bill, twice with Hillary when she ran for Senator.

I would switch because the DNC has allowed this election turning into a popularity contest instead of keeping focus on core values of the party.

Posted by: vote4thebest | Mar 3, 2008 4:09:48 AM

Hillary is my choice and a choice of millions. She should fight for nomination to the end. I distrust Obama. He was born a muslin and may be changed to Christian. But at least he should talk it clearly. Do not play with race. He is a new kind of politician, whom we do not trust. I would rather vote for McCain than him.

Posted by: Julia, California | Mar 3, 2008 3:47:05 AM

I'm a white male democrat from Texas and early-voted for Hillary and am taking the day off on Tuesday so that I can caucus for Hillary. I think Hillary should fight until the end. If Obama is our nominee, I will vote for McCain. I am shocked by the cult-like attitudes of the Obamatons. It's just like them to make a bunch of postings encouraging Hillary to bow out and support Obama. Just what a cult member would tell a non-member: Just come to believe in our messiah and everything will be good forever -- you'll be in ever-lasting bliss. Just drink this Kool-aid first!

Posted by: Texas | Mar 3, 2008 3:10:56 AM

Hillary Clinton must and will fight all the way to the convention in June. I am sick and tired of these people trying to CHEAT the process to install their man. It's disgraceful and highly unethical. Rest assured this is Obama and his campaign peddling the convenient view that Clinton must "exit". He wants to cut this race short and cheat his way to the finish line. It ain't gonna happen!

How dare anyone try and deny the public of its right to play a role in selecting the Democratic nominee. Every state should have their votes counted! LET THE PROCESS TAKES ITS COURSE! No more FREE PASSAGES for Obama.

Do these people (Media/Obama/Obama's supporters) know who they are dealing with????? Hillary Clinton doesn't take rubbish from no-one! She is not about to roll over and hand victory to a man whom she knows she is infinitely more knowledgeable, experienced, skilled and qualified than. These requests for her to exit are laughable. It's just not going to happen.

I trust that Hillary Clinton has the same view and will take this all the way to the convention. By that time, hopefullly REALITY will have set in, Obama will have been accordingly discredited once the TRUTH comes out, and all the superdelegates will flock with glee to Hillary!

Dream on Obama fans. See you at the convention!

Posted by: Muzza | Mar 3, 2008 2:20:34 AM

Republicans and independents are overuling the Democrats' true choice for President--Hillary Clinton. What a sham! No wonder we get bad government. However, I have faith in my fellow Texans. No one comes into our state and tells us what to do. This is Clinton Country and we will deliver.

Posted by: Joseph | Mar 3, 2008 2:04:55 AM

What say me?

WHAT DOES CLINTON WANT?

[that question used to be splattered gratuitously across the opinion pages after Jackson lost a few primaries in previous contests. Clinton has lost a string of them, and still the media 'gurus' have yet to dig up their hate files ..]

Posted by: chokora_fukara | Mar 3, 2008 1:47:24 AM

Hillary should stay in the race. America needs someone in White House with more experience than a speech (if you count a speech as experience).

If the party leader forces her out, then wait for us show up in November for McCain.

Posted by: R. M. | Mar 3, 2008 1:01:07 AM

Hillary is the best candidate, the best choice, and our best "HOPE" for "CHANGE". No one should count her out or underestimate her ability to lead.

Posted by: Maggie Washington | Mar 3, 2008 12:11:26 AM

Keep going Hillary!!! Fight! Fight! Fight! We the true Democratic base will be there until every vote is counted and that means Florida and Michigan. Don't you get it Obama supporters? We would rather have McCain in the White House than Obama. We will go to the convention before we give up.
Hillary or McCain 08!!!!

Posted by: Carol | Mar 3, 2008 12:07:42 AM

What do I expect to hear from Hillary Clinton? I expect to hear her say that she will continue on because this country can ill afford to have such an experience person as her opponent as president. The world is not safe enough as it is. The last thing we need is to turn it over to someone so utterly ill prepared as her opponent. Go Hillary!!

Posted by: Kerry Washington | Mar 3, 2008 12:04:38 AM

Hillary08: "Hillary should go on NO MATTER what!!!" At the expense of dividing the party up? But, hey, she has done this before. So, she will for sure go on, NO MATTER WHAT.

Posted by: catiger | Mar 2, 2008 11:15:54 PM

The biggest question is WHY the democrats would nominate someone like Obama who doesn't have nearly enough experience to be qualified to be president. Hillary has barely more experience than Obama. How the heck are we supposed to vote for a democrat when these ninnies are the only choices?

Posted by: Doc Savage | Mar 2, 2008 11:13:02 PM

Let’s face it, according to the media, Hillary Rodham Clinton can’t do anything right and Barack Hussein Obama can’t do anything wrong. Poor Obama! I seem to recall Obama recently saying "its all about the delegates". Now he is spouting that the popular vote is what the superdelegates need to vote on. Hmmm which is it? Obama's biggest advantage against ANYONE is the MEDIA is on his side! Obama needs less of "yes we can" and a lot of 'how he can'. We need experience in the Oval Office and Obama does not have it. Vote Hillary! She is a candidate of action…he is a candidate of words. We need experience in these hard times.

Posted by: PROUDAMERICAN2008 | Mar 2, 2008 11:10:37 PM

She should not drop out until PA is over and the DNC decides what to do in FLA and MI, it may be by then that he has to drop out. Also, wait for the Rezco trial to get underway (if any media really reports on it). I am finally starting to see some media questioning Obama, and the republicans are just getting started on him.

The tide is finally turning and I am glad.

Posted by: belle | Mar 2, 2008 11:04:36 PM

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