RECENT POSTS
- Oprah, Health Care Lobbyists, Among Recent Visitors to White House
- An Obama Thanksgiving Menu, with an Extra Serving of Pie
- White House Thanksgiving Traditions: Broken and Observed
- Obama, GOP Air Differences Over Jobs, Economy In Thanksgiving Addresses
- White House State Dinner Party Crashers
- Obama to Lay Out Emissions Goals in Copenhagen
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Conference Call from Planet Clinton
May 07, 2008 10:59 AM
On a conference call just now, the Clinton campaign explained how they see the world this Wednesday morning.
Any discussions about Sen. Hillary Clinton dropping out?
"No," declared Clinton campaign communications director Howard Wolfson. "No discussions."
Senior strategist Geoff Garin called Sen. Hillary Clinton's narrow victory in Indiana "a close outcome but an outcome about which we feel very, very good." He said it was "he first time in this race that Sen. Clinton has come from behind to achieve a primary victory."
"These are two states we were supposed to lose," Wolfson said of Indiana and North Carolina.
Wolfson said the additional $6.425 million Clinton loaned herself in the last month -- disclosed this morning -- was not an indication that her fundraising has lagged, but rather that she is just trying to stay competitive with Sen. Barack Obama's record-setting fundraising.
The loans, Wolfson said, indicate "Senator Clinton's commitment to the race and a commitment to being competitive with Senator Obama."
Sen. Clinton's total $11.425 million in loans to her campaign have now exceeded the $10 million she earned for her book -- Clinton had made a point of saying her January $5 million was her money. So is she not now loaning herself money her husband has earned?
"I dispute the notion that there is a difference between her share of her joint assets and her own money," said Wolfson.. "There is no distrinction between her share of their joint assets and her money. Her money is their share of her joint assets."
Wolfson pointed out that "legally she is entitled to use up to 50% of their joint assets if she chooses….We are scrupulously following the rules."
He added, "I don’t rule out that she will loan the campaign additional resources."
Asked about the fact that pundits have declared the Democratic nominating race to be over -- and how that might influence superdelegates -- the Clinton campaign pooh-poohed and pish-poshed.
"Thankfully for us the punditocracy does not control the nominating process, voters do," said Wolfson.
Wolfson said that "obviously superdelegates watch TV, they read the newspaper...but in the end I think they are more influenced by electoral outcomes...and arguments about who would be the stronger nominee in November."
Clinton will be stopping by West Virginia for an event this afternoon -- the state holds its primary on Tuesday -- after which she will be meeting with uncommitted superdelegates later in the afternoon on the Hill. "The goal is to make the case to the superdelegates that Sen. Clinton would be the best nominee," Wolfson said.
The Clinton campaign, which has recently taken a more aggressive position about seating the disputed delegates from Michigan and Florida, conceded that even if those two delegations are seated in full -- which is quite unlikely to happen -- Clinton will still lag behind Sen. Obama in total delegates.
"If Michigan and Florida are seated fully we estimate we would pick up 58 delegates," said deputy communications dircetor Phil Singer, "putting us within a margin of less than 100 total delegates separating Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton."
But still behind.
-jpt
May 7, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (439)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Yes -- the democratic leaders are making a huge mistake. Hillary should be the nominee and if she is not I intend to vote mccain.
Posted by: jr | May 7, 2008 8:40:03 PM
Yes -- the democratic leaders are making a huge mistake. Hillary should be the nominee and if she is not I intend to vote mccain.
Posted by: jr | May 7, 2008 8:40:00 PM
Clinton supporters of which I am one; do not be misguided by the Republicans pretending to be on our side and encouraging us to vote for McCain. I, a life long Democrat, will be changing my party affiliation to Independent. The reason being I do not feel that the Democratic Party is representative of US, the long term Democrats who believe and fought for Civil Rights, who experienced the rip off elections of Gore and Kerry and who now support Hillary Clinton. I have volunteered throughout the years driving to other states and staying in Hotels to help where ever I was needed at my own expense. I also have donated heavily throughout the years. What I have seen done to Hillary Clinton in the media is a great injustice. I have only a masters in History; however my passion for the subject has been deep since childhood. I have experienced racism, poverty and hunger. I have also experienced great devotion from teachers and others enabling me to become educated beyond my family’s hopes and dreams. I know that this country and its Constitution is not great solely because of leaders or events, but because of the People and the Power of Protest. It is what I teach my students every year! I am not abandoning the Democratic Party; I am leaving a party that has contributed to the great injustice we are witnessing against Hillary Clinton, the most intelligent, policy savvy candidate. It is the Democratic Party that has abandoned US for a novice because of the "forces that be" who want to anoint him within our party against the wishes of the loyal Dem base. I owe this party nothing! I owe the New Democrats for Obama absolutely NOTHING! I definitely owe Obama absolutely NOTHING! I will vote for Hillary Clinton alone, hopefully through a new THIRD PARTY. I encourage a split with the Democratic Party because it will be a ROARING PROTEST THAT THEY WILL FEEL. I will NEVER vote Republican!
Posted by: irma | May 7, 2008 8:27:42 PM
Congradulations for coming out to vote against Obama as an informed citizen. But reality chk, even more informed citizens came out to vote for him. Sorry.
Posted by: fool me once | May 7, 2008 8:18:14 PM
Do not blame The Clintons. Democrate created superdelegates. Hillary was tireless for Campaign. We are proud of you and she is a woman.
McCain will be die in general election, get sick. I don't know how HRC & Bo is not enough sleep.
Hillary, we love you
Posted by: indo45 | May 7, 2008 8:17:51 PM
I say, obama should not let hillary or bill campaign for him in the fall.
she should just go back to work in the senate.
Posted by: justsaying | May 7, 2008 8:12:35 PM
i have been reading black agenda all along. it is to bad other black people were not in tuned to it.
half of this country did not like geo. bush.
now half of this country will not like the president or his wife.
my black people really didn;t have their eyes on what the real prize is for them in the future.
Posted by: jgaw | May 7, 2008 7:48:47 PM
outsor2
I am with you, I think for the good of the party she should just concede and go back to the senate and get on with her work.
I hope obama will not ask her or bill to campaign in the fall for him.
Posted by: justsaying | May 7, 2008 7:39:56 PM
Congratulations to Senator Obama for staying the high ground after all the personal attacks...well done! Senator Clinton, show some grace for a change and think of your party.
Posted by: outsourced2 | May 7, 2008 7:35:29 PM
My North Carolina...a state of denial.
You can pull your head out of the sand now-Obama won. You bought his lies.
I won't leave the state I love, so I will vote for McCain.
Posted by: cindy in nc | May 7, 2008 7:27:36 PM
I hope obama will refuse Hillary's support in the ge.
I hope he will not want her to campaign for him.
she can just go back to work in the senate.
Posted by: justsaying | May 7, 2008 7:26:24 PM
Hillary needs to stop acting like a spoiled brat now and step down after Obama's huge NC win. Its over! The Super Delegates are leaving her camp to support Obama daily and urging her to step down for the sake of the Democrat party. If she continues to drag this out and hurt the party she will not be popular enough to be re-elected to the Senate... much less dog catcher!
Posted by: outsourced2 | May 7, 2008 7:17:51 PM
Give it up already. You are starting to look like a joke, Hillary.
Posted by: AG | May 7, 2008 7:12:14 PM
I have enough sense not vote for a candidate based on race or gender, but on the issues, because in reality my race people have a tendency to stab each other in the back, just because Obama iis Black or mixed race does not mean he going to be their for our race of people, he's proven that by not showing up to the State of The Black Union hosted by Tavis Smiley or Katrina, Obama hides from issues that negativley affect the Black race exspecially poor and middle class Blacks and Whites, he looks down on them, he thinks he better than people who don't have the wealth he has. So as an Black American he does not represent or speak for me, but for his rich well to do Black and Whites circles.
Posted by: In response to Sick and Tired From DarrellP | May 7, 2008 7:04:45 PM
Sorry, but when Hillary repeated her landing in Bosnia under sniper fire fantasy on several different occasions when she actually was greeted by a small girl with flowers, that was a bold faced lie. The person who we elect commander in chief and could possibly need have to send our troops to war needs to be able to tell the difference.
Posted by: fool me once | May 7, 2008 6:49:07 PM
I think the democratic party is going to be divided if don't figure out who is going to be the president and yes obama does not speak for all of us.. thank u very much
Posted by: Utah SEO | May 7, 2008 6:46:04 PM
fool me once said: "I didn't say Obama is a saint, no person and certainly no politician is."
OK, then refrain from calling Clinton a "Boldfaced Liar". I didn't realize that you acknowledged Obama's lies.
Posted by: cappamore | May 7, 2008 6:30:29 PM
I agree with Rachel Madow from MSNBC comment.... "if I were Mrs.Clinton, I will tell superdelagates just wait.."
The longer she stay the more we know aobaut Rev.Wright, Rezko, Bill Ayers...and...and..etc.
Obama will be lost againts Mc.Cain. Most states he won will be going to Repbulican, espceiall as they know about Rev.Wright. Obama won more caucuses than primary. In general election there is no caucus.
Posted by: Gee | May 7, 2008 6:26:03 PM
Obama/Gore '08.
Paul.
Posted by: Paul M. | May 7, 2008 6:19:32 PM
The folks on these boards that say they will not vote for Barack if he gets the nomination are not true Democrats. I bet you all the money I donated to Edwards and later Obama that they all voted for George Bush. Let them go support McSame. He is going to need it since 25% of his party did not even vote for him when he is already the nominee. Boo-Ya.
Posted by: Progressive Democrat | May 7, 2008 6:16:15 PM
Post a comment
