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Clinton Forges Ahead After Tough Wisconsin Loss
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ShareFebruary 19, 2008 10:43 PM
ABC News' Kate Snow Report, Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller Report: "We never expected to win in Wisconsin."
That's the line of the night from the Clinton campaign.
"We said at the beginning of this month that post Super Tuesday was lousy for us until March and we were right," said Communications Director Howard Wolfson.
They're not shocked by the win, but they're having a hard time dealing with the potential size of it. Inside the Clinton shop they believe Barack Obama has won Wisconsin by double digits.
Privately, Clinton associates concede it's a tough night for the campaign. Texas and Ohio - which hold their primaries in two weeks-- have shifted from states they hope to win to states they "must win" says one.
"We thought it would be single digit at worst," he said. "It's going to be a rough day tomorrow with party activists and leaders."
Though she did not mention the loss in her Ohio speech on Tuesday, campaign aides confirm the candidate called her rival to congratulate him.
Obama aides described the exchange as a "brief congratulatory call".
Clinton did try to cut her time in Wisconsin short this past weekend, before a snowstorm forced her to re-schedule events for Monday.
"We obviously reduced time and commitment for a reason," said one insider.
But it's not like Clinton didn't make any effort in Wisconsin. She spent three days here (in part because that snowstorm delayed her departure). Her daughter Chelsea was in the state for four days and President Clinton spent a day touring Wisconsin too.
She was outspent by Obama on the airwaves, but Clinton did run television ads in Wisconsin. And they were harsh. Two ads focused on Obama’s refusal to debate Clinton in Wisconsin.
"Maybe he doesn't want to explain why his health care plan leaves out 15 million people and Hillary's covers everyone. Or why he voted to pass billions in Bush giveaways to the oil companies, but Hillary didn't. Or why he said he might raise the retirement age and cut benefits for social security. But Hillary won't. Why wont Barack Obama debate these differences? Wisconsin deserves better," the ad intoned.
And the Clinton campaign sent out a sharply-worded mailer, accusing Obama of leaving millions of people out of his health care proposal.
"I'm asking you to hire me for the hardest job in the world. And I come before you with 35 yrs of experience making change for people," Clinton argued to a packed labor union hall in Wausau on Monday.
It wasn't enough.
Preliminary exit poll results indicated that Obama did well among independents voting in Wisconsin’s open primary.
Clinton also struggled in some of her core support groups - white women, less-educated and lower-income voters.
Top Clinton advisors are studying those results, shaping their strategies in Ohio and Texas moving forward.
Clinton aides also said they did not expect her fundraising efforts to suffer after tonight’s loss.
On Tuesday, Clinton’s team reported raising fifteen million dollars in the first fifteen days of February.
"Our supporters only get stronger when everyone in the media is counting us out," said the senior staffer.
Clinton campaign aides also think time is on their side.
"We now have two weeks and two debates to win the big states," said the insider.
"Obama will win tonight but as more people focus on him as president and commander in chief he’s going to have a tougher and tougher race," said Clinton spokesman Jay Carson.
"All you have to do is listen to Senator McCain tonight to see that Democrats need to have a candidate with the strength and experience to take him on," Carson said.
In his victory speech Tuesday night, McCain referred to Obama, saying: "I will work hard to make sure Americans aren't deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change."
He also referred to the "confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate."
"It's all about March 4th" said one confident senior Clinton staffer. "We will win Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio and the race will be back to square one. And then the battlefield will be Pennsylvania, which we will win as well."
February 19, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (173)
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I have always voted Democrat. I do not find anything about Baracka and his wife redeeming. They are arrogant and condescending who play to minorities. If they were white they'd be the Clintons !
Maybe a moderate Republican wouldn't be a bad thing.If we can just him to budge on the war and abortion issues we might have a winner.
Posted by: Not Me | Feb 19, 2008 11:02:45 PM
Obama won by 114,000 votes in Wisconsin tonight. How many of those votes were Independent and Repubs voting for him to keep Hillary out of the race???
He only picks up a net gain of about 12-13 delegates, and once the big states come into play, it will be a dead heat again. Then what??
Posted by: Jay | Feb 19, 2008 11:05:09 PM
I believe it's over for Hillary ii'm not here to dissapoint anyone but thats the way it's turning out i'm a republican and i plan to vote for barack here in corpus christi,tx.
Posted by: Anthony | Feb 19, 2008 11:10:52 PM
The Clinton campaign has made it clear they do not need my vote. They stated I am a "second class" delegate; red states don't matter and I don't really need a president because of my income. If I don't matter to them and the majority of the US is not important to them, why should we put our trust in someone that thinks so little of us?
Posted by: Sylvia | Feb 19, 2008 11:11:33 PM
Hillary we love you. We know you will bounce back to save our country. We are with you.From OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
Posted by: jane | Feb 19, 2008 11:11:53 PM
Hang in there Hillary! We are waiting to support you in Pennsylvania! I'm hoping that Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island do the same. It's time to stop the non-sense and the hype... the winds will come and blow away Obama's air castles...
Posted by: Chrispy166 | Feb 19, 2008 11:12:37 PM
The media has played a huge part in this election by not presenting the voters with more information on Obama and his past.
I want more than just great speeches. I want a president and commander in cheif that can give results. Obama has not proven he can do this. The republican votes he is pulling in will be running the other way in November. I don't see change. I see more of the same empty promises we have had from Bush. The republican party will chew him up in November.
Posted by: Kurt | Feb 19, 2008 11:12:40 PM
Those of you who believe it's over for Hillary are just using wishful thinking. She can still pull even on March 4th, and leads in superdelegates and will leads in votes once Florida and Michigan are seated. Why should she concede now? If Obama had a 300-400 delegate lead I would say she should consider it , but with a 90 delegates lead, there is still much more campaigning to do. Hillary is not a quitter. When the new scandal hits about Obama and it turns out to be true, he will have to quit.
Posted by: Jay | Feb 19, 2008 11:13:39 PM
I have no doubt that Hillary is forging ahead. She has more guts and fight than her opponent could ever "DREAM" of. I wouldn't doubt it if Hillary was already planning her next move for the 2012 election after Obama leaves the country in shambles.
Posted by: sl surratt | Feb 19, 2008 11:14:16 PM
So what will the excuse be after Hawaii and so on and so on?
Posted by: Patriot2008 | Feb 19, 2008 11:18:04 PM
She can't just win the big states. She has to CRUSH in the big states. That looks like it won't happen. Given the trends and recent polls.
Posted by: Lance | Feb 19, 2008 11:19:53 PM
feel free to cast your vote for him. I will have my vote for Hillary! If we all hold on to our faith in our candidate and keep supporting her, he would not be able to close the gap. Why do people have to be affected by the so called momentum? Momentum is nothing but false of hope!
Posted by: snakebaby | Feb 19, 2008 11:19:59 PM
Don't count Hillary out. It ain't over till it's over! & We in OHIO are chompin' at the bit to Vote for Her ! Go Girl Go!!!! Ohio For Hillary ! The Common Sense has spoken. Good-nite.
Posted by: georgie | Feb 19, 2008 11:20:11 PM
Lance, she doesn't have to crush at all. She just needs to make up 90 pledged delegated. A decent margin in Ohio, Texas, & PA would put her ahead again.
The race is a long way from over. There very worst thing Mr. Obama could do, was become overconfident thinking he left Hillary Clinton for dead after tonight.
Posted by: Jay | Feb 19, 2008 11:22:44 PM
Wait till the media starts disliking Obama. When people start digging in to his background they will tear him apart just like they did the Clintons. Hillary will come back. People will get there head out of the clouds soon. The Republicans will Swiftboat him right out of the sky. :(
Posted by: Faye | Feb 19, 2008 11:23:05 PM
In Corpus Christ Tx, Please don't give up on Hillary!!! She needs your support. Those of us in states who haven't been able to participate yet are counting on those of you in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island to keep Hillary in the race!! It's too dangerous for the Democrats if you don't.
Posted by: Chrispy166 | Feb 19, 2008 11:24:29 PM
So much for the theory all educated people vote for Obama..lol
Posted by: Jay | Feb 19, 2008 11:24:55 PM
The demo breaks don't look good for Clinton. If things progress along these lines, she may lose the pop. vote in TX and certainly it's a near dead heat in delegates there. She needs to win OH by a big margin. RI and VT will essentially cancel out. After Mar. 4 Obama will still be up by about 70-80 pledged delegates. Clinton can't pick that up in PA (at best a 20-30 del. pickup). Sorry to say, but the delegate tally lead will be Obama heading to convention.
Posted by: Kevin | Feb 19, 2008 11:25:53 PM
Mr. Obama in his rally tonight, warned that there was still 2 months and a long hard road ahead to win the nomination. I don't think he is counting Hillary out right now either.
Posted by: Jay | Feb 19, 2008 11:27:22 PM
Hillary Clinton will win in Texas, and Ohio! Polls here in Texas, are showing Clinton winning the primary.
John
Houston, Texas
Posted by: John | Feb 19, 2008 11:28:19 PM
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