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Hillary's 'Designated Rural Hitman' Sets High Bar for Rest of Primaries

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March 18, 2008 11:13 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: Bill Clinton set a high bar in Fort Wayne, Ind., tonight while campaigning for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

In past states Clinton has made a point to lower expectations, particularly in Texas, where he went as far as to say if she didn't carry the state, she may not get the nomination.

Today, Clinton was singing a different tune, telling the crowd, "we need your help. We need your help. I believe she will win a big victory in Pennsylvania. I believe she will win in West Virginia and
Kentucky. Nobody believes she can win in Indiana because it borders Illinois. If you show them they're wrong, she'll be the nominee, and she'll be the president."

Clinton went on to urge voters in Indiana not to make up their minds just yet, saying Hillary does her best when voters think about their choice in the last hours of an election. 

"In every election that we've been involved in, all these primaries, she always wins the voters that decide in the last 48 hours. Even in the states where she had no money, no organization, got beat bad.

"In Virginia she won the closing vote, a state where we had no organization, spent no money.  She just went up there for a couple days. In Mississippi, where she was bound to lose, she did much better than everybody expected because she won the closing vote," Clinton told the crowd.

"In Texas, she won the vote up to 48 hours before the election 50-49. She won the last 48 hours 61-38. The people who start thinking about who would be the best president are coming to her," said Clinton, throwing in one final example of a state his wife managed to win.

It was an energized day of campaigning for Clinton, who joked throughout the day about how much more comfortable he feels coming to rural America.

"I'm the designated rural hitman in the campaign, because I feel at home," Clinton told one audience today.

Tomorrow, Clinton will continue his rural-themed campaign run with stops across eastern Pennsylvania.

March 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (58)

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I'm hope Hillary with Bill's help will be the one chosen in the end. I think the Democratic party has made such a mess out of the way the primaries and the caucauses were carried out. I think after this election they need to come with a way where all voters can participate. Now, at the stage of the game, we are stuck with Sen. Obama who now appears to have been hiding most of his garbage. I don't think most of the democrats can vote for him. It doesn't have anything to do with race, it is about lies, and hate, hate for the Country and hate for most of the people in this Country. Either I vote for Hillary or I stay home. If I voted for Obama, I would feel I was betraying my Country.

Posted by: Mickey | Mar 18, 2008 11:35:25 PM

At this point it is a trust issue hope and change but trust has to come first.

Posted by: Bishop | Mar 18, 2008 11:42:52 PM

Bill Clinton has been involved in campaigning the last quarter of a century. He knows it is about caring about the people that you speak to. I believe Hillary understands this lesson as well. Meanwhile, I believe that Obama thinks we're all stooges that are falling for his scam.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 18, 2008 11:52:45 PM

I was a Hillary supporter but at the last minute changed to Obama. I regret that decision because I listed to Clinton speak this past fall in Boston and she was dead on the issues concerning this country back then. Obama was into rhetorical speeches about nothing. Now there is a trust issue, along with a competency issue. It is not about his race, he needs to stop crying foul and playing the race card, he is not qualified nor deserves the office of the President of the USA. He has made poor choices and he has not stopped his supporters, mostly blacks and white college kids from all the hatred and racial remarks on the blogs. I hope people make the right decision, because the USA is in very big trouble and Hillary will make the military and the economy strong again and will work towards rebuilding our reputation around the world.

Posted by: Dani | Mar 18, 2008 11:57:01 PM

"In past states Clinton has made a point to lower expectations, particularly in Texas, where he went as far as to say if she didn't carry the state, she may not get the nomination."

Was Bill's statement on Texas and Ohio an example of LOWERING expectations? On the contrary, for he said she NEEDED to win both of them otherwise it would be over for her.

She didn't win Texas after all, it IS over for her, and yet she goes on and on, damaging the Democratic cause and Party.

Posted by: Trent | Mar 19, 2008 12:11:25 AM

to west coast msgr. the dam is cracking,who would have thought yesterday that murtha would endorse hillary.i would love to be a fly on pelosi's wall to hear that tirad .go girl put him down for good in penn 25 to 30 pts.

Posted by: don tufts | Mar 19, 2008 12:16:19 AM

So many people have forgotten that Bill Clinton was good for the economy, good for the US. Yes, let's drag out his sex scandals because a $40 million impeachment spearheaded by the Republicans was money well spent. Whatever. In his 8 years in office, I remember an America much better off than the domestic policy that this current administration has basically abandoned.

Posted by: LOM | Mar 19, 2008 12:27:09 AM

We love you president Clinton.
Thank you for working with the young generation to build New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.
We appreciate it.

Posted by: crisis08 | Mar 19, 2008 12:47:56 AM

LOM,

I heard that a lot also, as much as I think so.
But the problem here I think some people get bored very easily and they like to see something new, fresh eventhough they don't even know what is the whole package until someday it's too late.
Just like now,,we finally know who Obama is.

Posted by: crisis08 | Mar 19, 2008 12:56:48 AM

I am so excited about John McCain or Hillary CLinton taking this country back!! I mean, look at where we are today. It is truly a good place, after Bill Clinton we had the technology boom and bust, we did not take our opportunity to get Bin Laden, and according to the Clintons and McCain Nafta was good for the country. Both of them voted for this war, and my goodness that was a fantastic decision. I can sleep well at night, knowing not a darn thing is going to change. 8 years from now, no complaining now...ya hear?

Posted by: McCainandHill | Mar 19, 2008 12:59:58 AM

crises08, that's nice.

Posted by: irma | Mar 19, 2008 2:31:56 AM

Agreed. The Obama camp , Pelosi, Kennedy and Kerry are in some kind of funky DENIAL now. No Clinton democrat walks up to the booth with a straight face and pulls the lever for Obama.

Lets all hail president Obama. Black racist church going, no experience. Red state caucus winning. Media shield .

The hits just keep on coming. What do we POSSIBLY have in common with this guy. Our pastors dont RANT AND RAVE like a LUNATIC.

Certainly we wouldnt bring our kids there. This guy is a total media invented JOKE.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 19, 2008 3:19:07 AM

Forbes '08 Tracker is taking a look at the traits--positive and negative--of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. And the results are striking.

In terms of overall appeal, Obama outpolls Clinton 45% to 29%, and her total appeal numbers are falling while his are rising. But even more striking is how the polled population assigns character traits to each of the Democrats. Barack Obama substantially outpolls Hillary Clinton on every positive trait, while Clinton surges past Obama on every negative.

Posted by: Forbes | Mar 19, 2008 4:47:55 AM


Republicans will win general election if Hillary gets the nomination. I am a DEMOCRAT but now i am not sure we will.

Both OBAMA and HILLARY have been tarnishing each other reputation just get the nomination and the case is done.

Posted by: I.A.T Smith | Mar 19, 2008 4:48:34 AM

Republicans will win general election if Hillary gets the nomination. I am a DEMOCRAT but now i am not sure we will.

Both OBAMA and HILLARY have been tarnishing each other reputation just get the nomination and the case is done.

Posted by: I.A.T Smith | Mar 19, 2008 4:48:36 AM

Obama is toast because he has proven to be a racist, a liar and a hypocrite. Racism was not an issue in 2008 until Obama injected race baiting and swiftboating the Clintons and insulting all women. He lied about Nafta, and he has double standards with regards to issues. He was offended by Imus for his daughters' sake but yet he brings his daughters to the hate filled sermons in his church. I DO NOT TRUST OBAMA and if he is the nominee, my family is staying home in NOv and we will change party to INdep. I cannot believe the DNC is shoving this guy down our throats!

Posted by: tiffany | Mar 19, 2008 8:27:10 AM

Their is a new sheriff in town and he's not Royalty...and he doesn't think he is the heir apparent.

You and Hannity all sound alike...do you get that?

Posted by: dl | Mar 19, 2008 8:30:22 AM

Do you tune into hannity and Colmes and find yourself agreeing with Hannity?

Are you suddenly starting to like Bill O'Reilly?

Is Rush Limbaugh suddenly not so bad?

You too must be a Hillary supporter.

Don't you all see who you've become?

Posted by: dl | Mar 19, 2008 8:32:43 AM

Unbelievable. What an awesome speech. If you read it 300 times, you'll find the secret to immortality, the cure to cancer, the answer to the energy crisis and a solution to world peace!

Posted by: Jsn | Mar 19, 2008 8:34:38 AM

110% behind you Bill. You will help carry Hillary all the way to the White House. Thank You John Murtha for your support also. Indiana will be close but break for Clinton in the end.

Posted by: billy | Mar 19, 2008 8:43:17 AM

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