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Obama: 'Clinton Can Run as Long as She Wants'
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ShareMarch 29, 2008 5:55 PM
ABC News' David Wright, Sunlen Miller and Alyssa Litoff report: On day two of his six-day bus tour throughout Pennsylvania, Sen. Barack Obama said he does not completely agree to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy’s assertion that Sen. Hillary Clinton should get out of the race.
Responding to reporters' questions in Johnstown, Obama said the calls for her to withdraw are still premature in his eyes.
"I hadn't talked to Pat about it," Obama said. "My attitude is that Sen. Clinton can run as long as she wants. Her name is on the ballot ... she should be able to compete and her supporters should be able to support her for as long as they are willing or able."
Obama did hint to a time frame, saying he thinks a nominee should be chosen as quickly as possible after the contests wrap up in June so that person can start preparing for the general election.
"Some time in early June that at that point there are no more contests and I think it is important to pivot as quickly as possible, for the super delegates or others to make a decision as quickly as possible so that we can settle on a nominee and give that nominee some time before the convention to select a vice president or presidential nominee to start thinking about how the convention should be conducted," he said.
In addition to the need for general election prep, Obama added that after the June primaries there will not be any further information to be had.
"We will have had contests in all 50 states plus several territories," he said. "We will have tallied up the pledge delegate vote. We will have tallied up the popular vote, we will have tallied up how many states that were won by who. And then at that point I think people should have more than enough information to make a decision."
Obama said that he also does not agree completely with the idea that the Democratic Party will be hurt by the length of this nomination process.
"I think that the notion that the party has been divided by this contest is somewhat overstated. There's no doubt that among some of my supporters or some of her supporters there’s probably been some irritation created, but I also think that in every contest you've seen in every state huge jumps in Democratic registration, including independents and Republicans who are changing registration to vote in the Democratic primaries," Obama said. "Those are people who are now invested in what happens. I think that bodes very well for us in November. I think the party is going to come together."
Recent polls that found large percentages of Citon and Obama supporters said they would either vote for Sen. John McCain or sit the election out if their candidate is not the Democratic nominee. But Obama said that he’s sure Clinton’s supporters will be able to support him over McCain in the end, and vice versa for his supporters if Clinton were the nominee.
"You can't tell me that some of my supporters are going to say, 'well, we'd rather have the guy who may want to stay in Iraq for a hundred years because we are mad that Sen. Clinton ran a negative ad against Sen. Obama," he said. "I think the converse is true as well. I think Senator Clinton’s supporters will ultimately look at a comparison and say we think an Obama administration will be very different from a McCain administration."
Obama admitted earlier in a town hall that his road in Pennsylvania will be a hard one. He called himself the "underdog" in the state, where polls have consistently found Clinton to be ahead in the polls.
The campaign, launching the six-day bus tour across the state from west to east is an attempt to introduce Obama to voters –- with smaller town halls and events planned aiming at some voting blocks Obama has struggled with, such as white blue collar voters.
Obama said that he didn’t think it was naturally a difficult state for him but rather blamed it on Clinton’s name notoriety and institutional endorsements such as that of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
"I’m not as well known as Sen. Clinton is in this state, which is reflected in the polls, and she’s got a popular Democratic governor who gave her a good head start, and provided her with some institutional support," Obama said.
On the other hand, Obama admitted his recent endorsement by the state's Sen. Bob Casey Jr. helps in Pennsylvania but he still downplayed expectations.
"We may not be able to win, but I think we’ve got a good chance and we’re going to work as hard as we can," he said.
This morning Obama and Casey hit the basketball courts before a full day of campaigning, shooting hoops at a local high school.
"You were boxing out, which is what we need," Obama said to Casey, insinuating that they will need a good defensive effort off the court as well.
March 29, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (417)
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this is so nice of him to give permission to her,gag,how vain and pompas ,hey obama go talk to the not so rev wright will ya.
Posted by: don tufts | Mar 29, 2008 6:14:36 PM
What a double-talker and what a patronizer. His people have been calling for weeks for the superdelegates to decide and end this race. "As long as her supporters are willing or able..." What a crock of baloney! With so many primaries still to be run, he thinks he has it in the bag, even though there is no way he will have the required pledged delegates to be the automatic nominee. Is the glass half empty or half full?
He said: "We will have had contests in all 50 states plus several territories..." Who is he kidding? Thanks to him, the voters of Michigan and Florida do not count. He could have remedied that. What is he afraid of? Did Leahy infuriate too many Democrats, so now he is walking on eggshells? It won't do him any good come November. Pennsylvanians can show him what their votes mean to them. Vote for Hillary.
With this race so close, I am more than disgusted with him and with some of the Democratic Party elders like Leahy. One of the reasons that Hillary Clinton has almost equal votes is that too many in the Party do not agree with Kennedy and Kerry? What were they thinking? What audacity, indeed!
Posted by: georgia | Mar 29, 2008 6:22:17 PM
He sounds like John McCain. Like I said yesterday, Hillary is the new Huckabee.
And we all know what happened to Huckabee.
Posted by: Vanessa | Mar 29, 2008 6:24:21 PM
Well looks like he and Leahy have had a change of heart! Yesterday Obama said "you know this contest has been like a movie that has gone on a hour too long! Now he agrees with Hillary that she likes long movies! The real reason is the backlash that he is getting in PA, the people are outraged that they are trying to push her out so he now is singing a new tune. It may have somethin to do with the crowd of 25,000 people that Bill Clinton drew in PA today, they lined up 10 people deep just to shake his hand! Well at least he changed his mind maybe thats what he calls change we can beleive in!
Posted by: russell | Mar 29, 2008 6:25:41 PM
This is what is called BLOWBACK! I don't think they will be making noise like this for awhile! Come on try and force her out! MAKE OUR DAY!
Posted by: russell | Mar 29, 2008 6:30:15 PM
It doesn't matter what Obama says, HRC will not drop out until the DNC drops dead. Right now Bill and Hillary are working for McCain. I think is a good thing for the Country because when the DNC has been wipped out at the presidentail level by the GOP and the Clintons we would have less problem with presidential politics.
With one party- GOP, all we need to do is to adjust our lives to one way - the right; instead of leaning left then right from presidential elections to elections. This is the silver lining in the cloud of the downward movement of the Clintons' DNC!
Posted by: Yark Jojo | Mar 29, 2008 6:35:09 PM
Did he have that stupid smirk on his face when he said it? He's just trying to deflect the fact that Rev. Wright will just not go away.
Posted by: Wendy | Mar 29, 2008 6:38:48 PM
For once I agree with BHO, even though he probably meant the comment to be sarcastic. Why should Hillary Clinton quit? Pennsylvania's primary is still three weeks away, and Hillary will probably win it. Montana's primary isn't until June, but she's almost a sure bet in Montana. Hillary should keep fighting all the way to (and including) the convention. She is our country's last hope for a sensible future.
Posted by: Rhys | Mar 29, 2008 6:41:04 PM
Yea, and despite Rev. Wright,
Obama is leading in the polls
Gallup: 7 point lead
Ras...: 6 point lead
Pew: 10 point lead
This must really worry Hillary if the Rev. Wright "will just not go away"
Posted by: Vanessa | Mar 29, 2008 6:42:16 PM
Wait one cotton pickin minute. Obama must have been smoked out again, that's the only time he talks change. The good ole boys must have got together to come up with that one and decided he should throw Leahy under the bus this time.
Posted by: jim | Mar 29, 2008 6:43:07 PM
This isn't anything new from Obama. First he says one thing then he says another. He is a flip flopper. I hear the swift boat bells a ringing with this guy. Hillary is our best chance.
Posted by: Miller In PA | Mar 29, 2008 6:45:00 PM
This is hilarious. Obama makes a measured, politically correct statement in response to a reporters' question, and people are all over him for all sorts of insinuations. I guess when you hate someone you really hate them.
Posted by: jock59801 | Mar 29, 2008 6:47:43 PM
this is not the first time i have noted a condescending tone to his comments about hillary - trust me obama she is at the very least your equal if not a great deal more -
Posted by: scathinglybrilliant | Mar 29, 2008 6:48:40 PM
I Think once the voters hear him speak they will know first hand that he is a honorable man. Like Carey and othrs know.
Posted by: lauepow | Mar 29, 2008 6:49:06 PM
AS if he permission was needed. Please this man has a big ego. And he is also wrong there are only 48 states votes that are counting not the 50 states of the Union.
Posted by: toby | Mar 29, 2008 6:49:58 PM
dl: What song was Obama and his hit men singing yesterday? What a difference a day makes. Is this the change he is talking about? Changing your mind in less than 24hr. I don't think that this is change we can beleive in.
Posted by: russell | Mar 29, 2008 6:50:32 PM
I agree. Hillary Clinton is still a formidable candidate. Plus I'm reminded of Mike Huckabee's position. Huckabee wanted to stay in the race so that voters have a choice of whom they want to support before a candidate wins the party nomination.
Posted by: eric | Mar 29, 2008 6:51:43 PM
This one is to senator Leahy: Someone has to remind Senator Leahy that neither candidate has the needed number of delegates. Let all people in a free democracy have their vote! This is not Russia, and not my native country Bulgaria, where people didn’t have a choice, and a say, in a democratic election. If the party that I chose when I first arrived in the U.S. forces Senator Clinton to quit, three members of our family are not going to vote in November. We want democratic election in Pakistan and Iraq, and here in the U.S. anything but undemocratic is promoted by democratic elitists.
e is to Senator Leahy:
Posted by: Mimi | Mar 29, 2008 6:52:01 PM
He has always treated and said he respects mrs clinton
Posted by: lauepow | Mar 29, 2008 6:52:23 PM
I think you Hillary supporters need a hug. Aww...tough day?? gonna cry and whine about it? C'mon over here and get a nice big hug.
And when you're done...c'mon over and get a nice, big...TOLD YA SO.
Posted by: Care Bear | Mar 29, 2008 6:54:10 PM
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