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Obama Plays Underdog, Chides Media as Texas, Ohio Vote
March 04, 2008 3:55 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: As the citizens of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont head to the primary polls, Barack and Michelle Obama strolled to the back of his campaign plane en route from San Antonio to Houston.
"It is a very, very tight (race)," Obama told reporters, "You know, I mean we started 20 points behind in Texas and Ohio –- we closed the gap but you know whether it's going to be enough to actually win is going to depend on turn out."
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
Heading into Tuesday's critical contests, Obama finds himself ahead in every major category: delegates, popular vote, and states won.
But the most important stat in the Democratic nomination fight is delegates and on that front, despite 11 straight wins, Obama was also downplaying expectations.
"We know there's not going to be a huge shift in delegates one way or another just given the math," Obama said. "Which means that either way we will go to Mississippi or Wyoming next week."
Political pundits have predicted the contests in Ohio and Texas are make or break for Clinton's campaign.
"If she loses both (Ohio and Texas), I think there's no question that she will be getting out of the race," said ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America." "If she wins Ohio and loses Texas, I think it will be very difficult for her to go on. . . but I think if it's close, she may find a way to stay in."
Clinton, in survivor mode, refused to speculate on such assertions.
"Do you buy in at all to the opinion that you actually need a double digit win in this state to keep the campaign alive," questioned ABC affiliate KXXV in Waco, Texas, Tuesday morning during a marathon series of 20 interviews that began her day.
"No, I sure don't," Clinton responded.
Aboard Obama's plane, the candidate called his rival a "tenacious and determined candidate," reiterating, "the theory was that they had to blow us out of Texas and Ohio and I don't think that's going to happen."
Obama, who has faced criticism for conflicting reports concerning his position on free trade and his connection to a disgraced fundraiser, said the Clinton camp was employing a negative "kitchen sink strategy" and chided the press.
"This whole spin of just how the press has been tough on them and not tough on us. I didn't expect that you guys would bite on that. But it is was it is. Our focus is to just talking about the issues. I don't want to change the tone of our campaign because that's how I ultimately think I'm gong to be able to govern," Obama said.
Asked if the attack ads and negative campaigning has any effect, Obama replied, "There's no doubt that if you're being attacked everyday that it creates a sense of turbulence in the minds of people."
On a lighter note, Obama also returned fire to "Saturday Night Live", the program which welcomed Clinton to open its broadcast the week before the March 4 primaries.
"Ya know, I missed it" he said of the skit before adding, "I missed Saturday Night Live for some reason this past weekend. I was working too hard. But clearly Tina Fey and I are gonna have to have a conversation."
Tina Fey may not have much to say about the matter. It was Amy Poehler who a doppleganger take with the real Clinton by her side.
For all the latest from the campaign trail, read The Note every morning exclusively on ABCNews.com
March 4, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (32)
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Hillary Clinton has been in the eye of the press storm for weeks, and the moment that the junior senator from Illinois feels a little bit of heat the cracks start to appear. Can you imagine if he was the nominee? Hillary Clinton is battle-tested by the right and will stick to important principles no matter what.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 4, 2008 4:06:49 PM
But it was Tina Fey that started the season off with her remarks and I am sure it was her writing in much of those first scripts.
Posted by: dl | Mar 4, 2008 4:08:09 PM
Are you really this desperate, dl? I think we both know what he meant. For God's sake, let the man say the wrong thing once in awhile. That's ok. NO big deal. It was just fun.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 4, 2008 4:13:09 PM
I think the important thing to note is the fact that the delegate number won't change much. Neither candidate is going to get enough delegates to win the nomination. To suggest that Hillary should get out because she is only slightly behind in the delegate numbers is crazy. Let the people vote, a winner can be chosen when it's all over and not before. Obama is like a new fad, which after awhile you get tired of having it shoved in your face and you move on. Lets see if Obama can maintain his support over the long haul. Hang in there Hillary, I feel a change in the wind direction!!
Posted by: Firefighter | Mar 4, 2008 4:18:39 PM
Would you please stop with the SNL blame game, it is a show and people watch if they want. So what that some of the actors may or may not indicate who is their preference for president. Don't most Hollywood and alot of the entertainment people say or indicate who they like in interviews or shows? so what? I love SNL and i love the political intone and jokes....keep rocking SNL.
Posted by: PB | Mar 4, 2008 4:19:28 PM
well up until the past couple of days I thought Obama was paying them.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | Mar 4, 2008 4:25:02 PM
Thanks DL. I should tell you up front I'm a Hillary supporter. Nevertheless, should you ever find yourself drawing a blank as a writer just keep a large enough sample of these blogs as inspiration because you can't make up stuff like this.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 4, 2008 4:28:18 PM
Obama has been too nice thus far, but he can afford to be magnanimous at this point. He knows that if the delegate count REALLY tightens all he needs to do is run 2 commercials over and over in the remaining states. The first? Hillary whining like a spoiled child about being asked the first question. If a man did that he'd be laughed out of the race. The second? A scrolled list of investigations that have been conducted of the Clinton's business affairs over the past 20 years. I recently was reminded of the full list, and it really is mindblowing in its scope. So relax, everyone, HRC will never, ever be President.
Posted by: joe johnson | Mar 4, 2008 4:28:37 PM
I PROMISE YOU WE WILL WIN ALL 4 STATES TONIGHT.... (INSA) IT IS ALL OVER.. OBAMA 08
Posted by: Lawrence | Mar 4, 2008 4:32:14 PM
Joe, or Hillary can run each day court proceeding in the Rizko trial with Obama's NAFTA claims. Two can play the game. What's new?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 4, 2008 4:34:05 PM
Obama is fine with the coddling by the press and celeb endorsements and rah, rahs, but you can see a vastly different persona when the tables are turned (can't run with the big dogs?).
Posted by: yellowdogdemocrat | Mar 4, 2008 4:34:21 PM
Joe---
If you scroll back up to the story you will see that this article is about a man whinning.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | Mar 4, 2008 4:35:42 PM
Hillary tears up, Obama whines and plays the race card. At present, he is a novelty and just like the new toys at Christmas, he will be cast aside for old favourites, the toys that have stood the test of time. I do believe the Clintons already know how this Rezko thing is going to play out. Already it can't pass the stink test. Talk about bad judgement; knowingly getting involved with a schmuk already under investigation when you have aspirations to the presidency. Way to underestimate the IQ of your electorate Obama.
Posted by: Bill Elliott | Mar 4, 2008 4:40:28 PM
Does anyone find him as sexist as I do? "Tina Fey and I are gonna have to have a conversation." What does that mean? Is he threatening her? Just because she doesn't worship at the Church of Obama, whatever religion that is, does not give him leeway to make such an obnoxious assertion. There is a lot more to this guy that is unlikeable than likeable. We'll see how his demeanor changes when he doesn't put it away tonight.
Posted by: Nicole | Mar 4, 2008 4:41:20 PM
Sexist, Nicole? You should know by now God cannot be sexists. Okay. Perhaps he might believe the rib is a cheaper cut and all, but he is all knowing all seeing and - wait a minute does he know that women have the vote now?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 4, 2008 4:47:42 PM
Lets be clear about the numbers.
First of all Obama was never down by 20% in either of these states after John Edwards left the race. One poll put him 21% down in Ohio only one. The others all showed about a 10% spread. At no time was the average 20%.
Texas has never had him down by 20%. One poll had him down by 16%, again one poll. The average was about 5% down.
If the spread is 10% for Clinton in Ohio and 5% for Clinton in Texas these would be exactly the same numbers since Edwards left the race.
Obama after outspending Clinton 2:1 and 3:1 would have gained no ground.
Posted by: s.b. | Mar 4, 2008 4:52:40 PM
The Clintons have disgraced the Democratic party once again. We can only hope that Barack Obama can persevere to rescue it from the negativity and bitterness the Mrs. Clinton has brought to it in the primary season thus far.
Posted by: robby10001 | Mar 4, 2008 4:55:23 PM
Obama has no haha. Clinton can take a joke. She has a great sense of humour. He does not like it at all.
Posted by: s.b. | Mar 4, 2008 4:57:21 PM
If Clinton is elected president and Rezko is convicted, a presidential pardon might be a hard thing to find.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | Mar 4, 2008 5:01:11 PM
Robby10001, are you saying the Hillary wing of the democrats are not democrats at all? And yours is the only democrats? I guess in that case then, should we lose we'll just have to have a word with the McCain folks. Thanks for throwing us out buddy.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 4, 2008 5:01:24 PM
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