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Private Worries as Team Clinton Looks for Best Case Scenarios

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March 02, 2008 7:55 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper report:  As she makes her way across Ohio,  Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is preaching optimism.

"I have seen in the last weeks, the resilience, and the grit and the determination of the people of Youngstown, and across Ohio, and we’re going to win!" she told voters in Youngstown, Sunday.

But privately, Clinton campaign advisors say their own internal polls show the race tightening in Ohio and remaining very close in Texas.

"We're going to go full bore and see what happens," a senior advisor told ABC News, Sunday.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is outspending Clinton on the airwaves by about two to one.  And in some markets, Clinton aides say they believe he has spent closer to three times as much on advertising.

"I've never seen the likes of this," said the advisor.

In their best case scenario, Clinton aides hope she could win Ohio by 3 to 6 points and squeak out a victory in Texas.  They would consider that a good night and reason to fight on to Pennsylvania, which holds its primary on April 22.

Other scenarios, they admit, are not so pretty.

"If she wins Texas and loses Ohio, it becomes a harder argument to make that she can win Pennsylvania," said the senior advisor.

And pressure among fellow Democrats is mounting.

On Sunday, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson -- who recently left the Democratic presidential race -- said he thinks the nomination should be decided on Tuesday, no matter what.

"You know, the concern that I have is the bickering that took place between those two very fine senators is going on too long," Richardson said on the CBS program "Face the Nation."

"D-Day is Tuesday," he continued.  "We have to have a positive campaign after Tuesday.  Whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday, a clear lead, should be, in my judgment, the nominee."

The Clinton campaign is calling superdelegates who have already voiced support for Clinton (what they call "automatic" delegates) to try and convince them to stay with the senator, no matter what happens on Tuesday.

And they continue to try and persuade uncommitted superdelegates to join the Clinton ranks.

But increasingly, said the advisor, the first thing out of their mouths is, "We’re waiting to see what happens."

March 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (379)

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Richardson is not stupid he would be a ex governer if he did that. Even Kinky Friedman is not that stupid.

Posted by: TexasRules | Mar 2, 2008 8:08:38 PM

LeftHillaryForObama welcome to the Barack-o-wagon. Two more days and all your friends will be sitting on the wagon with you.

Posted by: TexasRules | Mar 2, 2008 8:11:50 PM

If Hillary is this strong, brilliant woman ,as her supporters contend, how on earth could she have stuck with Bill as he cheated on her over & over again??? Maybe, just maybe ,she stuck with him to propel her political career.......Sounds like a pathetic story to me.....

Posted by: Todd | Mar 2, 2008 8:15:07 PM

Seems interesting that some people think Clinton went negative first. From what I saw, Obama went negative first... go all the way back to the debate where he attacked her for doing her job as an attorney for Walmart. She attacked back and then they both backed off. Then he attacked her on a core democratic principle and she defended herself. When a candidate goes negative, the other has no choice but to defend themselves. Then even with all the negativity, she rescued him and even his own camp acknowledged she rescued him from making a major blunder with Farahkan. Seems to me, the facts are clear - he went negative and launched a campaign that was divisive for the party.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 2, 2008 8:16:55 PM

Of course Hillary is worried. Even if she wins 60/40 over obama; she will still be behind in delegates. Hillary is definitely a better choice but at this point; everyone has there minds made up. The Rezko trail that starts monday could drop a bomb shell about baracks dealings with rezko. Obamaites will not care even if it is proven conclusively that barack is a criminal. They will be loyal even if it destroys our country and our military. I think everyone has there minds made up no matter what happens. God help our country.

Posted by: Everybody Hurts | Mar 2, 2008 8:18:43 PM

If marital issues were part of presidential performance, JFK and many other presidents who were womanizers would not have the approval of voters. If it was an issue with most voters, Bill Clinton would not have left office with 60% approval rating and still have 80% approval with Dems. Michelle Obama is not holding true to Dr. King's principles in her husband's campaign by bringing up race before Iowa with her "Black America will wake up" statement. Does that mean you think Obama makes a bad choice to stay married to a woman that does not share his views? Her choice to honor her vows is a personal one that has not affected her popularity as a Senator and her performance. What she has shown is great strength and courage under fire. So let's stop with the sexist remarks please.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 2, 2008 8:21:54 PM

It seems like the Obama supporters are busily crowing and doing the victory chicken dance. If you I'd keep running until you've crossed the finish line, or you might just get passed by.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 2, 2008 8:24:36 PM

The rezko trail of crumbs will implicate democrats and republicans alike. Coruption has run rampit in Illinois. Obama will be implicated in multiple facets. How many dealings are obama and rezko connected. How many rezko partners have contributed to obama that he kept the money. How many business dealings in where rezko received contracts where obama played a part. Illinois politics have been playing loose with the rules too long. If obama takes out hillary and then we learn all the dirt on obama; ;it will be too late. Republicans will take the white house again. Vote Hillary.

Posted by: Everybody Hurts | Mar 2, 2008 8:24:55 PM

Hillary will win big tuesday. if it wasnt for the republicans who are freaking out about Hillary being their contender, the win will be even bigger.

But even if it is close on tuesday, Hillary's campaign will go on!!!

$35 million in february will turn into $60 in march. Plus every one is already getting sick of the preacher fellow. He will be a footnote in the REZKO TRIAL, and that is all folks.

Posted by: TheGoodJuan | Mar 2, 2008 8:25:17 PM

Umm... it is most certainly true that if Obama had lost as many contests as Hillary at this point- he's be OUT OF THE RACE.
Hillary Clinton is not disliked by media and many Americans for NO REASON- there are legitimate reasons.
If I could let all you others vote George Bush in office twice and live with that for 8 years- ( I didn't vote for him, so I carry no burden of his idiocy) I can certainly handle 4 years of the "unvetted" new guy.
I'd take anything new at this point. I don't need money, I don't need fame- I need new thoughts and new ways.

Hillary is a smart intellignet woman, but I DO NOT TRUST HER. And by all means, I am deserved that right...

I am an Independent, have been for double digit years, and I am a female- I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY. NOT THIS TIME.

Posted by: DUH | Mar 2, 2008 8:25:33 PM

so, clinton is asking the super delegates to vote for her "no matter what happens" on tuesday?

so much for the "democratic" process within the democratic party, huh?

Posted by: davidfrat4 | Mar 2, 2008 8:28:22 PM

So many ignorant Democrats! They are so jealous and spoiled that they claim they will vote outside their party if their candidate doesn't win the nomination. It's 'their way or the highway'. How stupid and selfish! You would rather ruin the Democrat Party's chance to make this country great again if you don't get your way. So you would rather take 4 more years of Cheneys henchmen dictating your lives, because you didn't get your way? So you want your children going off to a foreign war to be killed or maimed because you didn't get your way? You really want Big Oil and Haliburton raping you of every last cent you have because you didn't get your way? So you really want to lose more freedoms and liberties here at home until we become a police state, just because you didn't get your way?? Think about it, only a simple minded child cries for not getting their way. Is that what the Democrat Party has turned into, a bunch of simple-minded cry babies? Wake up people, times are getting desperate, and we Democrats have to stick together against this right-wing tyranny! If we don't, you and I know what will happen. Let's stick together and win, instead of dividing over jealousy, and let's crush this corporate takeover. Either one of these candidates will be a damn sight better than what we have now, and certainly better than any Republican!

Posted by: steve | Mar 2, 2008 8:29:44 PM

It is soon to be over for HRC.

Our country will be rid of the everpresent stink known as Clintonism.

In its place, two men of character will battle it out (above board) to be President.

Let's hope Hillary has one shred of decency left in her so that she can withdraw with grace.

Posted by: Easy | Mar 2, 2008 8:32:39 PM

Again, there are all these people going after Obama about Rezko...have you forgotten the photo of the Clintons with Rezko at a fundraiser? If they dig deep into Rezko's ties with politicians, they're going to find those links to the Clintons that the photograph hints at, and then Hillary's going to have egg on her face. It's bad enough that she was entangled with that Hsu character...

Posted by: PalatinePup | Mar 2, 2008 8:34:50 PM

It really makes me sick how some people are smearing Obama with this crap about his religion, notsaying the pledge of allegance, etc. These are all lies being put out by those who can't win a real debate on the issues. I'm not saying they are Hillary supporters necesarily (maybe they are cnservative Republicans trying to get Hillary as their preferred nominee?)

In any case, I hope voters will see past this crap and read both candidates websites and decide based on that.

In any case, we'll all be United whoever holds the Dem flag high in November (Obama or Hillary) becuase the nation must wake up from this 8 year nightmare!!!

Posted by: UnifiedDEMs'08 | Mar 2, 2008 8:37:57 PM

The Clintons have been through the meat grinder ... There is nothing new we have not heard. Meanwhile Obama will not be able to withstand the Republican machine!

Go Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Hassan | Mar 2, 2008 8:39:07 PM

@Posted by: Jackie | Mar 2, 2008 8:22:20 PM:

I think you have taken some liberties with your recap of the 60 Minutes interview with Senator Clinton.

“You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?” Kroft asked Sen. Clinton.

“Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that,” she replied.

“You said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not…a Muslim. You don't believe that he's…,” Kroft said.

“No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know,” she said.

She is not waging the Muslim smear campaign. Even during the last debate when questioned about the photo posted on the Drudge Report, Senator Obama responded with "Well, first of all, I take Senator Clinton at her word that she knew nothing about the photo. So I think that's something that we can set aside."

If that response is good enough for him, then it should suffice for her as well. Let's move on and talk about some real issues.

Posted by: LOM | Mar 2, 2008 8:39:22 PM

How come everyone is saying that Sen Clinton should get out now in order not to divide the party but no one says that about Huckabee who has no chance of catching up to McCain, it seems like there is a double standard for women. The general election is not until November, a lot can happen between now and then. Women are getting tired of people teling them that a women who is smart and experience should bow down to make a man happy who's less qualified. In this country men get paid more than women for the same job, it is an insult to women to tell Sen Clinton to back down before June. If Sen Obama can't handle the heat than maybe he should get out the kitchen.

Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Mar 2, 2008 8:40:04 PM

"Hillary" is a personality cult among women, just as "Oprah" or "Ellen" is.

Proof of that: in these blogs it is always the Hillary fans who write that they will vote for McCain instead of for Obama should Hillary have to bow out. I do not reading an Obama supporter saying that she or he would vote Republican if Obama had to leave the race.

Her fanclub apparently doesn't care one bit about the Democratic agenda. Hillary herself btw would no doubt be furious about that; and not only because time and again (before the race became tight) she expressed her great admiration for Obama as a politician and a senator.

I just read a Hillary fan saying something about Obama's "shady past". That's an incredibly dumb thing to say, if you are informed what this Rezko is and isn't about; and it's certainly a fairly naive statement for a supporter of the nominee would have been slaughtered in the Presidential election for her numerous wrongdoings in the Whitewater scandal. Do her fans know the details of that? I really wonder.

I'm a woman but not a "I LOVE YOU HILLARY, YOU'RE MY GIRLLLL!!" one. Yikes.

Posted by: Margot | Mar 2, 2008 8:43:41 PM

Richardson's comments are a backdoor endorsement of Obama. It's a shame to see another craven politician abandon people who have befriended him and probably helped him, ignore his constituents, and not listen to the wishes of his own people. I used to think he would make a great VP but not any more. Stay in Hillary. I don't care if it brings the party crashing down. They continue to abandon their base and maybe it's time we looked elsewhere.

Posted by: Tom in MA | Mar 2, 2008 8:45:32 PM

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