- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Bill Clinton: Under GOP Primary System, Hillary Would Be Winning
April 21, 2008 4:42 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Former President Bill Clinton, speaking to reporters after his wife’s event in Pittsburgh, PA Monday, said that under the republican primary system –- his wife would be ahead by hundreds of delegates.
"I did not actually get the delegates necessary to have a first power of the nomination under the crazy system the democrats have," Clinton said. "If we were under the republican system which is more like the electoral college, she would have a 300 delegate lead ...It's an eternity 'til the general election, an eternity."
ABC News' Political Unit did some quick math and added up all the pledged delegate counts for the winner-take-all Democratic contest. As of the most recent count on the eve of the Pennsylvania state primary, Senator Hillary Clinton has won 15 state contests and was awarded 1430 delegates, not including unpledged (a.k.a. "superdelegates"). Barack Obama has won 29, and has 1257 delegates.
According to ABC's math -- Clinton would hold more like a 173 delegate-lead if her and Obama were competing in the Republican primary system given the GOP system doesn't have superdelegates. President Clinton was correct, but overestimated what his wife's lead would be by about half.
The former president also said that he thinks the people of Pennsylvania think his wife is "their girl."
Clinton said, “I've been to 45 communities, 46. In Pennsylvania alone. I think shell bring a change out there, they like her out here they know she's their girl.”
He continued, "They were dancing on her grave in Texas and she won anyway, and they never thought after they outspent her two to one in Ohio that she could still win by ten points. So well see. She's got a lot of good supporters here. I don't know what's going to happen. Depends on a lot of things, who shows up how the undecided breaks. I literally don't know, I just think they're going to be with her though."
When asked about Republican publisher Richard Mellon Scaife’s paper, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's, surprising endorsement of his wife, Bill Clinton admitted that he was taken aback.
“I’m surprised," he said, "You know I take them at their word. I think they were impressed that she had the guts to go see him."
Clinton raised eyebrows when she met with Scaife, wooing his paper's endorsement. Scaife helped to fund an effort that ultimately led to the impeachment proceedings of Bill Clinton.
When asked what he thought about Carter meeting with Hamas, the former president bit his tongue. "Well look I'm trying to help Hillary, I don't want to say anything that is going to complicate her life. If you ask her whatever she says is fine with me. You know I don't want to go there."
ABC News' Jackie Klingebiel contributed to this report.April 21, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (239)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Ya if only Hillary could change the rules to her advantage, she'd be ahead.
And if only States with the work "NEW" in it counted, Hillary would be cruising.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 21, 2008 4:48:31 PM
It would be more telling to show the map of supports, couties that HRC won, compared to counties BO won, in primary states such as Ohio. HRC wiped out BO in Texas and Ohio. BO ended up gaining more delegates in Texas after losing essentially all counties, only because of the fundamentally flawd, undemocratic system of the so-called Democratic party. Thomas Jefferson probably is knocking his grave to come back to life to teach this bunch of idiots what one-person-one-vote means.
This nevertheless tells something about who is elitist, and who is connected to voters. It also shows the so-called delegates won by BO are just as phony as he is.
Posted by: lazy | Apr 21, 2008 4:51:52 PM
Lazy makes a point, but let's take it a bit farther.
How about all the states whose borders are formed at right angles be disqualified, excepting of course States with the word "New" in their names.
We should also disqualify states that start with the letter "W". "W" is bad after all because its the nickname of the current occupant of the whitehouse.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 21, 2008 4:55:40 PM
Oh ya, Caucus states are bad too, because the candidate that is the most likeable, with the most committed supporters and the best run organization wins.
These factors make Caucuses unfair. And so we should discount the Caucus states as well.
After some caucus states start with "W" and have borders form with right angles. THese states are doubly super bad and should not count.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 21, 2008 4:59:42 PM
There are at least things that should be changed.
1. The electoral college is out-dated, and incompatible with every aspect of life and technology of the 21st centuray. The constitution needs be amended.
2. The Democratic party had better get this act together to make its system of primary elections consistent with the general election.
Posted by: tooth | Apr 21, 2008 5:00:49 PM
If Obama can't win Penn, it proves again and again, he just can't win big states and just can win over white vote..
All he won so far are most black or red states because of his skin color and street organizor experience for caucus..
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 21, 2008 5:05:08 PM
Tina, I agree...They are as bad as the worst of the Republicans...they'd fit right in.
Posted by: indy_voter | Apr 21, 2008 5:05:18 PM
Tina - if Clintons were republicans, it would have left the Democratic party with only one one-term president since LBJ. What a pity, it is so easy for you to forget. Perhaps, you are too young to remember.
Posted by: Boneheaded, Chicago | Apr 21, 2008 5:05:34 PM
Why are they always talking about changing the rules? Accept the rules, the Democratic party came up with them and you are Democrats aren't you?
Ridiculous to start talking about "only if...." The Clintons are trying to delegitimize the process and that is a slap in the face to the Democratic party.
Posted by: Dem | Apr 21, 2008 5:08:42 PM
AND GOP IS SO STUPID THAT THEY WOULD PREFER HILLARY AS THIER OPPONENT THAN OBAMA?
Bill thinks he was able to fool people once with his infamous lie people can be foold over and over.
Posted by: moeen | Apr 21, 2008 5:08:58 PM
Republicans want to run against Hillary because they think they have a better chance of winning. This morning Pat Buchanan said he thinks Obama would win against McCain. Republicans don't really like McCain
Posted by: lisa | Apr 21, 2008 5:11:08 PM
I trusted you once when you fooled me with your infamous lie.....but SORRY NOT ANYMORE...specially when you are campaigning for another liar like you.
Posted by: afroza | Apr 21, 2008 5:11:24 PM
Commander - Caucuses are fundamentally flawed and undemocratic because they do not allow, literally speaking, and do not give equal chance for all voters to participate, to vote. I have no problem with activists participation and enthusiam. The problem is that there is only this narrow 1 hour window, in the middle of night, such that workers at that shift do not have a chance. Older persons are too afraid to drive in the dark. Parents cannot leave kids home alone, or the police will go after them. and... I can go on to name 10 more reasons.
Obama got a bunch of 18 years old - nothing wrong with it, although they only knew he looks "cool" - to come out. If you can count on them coming out a second time, wait until the general election to see what percentage you will get.
Posted by: lazy | Apr 21, 2008 5:11:32 PM
right! I think she is better off in the republican negative ad machine... "If she does not like the heat, she should get out of the kitchen!" If she does not like the rules, move to republicans!
Posted by: cornelia | Apr 21, 2008 5:13:45 PM
yeah, she'd be ahead by as many pledged delegates as Obama is now! If this is such a huge lead in Bill's hypothetical situation, why is it not such a huge lead in reality. The answer: because any situation where Hillary is losing is obviously incorrect!
Posted by: Denny | Apr 21, 2008 5:13:51 PM
Well it's not too late for Hillary to get out and change to the republican party,I hear McCain is looking for a vice president running mate. I think she would be much happier anyway. Please do the Democrats a favor!
McCain/Clinton 08!
Posted by: merle7 | Apr 21, 2008 5:15:59 PM
I think president Clinton is right. Democrat party should change the rule in 2012 like republican to reflect with the general election. It is good for the party because the winner has more time to prepare for the general election.
Posted by: lou | Apr 21, 2008 5:16:32 PM
If the Clintons are so obsessed with winning under republican rules, why not then just run for office as a republican? She sure sounds like one anyway. These two are unbelievable!
Posted by: Jason | Apr 21, 2008 5:17:18 PM
It always sounds funny to hear from the Clintons. If the rules are not in their favor, they are bad. And if they are in their favor they are then the best!
Posted by: Peace | Apr 21, 2008 5:18:23 PM
First it was popular vote, then big state then winner takes all, then Electoral Votes, now GOP system.
I have better idea:
Clinton's Enron election math!
1. If you don't count states with caucuses, she is winning almost as many states.
2. If you don't count delegates that were allocated by caucus, she is almost winning in delegates.
3. If you count states where SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE BALLOT, she is winning the popular vote! (Not anymore, She is waiting for PA, and then this claim be reinvented)
4. If you count Electoral Votes ONLY she is winning.
5. if you only count on Saturdays she is winning.
6. If you only count her delegates, she is winning.
So there you see, Hillary Clinton is winning.
Posted by: Sue | Apr 21, 2008 5:19:32 PM
Post a comment



