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Clinton: Why Can't Obama Close the Deal?
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ShareApril 22, 2008 12:58 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Clinton told reporters in Conshohocken, PA today that in this close primary race “a win is a win.” When asked about the closeness of the match up and how many delegates she will receive if get if the results are tight - “a win is a win,” Clinton repeated. "Maybe I’m old fashioned about that. But, you run a very competitive race at a considerable financial disadvantage. I think maybe the question ought to be why cant he close the deal?” she added, referring to Sen. Barack Obama. “Why can't he win a state like this one, if that is the way it turns out?”
Watch the VIDEO HERE
One topic Clinton chose not to address was a question about her husband’s comments yesterday accusing Barack Obama of playing the race card. Clinton ignored the question and said, “The focus on voters in Pennsylvania is on the solutions that were talking about to deal with the problems.” When the reporter followed up on whether she agreed with her husband’s assertion, Clinton said, “Well I think we are going to stay focused on what voters are focused on.”
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
Clinton also claimed that her campaign is the one that has been positive and not the other way around. “I think we have run a very positive campaign, I regret that especially since the debate senator Obama has chosen to go so negative. And contrary to what he says in his speeches his campaign has certainly done that.”
The former First Lady was also asked about her recent comments on Good Morning America about Iran and whether she would rule out a preemptive strike on the country.
“I am not in any way talking about that," she said. "If Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, and if Iran were to attack Israel with a nuclear weapon – we would retaliate.”
Clinton was pressed on why she was now entertaining this hypothetical question – when in a debate months ago she said she would not engage in the discussion. “In this particular instance with Iran it’s a question of what might be on or off the table concerning tactical or strategic decision, but an effort on my part cold war which is deterrence.”
When asked if Clinton was using the same tactics Republicans have in the past by putting Osama bin Laden in an ad Clinton said, “this campaign especially in a democratic primary has to be about leadership who can go up against John McCain who can win the electoral votes necessary to be the next president and I don’t think there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that we face challenges in the world.” Clinton said the fact we haven’t captured bin Laden is personal to her. “All these years after 9-11 we still haven’t brought to justice the master mind of the attack that devastated my city and I take that personally I take it really personally. This is about my leadership my resolve what I intend to do as your president.”
Clinton left reporters to pick up some lunch – she ordered, “the specialty cheese steak but without a lot of sauce,” before greeting diners and racing off to do interviews with local stations.
April 22, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (120)
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If the Clinton campaign says, enough times, that they've been treated unfairly, they really believe that people will buy that argument.
What a bunch of Bill -- I mean Bull -- Ah, same-same!!!
This was Hillary's race to win, from the beginning. But her campaign mismanagement, combined with her outright sense of entitlement and inability to capture a lasting campaign theme until "throw the kitchen sink" has sunk her campaign. She'll go down blaming the media, black voters, small state voters, caucus-goers, etc.
She has no one o blame but herself (and maybe Bubba and Mark Penn)!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | Apr 22, 2008 1:35:05 PM
If Hill is the choice why do so many Americans vote for OBAMA? Hill and Bill is the old dog and we need a new fresh approach OBAMA! As for the race card Bill & Hill and the media all throw that around like it is the main issue but it isnt so please wake up AMERICA before it is to late!!!!
Posted by: john | Apr 22, 2008 1:35:46 PM
Mary, what is so cool about Obama's fund raising is that it comes from average citizens. These people are giving 10, 20 dollars at a time. This is very different from the other candidates that are running or have already dropped out. People are seeing something genuine in this guy. He's the REAL DEAL. Obama 2008!
Posted by: pt | Apr 22, 2008 1:36:39 PM
Rick the rules are the rules!
The Texas results include both the
primary and the caucus!
Obama won Texas, period!
Posted by: reaganfan | Apr 22, 2008 1:38:52 PM
Rick - The Dood's Right 98-95 is a win.
Scoreboard.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 22, 2008 1:40:58 PM
you say focus on the issues, you are young, naive and inexperienced like obama.
For Every Swift Boat ad John Kerry was slammed and sunk by, you’ll find several more in this years General Election Media campaign.
For those who naively think campaigns don’t need to be negative and won’t be negative, look no further than the just the last election.
Or the election just before that one.
It happens in every election, this is part of our democratic process; to battle for differences and principle.
If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
Again, If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
Posted by: jim | Apr 22, 2008 1:41:13 PM
Greg
"obama steals the nomination" - lol
"the media was biased against Clinton" -
this is the same media that did not bring up a single Clinton scandal during this entire campaign...and they have long lists...
and if you say the American public knows them...
relly...
can you tell me the details of whitewater? what it means and why it was a controversy?
Vince foster and the subsequent clearing of his office? by hillary's chief of staff?
what do the clintons have to do with Tyson>
do you know who norman Hsu is exactly? do you know the details of the FBI files being removed and the subsequent investigation?
do you know how much Hillary was fined for campaign finance issues? or who this Paul guy is?
do you know the questions that have arisen about her whitewater work? or how much her brother had to return in payments for the pardoning of two criminals?
do you think America knows the details... no they don't.
and the lists go on...and on.
They think that because they were inundated with Monica...that is the extent and the rest are just words they heard mentioned...
remember most of these scandals were before 24 hr cable news.
The media did not do their job ...vetting the candidates all right. It was Clinton whom the population has heard about scandals ages ago but they have no idea of the details.
If Clinton had won the nomination FOx and the RNC held there amunition for the general. they wanted obama out in primary so they had a huge arsenal for the general.
That's the truth on this "media bias" with all of those scandals, investigations, lawsuits, deaths, lies, fines, disbarment, impeachment and purgory...
not one was brought up during this primary...ever.
oh besides a new one her getting caught lying again.
Posted by: dl | Apr 22, 2008 1:45:27 PM
Hills gotta win by +300,000 votes tonight minimum.
And another thing going down is that PA delegate awards are issued similar to the way TX does it.
So ol Hills may win the popular vote tonight but may not net many more delegates than Obama. We could be having some TX action going on tonight.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 22, 2008 1:46:36 PM
Why can't SHE close the deal. If she was a substantive candidate, then why is she in the fight of her life for the nomination? If it weren't for her husband she wouldn't even be a senator right now. She's been riding her husband's coat tails ever since he was governor of Arkansas.
Posted by: Don | Apr 22, 2008 1:52:40 PM
Simple: The reason Obama can't close the
deal is that 60 percent of the
nation will NEVER vote for him...
Posted by: rummy | Apr 22, 2008 1:55:57 PM
he cant win the big important states and he cant close the deal simply because he doesnt have what it takes. go Hillary! you're our girl!
Posted by: andrea benini | Apr 22, 2008 1:57:22 PM
he cant win the big important states and he cant close the deal simply because he doesnt have what it takes. go Hillary! you're our girl!
Posted by: benono | Apr 22, 2008 1:59:33 PM
How can Hillary claim she is ready to make decisions on day one when she can't run an effective campaign. She has had three major shake-ups and trails in all areas - delegates, number of states, and votes. She and Bill have been through a couple of national campaigns - so experience by itself is not enough. Her campaign leadship is a glimpse of her abilities - so far she trails in all major areas. She has no one to blame but herself - it mismanagement at this simple level.
Posted by: Looking for Leadership | Apr 22, 2008 2:00:32 PM
Frankly, Obama is not qualified
for more than "Legal Assistant"...
Vote Hillary 08!!
Posted by: foxy | Apr 22, 2008 2:00:37 PM
The firsr two videos are exactly the same. Aren't they supposed to be different?
Posted by: Jessica | Apr 22, 2008 2:01:28 PM
How can Obama claim he is ready to make decisions on day one when he runs
a fraudalent , extortionist, racist
campaign??
Vote:
Hillary Clinton!!
Posted by: pinky | Apr 22, 2008 2:02:31 PM
Maybe one reason he can't close
is that his personality profile
scares the **** out of people!!!
Posted by: jihad | Apr 22, 2008 2:03:43 PM
Ha ha ha!
Hilary is hilarious, and masochistic? lol
Why can't the once INEVITABLE CANDIDATE close the deal? lol
Underdog Barack Obama has done very very well for starting out his campaign 50 points behind the Clinton machine.
The Clintons have 'name recognition', a humongous head start; and they control the Democratic machine all over the country. Yet THE CLINTONS were prevented from 'closing the deal' by Obama's effective grassroots efforts!
Posted by: New Yorker | Apr 22, 2008 2:04:12 PM
Be cool:
Hillary 08!!
Posted by: julie | Apr 22, 2008 2:05:04 PM
Actually HRC, how do you lose a 20pt lead to a guy who is supposedly so wrong for the job? Penn was supposed to be yoru state HRC, you had a 20pt lead goign in and 6 weeks to cement that. You are whining about money, why haven't you raised more. You whine about the eroding lead, why have you not run a better campaign. the majority of Democrates have voted for Obama, why do you continue to insult them? this contest was yours to lose and you did exactly that.
Posted by: Louis | Apr 22, 2008 2:05:23 PM
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