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Bill Clinton: West Virginia Vote Can Make 'Earth Move'

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May 09, 2008 1:48 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Bill Clinton continued his two day tour of West Virginia Friday, stressing the importance of a huge win for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Tuesday's primary.

Speaking to a full firehouse in Madison, the former President told the crowd that those against her are trying to discourage people from caring about the election because they realize if enough people come out to vote, she could still win the popular vote.

"You have to realize that if you show up in enough numbers, and your neighbors in Kentucky do, and we have a good run through the rest of these states," asserted Clinton, "We gotta have your help and get the largest number of people to show up on election day. See all this stuff you are hearing about is an attempt to discourage you. That's what this is, pure and simple, hoping, well, Hillary can get eighty percent of the vote in West Virginia, and if only 100,000 people show up it is not enough. But if 600,000 people show up, and you say we want a president than you will see the earth move. You can do it."

While the crowd gave Clinton an extremely warm welcome, many in the crowd seemed to lose interest as he began his speech -- even during his appeal for a high voter turnout.

Clinton also brought superdelegates into his argument, a part of the primary process he usually avoids talking about while on the campaign trail.

"She can win the popular vote, she is clearly the most electable according to all the national polls, and between now and August, the superdelegates are gonna have to think long and hard about how badly they want to win. If she is clearly the most electable with positions that people have finally focused on, the real difference I think is, I think she has got a real shot at this and let me just tell you something, all those folks who are telling you on television that she can't win - they weren't for her in the beginning," said Clinton. 

During the course of Clinton's hour long speech, many people wandered out but those that did stay listened intently to Clinton discuss his wife's energy and education plans for America.

As he wrapped up, the former President left the crowd with the idea that crowds like the one in Madison were best hope Hillary had at winning this nomination.

"So, that's my case. You think that is a good enough case for West Virginia? Is it a good enough case to get a lot of people to go vote? Will you do what you can to get more people to vote for between now and Tuesday?  You just remember what I told ya. This whole deal is riding on how you perform. We are walking out here on a ledge. They have tried to push her off of it and she's still walking for you, toward tomorrow. Don't you let anybody discourage you. Don't you let a single soul stay home on Tuesday," Clinton told the crowd.

May 9, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (43)

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User Comments

Plain talk. The absolute truth.

Posted by: geevill | May 9, 2008 1:59:12 PM

Its a bit funny, to see people left while he was still speaking, asking them to show up in large number on Tuesday to vote! Will they?

Posted by: Peace | May 9, 2008 2:05:39 PM

I am really beginning to wonder if the tone of you Obama supporters will cost Obama the white house.

Posted by: tomdavie | May 9, 2008 2:11:50 PM

Why is it that the media keeps reporting about Hillary getting out of the race. LEAVE HER ALONE. They don't even remember their own reporting. It was reported that after June 3rd, the race will be decided by the "Supers". She will probably get out of the race but she wants the other states to vote. Her name is still on the ballot and she is concerned for her supporters. That is a good legitimate concern. We are already very volatile about this race. If she doesn't get the respect she deserves for getting half the electorate, there will be blood in the General Election. She has worked hard for a whole year and to just get out without a "transitional Period", will be disatrous for the whole party. Besides it is already a movement going to boycott the GE if Obama is the nominee. It won't matter if she gets out now or later. The damage is already been done by Hillary-hating media.

Posted by: Lois, California | May 9, 2008 2:14:52 PM

They said the same thing about Ohio....

Then, they said it again about Pennsylvania..

Then, again, in Indiana........

And now, the "change the tide" state is
going to be West Virginia..... LOL

Bill..... go home already...... LOL....

Posted by: Mark | May 9, 2008 2:18:57 PM

Obama posters appear to have nothing positive to say about their candidate. This Clinton bashing is not going to be an very effective campaign theme. Even Obama cannot talk about healthcare without saying he agrees with Clinton's plan.

Posted by: geevill | May 9, 2008 2:21:32 PM

Tomagam-
There is a difference with Rev. Wright, who was one of Obama's closest friends...
He was preaching...

Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008 3:04:11 PM

You can vote however you want, but I do not want to hear a couple of years from now that change isn't always a good thing...

Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008 3:07:04 PM

Old enough to be in my 2nd year of law school.

Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008 3:11:20 PM

Obama slams Hillary for saying that money not earned from the gas tax will cause thousands of jobs to be lost.
Yet he proposes $1,000 tax cuts for working families.... Where does that money come from????

Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008 3:12:36 PM

You keep showing every one what an idiot you are Tomagam. You have no clue if I am Democrat or Republican.

Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008 3:15:16 PM

no, what do you not understand....
Wright was preaching hate to others to spread...
Clinton's pastor never told his church that they should touch children...

Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008 3:20:28 PM

mike, great point! I've been mulling this Gas Tax Holiday over too.

Obama says Hillary's plan to pay for it with a Windfall Profits Tax on Big Oil will cause prices to rise... yet, his own Energy Plan calls for a Windfall Profits Tax.

Obama says Hillary's plan to save Americans 18 cents/gallon this summer is pandering... yet his attack ad included a plan to give everyone a $1,000 tax break (and of course, doesn't say where he'll get that money).

Who's kidding who?

Posted by: HoosierSue | May 9, 2008 3:23:23 PM

thank you finally someone else who understands... i just hope everyone else understands

Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008 3:25:16 PM

Tomagam you just can't figure out how this works. You only need to submit it once. Can we count 1 -

Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008 3:27:07 PM

Wow, he's setting some pretty impossible goals there. 600,000 voters is roughly a third of the state's population; I'm not sure they even have that many registered voters. Even in these heated primaries the biggest turnout so far hasn't cleared a quarter of the population in any other state. On top of that, Hillary hasn't gotten anywhere near 80% in any contest so far. The best she got was 70% in Arkansas, and she hasn't cleared 60% in any other contests.

I think everyone expects Clinton to do well in West Virginia, but the numbers that Bill is spinning are just a fairy tale.

Posted by: Justin | May 9, 2008 3:43:44 PM

This party is over for the Clinton's.

Posted by: Lou | May 9, 2008 3:49:21 PM

FYI Barack Obama is going to be the next president of the USA and I think he will do a great job for all people.

Posted by: Lou | May 9, 2008 3:51:37 PM

charleychaplin:
You're not only dead, but you're out
of your Mind!
If Hillary ran as an Independent in the
general election, John McCain would be
elected easily! Hillary and Obama would split the Democrat vote! Get a Clue!

Posted by: reaganfan | May 9, 2008 3:54:39 PM

The Clintons have lost their minds...they look pathetic.

Posted by: Sam | May 9, 2008 4:19:49 PM

In response to Bill Clinton says West Virginia can make the Earth Move yes that is if they lose their MINDS that is COAL MINES.

Posted by: Patricia | May 9, 2008 4:21:56 PM

Hillary will be the nominee when monkeys start flying out of Bill's bottom. GoBama '08. Accept the inevitable, Hillbilly.

Posted by: Yodit | May 9, 2008 4:36:57 PM

If any of you think that supporters of either candidate are 100 percent represented on a comment board, then you might want your head examined. Quit being over dramatic. This is not indicative of all Obama or Clinton supporters.

Posted by: vninja | May 9, 2008 5:04:05 PM

Hopefully the earth won't move in West Virginia like it has in that giant sinkhole in Texas this week. Oh wait, that's Hillary's campaign sinking and being swallowed up by too few delegates, too few states won, too few popular votes, and now too few superdelegates. Even Florida and Michigan won't help tip the scales now. Must be down to flipping a coin or rock, paper, scissors. Just like Conan O'Brien says, she leads in the state of denial.

Posted by: Russ | May 9, 2008 5:07:53 PM

The absolute truth???? Bill wouldn't know
truth if it bit him in the.......

Posted by: Tony | May 9, 2008 6:25:07 PM

West Virginia has to prove that it matters and their votes are important to the nomination.

OBAMA is ignoring the state and gives up on West Virginia.

Perhaps, this is the only chance for people in West Virginia to make history. This is the opportunity that they can't afford to miss.

Posted by: John_Lai | May 9, 2008 6:37:54 PM

obana is a white hater and white people voite for him

Posted by: butch armel | May 9, 2008 7:29:19 PM

Wow, walking out on a former POTUS, I'm guessing the polls in WV have just moved about 20 points in Obama's favor

Posted by: Samantha | May 9, 2008 8:03:56 PM

Clinton is certainly not black enough!

But it is doubtful that
you do not know how to vote
even though you are not black enough.

Posted by: yetlost | May 9, 2008 9:13:22 PM

Operation FUTILE

We will see how many west virginians comit political suicide with Senator Clinton.

Posted by: Alma Ludivina | May 9, 2008 10:36:35 PM

The Hillary haters have created a huge divide within the party,I as Democrat have decided to not vote for Obama no matter what.I thought he was and still is an empty suit.Please join us for an independent run by Hillary,or stay home this November.Say no to obama.

Posted by: obamamama | May 9, 2008 11:41:51 PM

Since Super Tuesday Hillary has won Texas, Ohio, Penn., Indiana, and is up 43 points in WV. Since all Obama's recent scandals he has lost almost every state with the exception of NC. He is the one who is toast!
Thanks Dems for giving us Obama and the presidency. The next states will be a good representation of what is in store for you in the general election. Those states will show how done America is with Obama, but it’s too late to turn back now you nominated him! lol

Posted by: Bill | May 10, 2008 12:07:19 AM

Bill:
Hillary Clinton Did Not Win Texas!
Obama Won Texas! Figures Don't Lie!
Obama 99 Delegates,Clinton 94 Delegates!
The MSM has been spouting that Lie
for too long! Obama Won Texas, period!
West Virginia has voted for
Senator Robert C Byrd a former
Klansman for years! Do you really think
they're going to vote for Obama?
If you're running to be head of the
KKK West Virginia is important!

Posted by: reaganfan | May 10, 2008 12:20:26 AM

I am a Democrat and due to the nastiness of the Obama supporters and the Obama campaign, myself and many many Dem voters (the majority) will not vote for Obama! You had better hope Obama doe not get nominated because what you will have done is given McCain the Presidency. Hope that makes you happy that you will be responsible for ruining our country for yet another 4 years with a corrupt Republican administration. Get your heads out of the clouds, Obama can not defeat McCain in an election. you Obama voters are about to throw our only chance of a Democratic administration down the toilet!
Hillary for President 2008!

Posted by: Shel | May 10, 2008 12:39:32 AM

I find it ironic that the Clintons talk about who is "most electable." Anyone remember that in JUNE 1992, Clinton was behind Perrot and Bush in national polls? His campaign didn't have its big push until the few months before the general election. That said, I believe that the division in the Democratic party is only believable as much as the media decides to push it down our throats. Clinton can decide when and how to withdraw. If the party was really in trouble, the superdelegates would throw their support behind one or the other and end it.

Posted by: TruthTeller | May 10, 2008 11:56:24 AM

this is sad you think anyone runnoing cares about anyone? i went to vote today in WV and for the prez their was noone i could mark that didnt make me feel like i was doing to wrong thingi ended up voting for clinton this to keep it going because i realy im not sure what all change he talks about is. i change shirts twice a day so????plus i dont fell like bama likes white people and i know clinton hates every one so it just felt like ither way i was doing the wrong thing. so i started thinking maybe i should vote for mcainbut i done asked for a Dem card but then mcain isnt any better hes like i want to be mr nice guy and get along with every one cross party lines, so he will do what ever it takes go look good like i quote think of the work of.... he broke your bones almost killed you dont talk nive about him like hes your but buddy. so its almost june and we have found out one thing we have no one worth voting for!!! its never been this bad !!!!! god save the office of prez, not the queen

Posted by: jack (I) | May 10, 2008 12:03:29 PM

i guess if clinton hate every one and obama just hates whites i guess clinton is less of a racist. can some one ells run please!!!we have 3 running and no one to vote for!!!

Posted by: davy | May 10, 2008 12:12:11 PM

I think the change that Obama has written about and campaigned about has to do with a change in political tactics. The typical political tactics are divide and conquer at the expense of everyone else and/or for the benefit of the most powerful. In 1992 the Clintons campaigned mostly from the grassroots and not from the most powerful corporate interests. They were more popular because they did. Now that they are part of the party elite they seem to not care about their roots so much. They are now top-down politicians rather that grass roots politicians. They got their funding from the elite until they were tapped out this year. Obama has not yet taken money from the traditional big donors and lobbyists. Almost all of his money has come from small individual donors - and he still has enough left to possibly donate to Hillary's debt recovery.

Posted by: russ | May 10, 2008 7:53:51 PM

Hillary needs to stay in the race. Obama has run a campaign solely based on "changing politics" and then spoke positively about Republicans while bashing the Clintons. Meanwhile it was the Republican administration that screwed things up! Of course we want change, but we want someone who knows and thus speaks about what they will do and how. Hillary is that candidate.

Posted by: irma | May 11, 2008 3:33:06 PM

You may think that this is over but it is not over, not even close. Hillary Clinton is so close to Barack Obama on so many layers of the Primary that it is a disgrace that his people keep trying to "bamboozle" you all with the media hype. The fact of the matter is that if this was a Winner Take All Race like the General Election, Hillary already won. In the Electoral College, she has already proven that she can beat Obama's potential 2:1. Obama cannot win McCain. Hillary can.

Posted by: Jodi B. | May 11, 2008 3:40:57 PM

Russ, another thing is that Obama's mother is Caucasion. If he cared so much about his own family, he could not say the biggoted things that he has been saying all throughout this race. What kind of man turns his back on his deceased mother and walks all over the fact that she and her parents raised him, that his own father abandoned him?

Posted by: AnotherThing | May 11, 2008 3:43:27 PM

Why doesn't someone in the MSM
ask Senator Clinton if she will
Denounce West Virginia Senator
Robert C Byrd for his Racist Past
prior to the Primary on Tuesday?
Since Clinton claims that her campaign
hasn't been using the "race card" let's see her prove it!

Posted by: reaganfan | May 11, 2008 4:00:30 PM

Really now.. "While the crowd gave Clinton an extremely warm welcome, many in the crowd seemed to lose interest as he began his speech -- even during his appeal for a high voter turnout".

How the hell do you know? Were you watching every single person and the expression on their face? You (the media) are promoting your own self interests and bashing Hillary only makes you look so much more infantile. It is absolutely sickening how you people try to shove Obama down our throats. WE DO NOT WANT HIM.. get it through your fat heads. OK?
We will not vote for him.. period.
Forget it, don't try to appeal to Hillary supporters it will not work.
The media declared Obama "the king" the other day.. yea, king of the jungle along with his wife, Cornielus is more like it.

Posted by: MJL | May 11, 2008 6:16:05 PM

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