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Clinton at Indy: Life, Racing and Politics are Unpredictable
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ShareMay 06, 2008 12:54 PM
ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper report: Sen. Hillary Clinton’s only public appearance today was geared toward the very voters she desperately needs to turn out for her today in Indiana—white, working class, fans of fast cars whizzing around a fast track in the May sunshine.
The racing analogies came quick at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
“We need to get on the track in America and get toward the finish line and change this country,” Clinton said.
Asked on this primary day by ABC News if she would definitely stay in the race no matter what happens tonight, Clinton didn’t make a firm commitment.
"I'm always interested in finding out what voters actually think,” she said. “Because there's all kinds of speculation. It would be like predicting who would win the Indy 500 before it even starts. We don't know. People prepare. They work hard. They do their best. Life is unpredictable. Racing is unpredictable. Politics is unpredictable. So I'm just going to wait and see what the voters have to say.”
The Senator also tried to re-set the bar for winning the Democratic nomination. Asked what the “finish line” of the race is she said for the first time: “I think it’s 2209.”
That figure—2209 delegates—assumes that Florida and Michigan’s delegates are included in the overall count. The Democratic Party has long said the magic number for winning the nomination was 2025, a number that does not include Florida and Michigan.
By re-setting the finish line, the Clinton campaign may be able to argue that Obama has not “won” the race if he reaches or gets close to 2025.
Clinton said claiming 2209 as the goal was not “disingenuous”.
“There are going to be the rest of these contests which are very significant and then in June if we haven't done it already were going to have to resolve Florida and Michigan. And they were legitimate elections,” she said.
Clinton visited “gasoline alley” to stop by the garage of one of the few female drivers to compete in the Indy 500, Sarah Fisher. Fisher endorsed Clinton earlier this month.
“If I press this what am I doing?” the Senator asked as she held a steering wheel from Fisher’s car in her hands.
Clinton said she’s often remarked that politics is like driving-- “if you want to go forward you put it in D, go backward you put it in R.”
“Just so you know, we don’t have reverse in this car. It doesn’t exist,” Fisher shot back.
Clinton said she was impressed by the technology she saw on Fisher’s racecar.
“These are so smooth,” she said admiring the tires.
Her appearance drew surprised race fans who had come to see the first day of practice for all of the Indy drivers.
“Did we come to see race cars or politicians?” one man was heard complaining to a female companion who insisted they stand and wait for Senator Clinton to come by.
“She’s just doin’ it to get on the news,” said a yellow-shirt-wearing safety patrolman of the Senator’s quick pit stop at Indy.
May 6, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (41)
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It's pretty much predictable what will happen in fall if BO is the Demo nominee. They will always able to find a way to lose at a time that is virtually impossible for them to lose.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 6, 2008 1:04:12 PM
Never quit the race, Hillary, never. Remember, that car doesn't have a reverse drive!
Rise Hillary, Rise!
Posted by: Emily | May 6, 2008 1:15:28 PM
I think she should stay in until Fl an MI. are counted this is not a fair race if this does not take place. IMO
Posted by: Bishop | May 6, 2008 1:15:49 PM
Emily, Hillary will rise today we have to have faith I believe she will or we will be here until this race is fair.
Posted by: Bishop | May 6, 2008 1:19:34 PM
Hillary, you go sister! Hear me now and believe me later: If Obama gets the nomination, we'll be swearing in President McCain.
Posted by: Cardsgal | May 6, 2008 1:19:41 PM
Obama supporters called me this am. looking for money. if FL. and MI had been able to re-vote Obama would be losing every one knows this.
Posted by: Bishop | May 6, 2008 1:21:51 PM
Really hope Hillary win today!
Let more people know about Obama's low campaigen tricks. The simple background check of Obama only just began -- and it already proved how problematic it is.
Posted by: Amy | May 6, 2008 1:23:21 PM
MI and FL were part of her plan all along. Nobody knew of Obama last year and Hillary had a few decades in the public sun. The more people knew Obama the more they were voting for him. By taking those states off the delegate list (which she agreed to), Obama didn't spend time there. Therefore, most people voted based on limited knowledge. Therefore, name recognition meant more, giving Hillary a boost. It is not fair to seat the delegates based on the existing votes.
More importantly, this just shows how Hillary will do anything to win. First she agrees to penalize MI and FL for breaking the rules. When that didn't work, she campaigns to seat them, making it look like Obama was the bad guy.
Posted by: X marks the spot | May 6, 2008 1:23:23 PM
On the unenlightened, non progressive thinkers could ever vote for this evil woman.
Posted by: Darlene | May 6, 2008 1:24:08 PM
Hillary will be the nominee! America, has seen the real Sodama, as he is being vetted. No matter what Dean and Pelosi want to do with their pundit Obama, America speaks and will take charge. Michigan and Florida will have to be seated and counted....the United States of American includes 50 states, not 48. Obama was against this because he knew Hillary would take them and be in the lead. It's going to happen....Hillary will be the nominee....Obama can go home and cry to Uncle Wright. Looked at exit polls a few minutes ago in both Indiana and North Carolina and Hillary was winning in both states! Rise, Hillary, Rise! Hillary 08!
Posted by: david from texas | May 6, 2008 1:27:22 PM
Hillary has been getting a free ride from the press for the last month. The worst the came up with is calls to quit. Every time the say that women voters go out and defend her in the booth. Hillary admits she has a lot of past baggage. What has the media come up with during this primary season? A couple of lies? She has much worse.
Posted by: X marks the spot | May 6, 2008 1:29:07 PM
The left wing nuts always lose this for our party they will not get there nominee this time the people will have there way today go Hillary
Posted by: Bishop | May 6, 2008 1:33:26 PM
David from tx: I don't see exit polls yet. I didn't think exit polls were released until the voting was over. Please provide source.
Posted by: X marks the spot | May 6, 2008 1:35:00 PM
Does any one really think that naming Obama the winner without a re-vote will be seen as fair to the millions who are also Democrats and have been a lot longer than the younger new ones. I am all for a fair election this so far is not.
Posted by: Bishop | May 6, 2008 1:38:44 PM
I agree, Bishop. This is not a fair election. Michigan and Florida need to be included. CNN stated last night that Michigan was having a senate/governor race, I believe, this summer. What would be wrong with adding Clinton and Obama to the vote? I'm sure Obama would protest this due to the fact that he would lose. I still think these two states need to be included.
Posted by: jack | May 6, 2008 1:44:15 PM
RCP poll of polls average is down to a difference of just 0.2 percent. It's time to put these two candidates in a room and not let them out until they put together a ticket with both of them on it.
Posted by: commonsensenj | May 6, 2008 1:48:19 PM
Oh my gosh you think she is going to win can I be the first to bust your bubbles????She will not be on the Nov ballot and if you want to vote for 4 more years of Bush plz do so...You will be the loosers.Have a nice day gets worse for the Clintons fans.
Posted by: h | May 6, 2008 2:04:50 PM
The more people know of Obama, the more people vote for him? Excuse me...but it seems that the less people knew about him, the more they voted for him.
Posted by: Raleigh Voter | May 6, 2008 2:07:22 PM
Hillary does not represent my values. I am a college educated single father with two kids (ages 8 and 10), who can see through Hillary’s smoking mirrors. Hillary Clinton is an ELITIST. She has become like The Pied Piper of Hamelin...where many voters follow her without question...not realizing that she's driving them towards the abyss.
Posted by: Jim | May 6, 2008 2:09:39 PM
bcpchrnn1.
Because democrats need independets
and republicans to win in november.
Obama is unelectable because of his
bad record in politics.
Posted by: Nicholas | May 6, 2008 2:13:47 PM
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