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Clinton Camp on Edwards Endorsement: 'It's Not Great News'

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May 14, 2008 5:38 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: "It's not great news," said a senior Clinton advisor of the news that former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., will break his neutrality and endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Michigan Wednesday night.

"Well, I don't think it's good news, but there's a lot of news in this business and we move forward and move past it," the Clinton advisor said.

Asked what effect the Edwards endorsement might have: "We don't know. We'll see. We'll see how much of it is transferable," referring to Edwards' popularity with white working class voters.

Clinton advisor Terry McAuliffe also addressed the endorsement during a quick media availability Wednesday evening outside of the Senator's house.

"I can't speak for why people endorse," said McAuliffe, adding, "the voters in West Virginia say it's not over."

Coming off the heels of a 41-point landslide win in West Virginia, the Clinton camp had hoped to build some momentum, pledging to continue the campaign through the remaining primaries over the next three weeks.

"We're going on to Kentucky and Oregon and the rest of the contests and then we'll see what happens with Michigan and Florida and by June 4th we'll have a clearer idea about where everyone stands," Clinton said in the interview with ABC News' Charlie Gibson Wednesday.

Clinton also met Wednesday with six uncommitted superdelegates at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee offices in Washington and her campaign hosted a meeting with about 45 or 50 financial supporters to make her case to them and ask them to continue raising money.

Wednesday night Clinton will host a party at her tony Washington residence for top donors.

The Clinton camp continues to make the case that superdelegates are concerned about Obama's loss in West Virginia and other swing states.

"All I can say is, I don't want to overdramatize it, but starting with Ohio the remaining superdelegates started really focusing on the 270 electoral vote issue and how do we best assemble that and it's made a marked impression," the senior Clinton advisor told ABC News.

But then in a moment of candor the advisor conceded, "I'm not sure it's gonna be enough."

May 14, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (208)

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Obama just picked up another super delegate from WI!!!! Senator Lena Taylor:)

Posted by: whatever | May 14, 2008 6:07:43 PM

It would certainly be the best news the Clinton camp had during this whole campaign if he endorsed her.

What crybabies.

Posted by: Common Sense | May 14, 2008 6:08:29 PM

Amazing how many are still in denial.

If you are a Democrate, then your concern ought to be uniting around the Democratic Nominee to avoid another 4 years of failed BUSH politics in Washington: War in Iraq, Economy in recession, Tax cuts to the wealthiests, high gas price, ....

Democracy has worked and OBAMA is the Democratic Nominee.

Edwards releases his 19 pledged delegates... not a surprise that they will back OBAMA.

Posted by: JohnS | May 14, 2008 6:09:58 PM

McCan't and all the cynical, disgruntled Clinton losers will be standing on an island all alone looking at each other saying "What Happened?"

It wasn't supposed to be like this!

OBAMA/EDWARDS 08

Posted by: Common Sense | May 14, 2008 6:10:16 PM

Obama / Edwards is the real dream ticket of 2008. Both have the character and leadership to bring some integrity back to D.C.

McCain / Anyone is a lobbyist dream ticket.

Posted by: Leslie E. | May 14, 2008 6:11:21 PM

Now, its time for Hillary to snap out of it and get behind Obama.

She'll pop into formation next week.

Posted by: Common Sense | May 14, 2008 6:11:28 PM

Edwards joined the loser club along with Richardson. Now Obama can give all his millions to the party it's what they were interested in all along. They can all be happy together losing to McCain in the fall. Go McCain!

Posted by: kittyCat | May 14, 2008 6:16:39 PM

so every democratic losing contender has come on board: ted kennedy, edwards, kerry, bradley, hart....oops, still waiting on carter and gore. then it will be final: obama will have the endorsement of every democrat who lost a presidential bid since 1964, while Clinton will have the endorsement of the only democrat to win two terms since the 40s....lol. love the party of destruction.

Posted by: tony | May 14, 2008 6:17:12 PM

Edwards probably has been in the bag all along, they just held off until they needed to defuse a big Hillary victory like last night. Obama and Edwards both make me sick, talk about your typical politicians playing the voters for fools! I think this may backfire and just make Clinton supporters angrier at Obama and push them further to McCain.

Posted by: dwc | May 14, 2008 6:17:44 PM

I agree - Edwards shows his true colors - he's just another egotistical, power hungry, opportunistic, hypocritical politician who can be paid off by any body. He's spineless! Good riddance. Edwards said he was the working people's candidate - but they sure didn't vote for him! As we saw last night - working americans are voting for Hillary! and in big, BIG numbers.

Posted by: cc | May 14, 2008 6:20:29 PM

I hope you people switching from Clinton to McCain realize that the next president will likely nominate two new Supreme Court Justices. One more round of conservative judges replacing the outgoing crowd and its bye-bye Roe v. Wade, along with a lot of other good, moderate jurisprudence.

Posted by: Hello? | May 14, 2008 6:20:45 PM

Good news for Obama to be sure - I don't see how this endorsement is anything but a positive for the Obama campaign. However, it hurts to see that we democrats are so quick and ready to turn on each other in an instant. I can understand that each candidate has flaws and good qualities; but if you take an honest, unbiased look; their platforms are nearly identical. I'd be proud and happy to vote for either in November. I'm sick of the war, I'm afraid that Roe v Wade might be overturned, I want the economy to grow and restore this country as it used to be. Even if Clinton loses, she will certainly be assured a prized position (VP?) in determining the policy of the country if the Democrats win in Nov. I believe the same is true for Obama if Clinton wins. Seriously, I understand the enthusiasm but we should let this race play out and support the winner wholeheartedly.

Posted by: democrat08 | May 14, 2008 6:20:47 PM

The Clinton camp continues to make the case that superdelegates are concerned about Obama's loss in West Virginia and other swing states.
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Well, I guess they just aren't getting the message then. Not one super delegate has declared for Hillary since her WV win.

Posted by: Kate Henry | May 14, 2008 6:22:49 PM

Keep fightin' Hillary! Edwards' endorsement means nothing...are we forgetting that he's been on a losing ticket as a veep and dropped out of this race!!! Hillary's fight is exactly what we need in the White House!! Just when Obama thinks she's down...She wins again!!! GO HILLARY!!!

Posted by: gnh | May 14, 2008 6:23:44 PM

I'm still not going to be bullied into voting for Barack. New kind of politics..Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! With the oldest establishment in the country. The good ol' boys club...Ha! Ha! Ha! This is hysterical! On to KY for another landslide victory!

Hillary 08'

Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | May 14, 2008 6:24:24 PM

Obama got at least one today... her case doesn't make much sense ..

Posted by: whatever | May 14, 2008 6:25:00 PM

You gotta give it to Obama; Slowing constricting Clinton with superdelegates into conceding.

She picked up 20 delegates in WV, but Obama has gotten 30 superdelegates over a week.

Even Clinton has to know that she's starting to look like a hamster running on the circular wheel full speed but going nowhere.

Posted by: Common Sense | May 14, 2008 6:25:48 PM

atl76 -- please dont try to preach to me about what a "real" democrat would do. i have been voting dem since '84 -- when i first reached 18. sorry, you have no standing to define what it means to be a real dem.

Posted by: tony | May 14, 2008 6:27:02 PM

the hard facts -- great analysis. obama supporters are using scare tactics to get clinton supporters on their side. amazing. but all along, when we were complaining of disparate treatment, they said that we were whining and that clinton is a racist and that they couldnt wait for her to lose. if clinton is so evil, why do they want her supporters? why do they want her to campaign for obama? perhaps they were lying about clinton all along -- just to get obama elected.

Posted by: tony | May 14, 2008 6:33:33 PM

kate- it doesnt matter what the super-d's do. obama wont win because we clinton supporters will give HIM the finger in november. good bye obama. lol. the dems lose again. what's new?

Posted by: tony | May 14, 2008 6:35:38 PM

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