Clinton Hedges on Convention Question

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Clinton Hedges on Convention Question

May 03, 2008 12:31 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Hillary Clinton isn't sure if she'll take her fight for the Democratic nomination all the way to the convention but she's committed to seeing the remaining primary contests no matter what happens in Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday.

"Well, I plan on going through the next contests -– West Virginia, Kentucky and others," Clinton, D-N.Y., said in a casual town hall meeting with women sponsored by momlogic.com on Saturday in North Carolina.

Clinton has previously said she plans to go all the way to the convention if Michigan and Florida are not settled. This may indicate a possible shift in thinking about how the rest of this campaign will play out.

In the remainder of the informal momlogic.com gathering, Clinton divulged numerous personal stories, including tidbits on Chelsea's dating, what got her through her public crisis, and her advice on raising children -– reaching out to her base, which she will need on Tuesday.

Clinton shared one of her secrets: "Lists are my friend. Lists are a mother's friend," she said.

The candidate was asked about how she got through her difficult period in the White House and she shared that her friends were the ones who were there for her.

"One of my closest friends, who died of lung cancer so unfortunately eight years ago, who'd always send me some kind of little something that would make me laugh, like a stuffed doll that she said, 'use this to beat the table with, or stick pins in or whatever you want to do with it.'

"I have friends who, that I've had since grade school, that are campaigning for me in states, and I tell them, 'Don't tell everything you know.'"

When asked about advice on dating and what mothers should do when boys come over to date daughters, Clinton said, "Well, again, you really cannot extrapolate from my experience because Chelsea was a teenager in the White House, which meant the Secret Service went on her dates and a lot of her girlfriends' mothers loved when they want on double dates, because there was a guy with a gun in the front seat . . . It's really intimidating to talk to her father, or, I guess, to me."

Clinton spoke at length about her daughter and said, "My daughter's eye-rolling was a part of my life."

The candidate was reminded of a time when they were attending her husband’s second inauguration and her daughter had gotten dressed without her approval. Clinton explained the shock when she realized what her daughter was wearing.

"The skirt was so short, and I'm sitting there looking at the short skirt -- there was no time to change, and I thought, 'OK, I'm just going to take a deep breath.' There are so many things that are worth engaging your kids on and so many of them are not important."

Clinton reminisced about family time the three of them would share in Arkansas, and told a story about how, on Wednesday nights, the family would gather for activities.

"One time, Chelsea said she heard about coconuts and never had seen one, so we went to the store and bought a coconut, and took it home and Bill and I -- between the two of us, we had 50 years of education -- could not get the coconut open. We would throw it on the driveway, we were banging it with a hammer -– it was so embarrassing, our 4-year-old daughter was thinking, 'what is this?'"

Clinton shared one piece of advice she had learned from her mother, which was, "you can either be the lead role in your life or you can play a supporting role in other people's (lives)."

The momlogic.com event was part of a marathon stretch of events through North Carolina and Indiana, gearing up for Tuesday's critical primary.

May 3, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (36)

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why do people hate a strong and smart lady like Hillary? India, Pakistan and Indonesia have elected women as president. All the hateful words about president Clinton and Hillary is totally unnecessary. Obama has flipflopped about his pastor right in front of our eyes and has not explained what he is going to change. Think and vote with your brains.
Hillary 08

Posted by: k | May 3, 2008 5:50:03 PM

Posted by: k | May 3, 2008 5:50:10 PM

Hillary is amazing. As the two men in the race look tired and are waning, she is rising and so confident.

Her depth and breadth of knowledge on the issues is amazing--she has vision and concrete plans to make real change happen....everyone knows she's the smartest girl in the room- and the other two- with Obama to the left of her and McCain to them right--well--she runs circles around them...

She is the best choice of all three--and deep down everyone knows that.

Posted by: Evelyn | May 3, 2008 6:47:57 PM

Wished I had the crystal ball all the regulars on this blog seem to have.All seem high strung and stressed out and of course want to have the last word. "MY dad can whip your dad"!!On blogs-we are a group of faceless people=who hide behind phony names. We can shoot off our mouths--because no one knows who we are or how to find us.Isn't America great.

Posted by: orange cat | May 3, 2008 8:19:40 PM

Relating to people is something Hillary does well, and sharing memories is part of that. She's demonstrating that she is IN TOUCH with the concerns of all the regular working women and mothers out there.

Obama would do well to find some way to relate as well to working class voters, especially women.

Posted by: EV | May 3, 2008 10:02:15 PM

Hillary should show this softer side more often. I am an Obama supporter, but as a woman, I will admit that every now and then Hillary tugs at my heartstrings and makes me feel a little guilty when she shows this side. I think that's one of the reasons she keeps bouncing back...she tends to show her softer side when her back is up against the wall, and women feel guilty casting a vote for Obama that would be a vote to end the campaign of the first woman with a serious chance to become president. I think that, more than anything Obama has done, is why he has had trouble delivering the knockout punch.

Posted by: Laura | May 3, 2008 10:02:47 PM

If Hillary is so damn sincere, why hasn't she sponsored a 'bill' in the senate. Thats what her plan will take!
And won't it be something if its co-sponsored by McCain...

This is somewhat sad, a lot sad. Please excuse my ‘rural’ sense of humor.
Hillary, on the campaign trail the other day, said “bet on the filly”. Of coarse she meant it as a metaphor, about the Derby and her own race. BUT, did ya’ll see what happened?
Big Brown won the race. The filly came in second, broke BOTH her front legs and was killed on the spot…
Ya’ll just think about how that “pertains” to the Democratic race.
Big Brown 08

Posted by: oldwhiteguy | May 3, 2008 10:27:44 PM

It's interesting that OBAMA wants his typical white heritage now under the bus in a remote corner which looks so bleak.

Posted by: John_Lai | May 3, 2008 10:42:20 PM

When this whole thing is over, do you guys realize that the delegate spread could be less than a hundred? Why you ask.. Puerto Rico has 64 delegates and Hillary is heavily favored there. It's a winner take all state. That could cut her deficit in half. She could lead in Pop vote when you count FL and MI. What a pickle for the DNC. Go with the unelectable guy to please the black people (but you'll tick off reliable female voters) or go with the girl who might actually be able to win. Knowing the democrats, they'll choose Door #1.

Posted by: An opinion | May 3, 2008 11:01:31 PM

In the beganing Barack Hussein Obama was not known,but now more and more people see who Obama is and how unelectable he is, his present lead will count for nothing.If he is nominated,a lot of people will vote for McCain,or stay home.

Posted by: Francis | May 3, 2008 11:27:04 PM

Sounds like she is beginning to see the light. Beginning May 8 the healing needs to begin. We have lost sight of the goal and that is to take back the WH.

Posted by: Bh In Phoenix | May 4, 2008 1:24:11 AM

An Opinion, and I quote...
"...could be....could cut...could lead..."

And could concede! Any questions?

Posted by: Bh In Phoenix | May 4, 2008 1:30:08 AM

I really fear having these nasty Obama supporters setting the national tone.

Their candidate could have told them this would wreck the party. Because of this divisiveness I no long feel at home in the party I've been in for decades.

Let the women see if they can unravel the mess we super-rational men have made of the world.

I will not vote for Obama under any circumstances.

Posted by: Harry Haller | May 4, 2008 9:14:31 AM

I hope that Hillary wins the nomination. Obama has been preaching all morning about how superior he is in every way and it really is sickening. But, if the democratic party is dumb enough to push him into the nomination, I really hope Hillary will run as a third party candidate. Remember, half (if not more) of democratic voters want Hillary, not Obama. I hope that Tuesday's results show how strong she is and she is only one who can win in November.

Posted by: Morris | May 4, 2008 11:31:38 AM

Chelsea had "never seen" a coconut. I see them every time I go to a supermarket. Either this is another one of Senator Clinton's make believe tales, or she's admitting the family never did any of its own grocery shopping. Which is it?

Posted by: dave | May 4, 2008 2:01:03 PM

The ONLY thing tried and proven going for Obama is, he is great orator. He ought to write speeches for people, that's where is true gift lies! Messages of hope and inspiring speeches will not get the job done! It takes hard work and a backbone to go up against great odds! Just being a woman in this patriarcial society should show everyone, Hillary has the fortitude to go up against anyone and anything, and that HAS been proven. She is absolutely the best choice for the DEMS to get the Bush dynasty out of office! WAKE UP SUPER-DELAGATES, and wake up people too!

Posted by: Maureen | May 5, 2008 12:17:58 AM

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