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Rendell: Clinton 'Very Unlikely' To Win

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May 28, 2008 3:01 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Staunch Clinton campaign supporter Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday that his favored candidate is "very unlikely" to capture the Democratic nomination, and said that will mean the Democratic Party will nominate the weaker candidate for the fall campaign against Sen. John McCain.

Rendell, D-Pa., told Bloomberg Television that he believes polls that suggest that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a "far better candidate" than Sen. Barack Obama in swing states. But he added that he's a "realist" who recognizes that superdelegates are likely to continue to flock to Obama until he clinches the nomination.

"I'm a realist, and I think most likely the superdelegates will give Sen. Obama the votes he needs," Rendell said. "I don't think the DNC is going to fairly adjust what happened in Florida. . . . I don't think they’re going to fairly adjust it. So I think it's very unlikely that Senator Clinton can prevail. I think that means we're not going to field our strongest candidate."

In the interview, Rendell affirmed his support for an Obama-Clinton ticket, but said Obama and Clinton would have to decide for themselves whether a joint venture would work.

"The only way they can work it out is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to sit in a room by themselves and discuss whether it's workable," he said. "If they believe it's workable, then I think that should be our ticket. If they don't, then we should go on."

Rendell, who has been discussed a potential running mate for either Clinton or Obama, joked that the fact that he wears a flag pin could make him a good match for Obama.

"I kid around and say I'd be a great running mate for Senator Obama. I wear a flag pin, so [it would] be a balanced ticket," he said.

May 28, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (428)

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So much for party unity. Can't wait 'til Denver when Clinton blows the place apart with a floor fight.

Posted by: David | May 28, 2008 3:14:00 PM

Hillary save us from a president Rev. Wright!

Posted by: Edwin | May 28, 2008 3:16:36 PM

I dont see McCain wearing a flag pin. And whats the reason he doesn't do so. At the same time nobody bother to raise the issue on him!

Posted by: Peace | May 28, 2008 3:16:42 PM

So, she's sending charts and graphics with the daily changing poll data to the super delegates to show that she's more electable?

It's hard to win an argument that your electable when you can't even win a primary election.

Posted by: Lynne | May 28, 2008 3:21:57 PM

Rendell is correct the DNC will put up their weaker candidate and keep their fingers crossed that he wins the GE.

When that does not happen am sure Dean will find something else to blame that on, but it sure as hell wont be his fault, am sure of that.

Obama can always console his self with the fact that he got the nomination and did better than any other AA, all this is such a pity because the democrats has a real chance at winning this election, everything is there for the taking.

Sadly the DNC looks like it wants to keep its record in tact, putting candidates up when everyone keeps telling them that this is the wrong choice.

Posted by: SJ | May 28, 2008 3:22:47 PM

Unfortunately Rendell is one of those people who would never vote for Obama and unfortunately he will never admit it.

The entire Clinton camp still cannot face the fact that someone like Obama can actually takes away the White House they think they are so entitled to. Fortunately, 21st-century white, black and multi-colored Americans have a different idea.

Posted by: JT. | May 28, 2008 3:23:11 PM

Gov. Rendell is a blowhard--- I would not want him on my ticket if I were Obama....He is clearly not for a unified party after his comments he just made!!! He also has very poor judgement as shown in his support for the ever deviuos Clinton !!!!

Posted by: Dan A | May 28, 2008 3:23:38 PM

Delusion:
a fixed false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact

I think Sen. Clinton is delusional.

Posted by: Lynne | May 28, 2008 3:24:29 PM

Peace...Americans don't have to see McCain wear a flag pin...we know which country he loves above all others and the torture he endured as a POW...get real.
I love Rendell and he is a smart man...he should wait until Saturday or Sunday in putting his opinion out there. I think this is laughable that everyone knows the Dems are putting in their weakest candidate and super d's are being bought.

Posted by: Debra | May 28, 2008 3:25:39 PM

Check out the polls and the facts and all can see why Obama is a very weak canidate and will lose the general election.

Posted by: n912 | May 28, 2008 3:25:41 PM

PEACE you are the reason I watch these posts and read them.
You are an idiot. I feel good knowing I fought in a war to save your opinion. It makes good comedy for me and my freinds here in the office. Keep it up please' Its cheaper than cable TV

Posted by: Jim Rod | May 28, 2008 3:28:06 PM

n912 - those polls change daily and don't account for the next several months of campaigning, veep choices, etc.

It's unrealistic to hold up those polls (they don't all show her ahead.) with the assumption that they are set in stone. Several out today have Obama winning greatly vs. McCain.

Like I said, delusional.

Posted by: Lynne | May 28, 2008 3:28:16 PM

She may be just as delusional as Obama and his supporters who feel that Obama can take the WH. Maybe you guys really need to wake up and look around, some democrats may not want a republican president but they sure would vote for one rather than Obama.

Don't keep jumping for joy from what you see in a primary, remember Hillary also has over 17 mill supporters, without those supporters buying into a Obama;s presidency there is no WH for him, Obama will need all of Hillary votes, so far they way they are being treated I don't see them suddenly having a change of heart.

So don't start to measure for curtains just yet Obama supporters the race is still not done as yet, Obama now has to beat McCain.

Posted by: SJ | May 28, 2008 3:29:15 PM

As an ardent Clinton supporter, I'm opposed to any ticket that places Clinton in the VP slot. Nobody votes on the basis of the vice president. If Obama is the nominee, he's going to lose - let him lose all by himself.

Clinton owes nothing to the Democratic Party. My fantasy is that she'll leave and make an independent run.

Posted by: bromfield22 | May 28, 2008 3:30:22 PM

Save it Angie - BHO keeps changing his mind or story. Do you think now that he has pushed back bringing the troops home to 16 months after he gets in office that he won't change it again! Listen up!

Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 28, 2008 3:31:16 PM

Way to go President Hillary!!!

Hillary won Kentucky and West Virginia by a landslide in spite of overspending in ads 3 to 1 by Obama against Hillary. Same thing that happened in Indiana and Pennsylvannia. Obama is expected to win both Indiana and North Carolina since February. But, Hillary won Indiana and cut Obama's lead in North Carolina from 20% in February down to 14% in spite of ad overspending by Obama.

Wake up media people or wake up superdelegates. Hillary even won consecutively in Ohio, Texas (Obama lost even he was endorsed by the Traitor Bill Richardson), and Pennsylvannia. Not to mention the other big states such as California (Obama lost in California even though Oprah, Maria Shriver, and Katherine Kennedy endorsed him), Massachusetts (Obama lost Massachusetts even though Kennedy and John Kerry endorsed him), Arkansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Florida (both of them are in the ballot) that are crucial in November. Hillary has the most electoral college votes based in these big states.

If you want a Democrat to win then Hillary should be the choice. HILLARY WON THE BIG STATES AND THE SWING STATES. If Hilalry is not the nominee, we will vote for McCain. African Americans are so unfair voting 9 to1 against Hillary not like the white people who fair and thinks who is the best candidate. Who is being racial now? This racial thing about Black has been OVERUSED, MISUSED and ABUSED by these people. Obama, the Obama camp, Clyburn, Wright and others can not fool us anymore. Stop this non-sense.

Wake up superdelegates! Wake up media people.

Posted by: Alfredo | May 28, 2008 3:31:44 PM

The White House doesn't need a token. They shouldn't elect a person based on color or gender. But Obama is getting there because of his color, if he can win.

Posted by: Clyde | May 28, 2008 3:31:54 PM

Rendell jokes about it but the reality of it all, who is making a big deal about McCain not wearing a flag pin? Or Hillary?
Why don't they just cross the line and work for the republicans, since they seem to be writing their commercial scripts for them.
Its just like everything else, the brown skin requires Obama do so much more, in every aspect, than any other candidate.

Posted by: nospin | May 28, 2008 3:32:03 PM

I think this is EVERYONE's Fantasy...HRC GOES AWAY!!!!!

Clinton owes nothing to the Democratic Party. My fantasy is that she'll leave and make an independent run.

Count me in ... Please Go AWAY HRC!!!!

Posted by: Pete Rend | May 28, 2008 3:32:35 PM

lynne When you have a canidate that knows hardly anything about how to be president and he certainly can not hold his own in a debate. Mccain will tear Obama apart in the general election. Oh and a lot of people do not know this yet but the Republicans have some things about Obama and his wife that will come out in October that will send Obama back to Chicago.

Posted by: n912 | May 28, 2008 3:33:23 PM

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