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Clinton Spokesperson: She Is Not Conceding

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June 02, 2008 4:02 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: Clinton spokesperson Mo Elleithee came to the back of the press plane as Clinton flew from Rapid City to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

He was asked about Clinton's definition of when a nominee would be determined -– because she has refused to accept the new 2,118 delegates number that the Democratic Party says is needed to clinch the nomination. 

"I think its pretty clear that she is not conceding." Elleithee said, "I think its pretty clear that she is staying in this race. She is going, in the coming days, to be aggressively courting uncommitted superdelegates aggressively courting unpledged delegates, making the case to them that she is a candidate best ready to take on John McCain."

When asked directly when Clinton will step aside, Elietthee told reporters, “as she has said dozens and dozens of times she is in this race until we have a nominee...Until there is a nominee she is going to try to win support."

He continued “until there is a nominee we are going to still work to become that nominee. When asked when they would determine a nominee would be selected –- because the Clinton campaign has refused to accept fully the 2,118 number –- Elleithee said, “we're exploring -- she has said before she wants to have this to be resolved before the convention -- we are reviewing our options.”

Eliethee continued, “We do not expect that a nominee will be clear tomorrow night … she is mostly going to be working the phones and meeting with these delegates."

When asked why Clinton was spending tomorrow in New York at an event the campaign is calling a "victory party," Clinton’s spokesperson said, “it’s a good way to close out this phase of the campaign is come to New York bring all of her supporters together, have a big celebratory election night party as we move into the next phase of the campaign which is obviously the courting of these delegates.”

Eleithee would not say whether or not Clinton was working on the next phase, i.e. opening campaign offices in battleground states.  He was asked about the phone conversation between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton and said it was “a very short very pleasant con call.” He continued, “to my knowledge there wasn’t any substance discussed in that conversation.”

Clinton was in Rapid City, SD earlier this morning urging the people of South Dakota to come out and vote for her tomorrow. Clinton expressed her pleasure with her victory yesterday saying “we had a great victory in Puerto Rico yesterday, another lopsided win I am now over 300,000 votes ahead in the popular vote and  am slightly behind in delegates but were going to make our case to all of the delegates as to who would be the best president.”

Clinton made her argument, again with a focus to the superdelegates that may be watching,  saying she should be the nominee, “number one because that is the most important question and number two who would be the stronger candidate against John McCain and I believe on both of those question I am the person who should get the support to get the nomination for our party. Tomorrow is very important we started out way behind in South Dakota my opponent  has a tremendous base of support here but we put together an amazing grass roots volunteer based campaign.”

Clinton spoke softly to a supporter – who told Clinton that she might vote for Obama if she did not win. Clinton said “great” and then said, “we need a Democrat … lets take it one step at a time.”

June 2, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (866)

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You got it wrong!!!!!!!!

McCain victory '08

Posted by: Nicholas | Jun 2, 2008 4:14:52 PM

WHY is Obama STILL losing Primaries by huge margins? this late in the game, practically the nominee, and still the people don't want him? McCain was the presumptive nominee ages ago, and has won every GOP primary by landslides since then. That is what you expect. However, Obama has practically been called the "presumptive" Dem nominee for weeks, and STILL manages to lose by gigantic margins near the end of the season....WV, Kentucky, and now PR, where he lost in all of his demographics....the wealthy, the college educated, the young voters. Does this sound like a winner to you? Superdelegates, think carefully.....only in America does the 2nd place winner in popular vote wins the election. It happened once in 2000, and now it's happenning again. We, as a country, are going insane, really.

Posted by: doublestandard | Jun 2, 2008 4:16:43 PM

The Party's Over, it's time to call it a day.
They've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away.

It's time to wind up the masquerade.
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid.

The Party's Over.The candles ficker and dim.
You danced and dreamed through the night,
it seemed to be right just being with him.

Now you must wake up, all dreams must end.
Take off your make up, The Party's Over.
It's all over, my friend.

Posted by: Deep Release | Jun 2, 2008 4:19:04 PM

Let's just wait till the convention.

Obama is going to make it abundantly clear over the course of the summer that he is not Presidential material.

Then the superdelegates can either do the right thing or fall on their swords...

Posted by: Mark | Jun 2, 2008 4:19:39 PM

I applaud you, Hillary! Keep up the good fight! It won't be over until the convention! You have 17+ million supporters that are counting on you to be their nominee for the President of the United States! Hang in there! As has already been posted, the ball is about to drop on Obama and Michelle, and we will see his demise...YOU ARE THE STRONGER CANDIDATE AGAINST MCCAIN! THE SUPERS WILL SEE THIS AFTER OBAMA IS VETTED! Rise, Hillary, Rise!

Posted by: david from texas | Jun 2, 2008 4:20:13 PM

So true..for us...the Democrats..fits our party so well ... deep release!

Posted by: Lora | Jun 2, 2008 4:21:25 PM

"Clinton Spokesperson: She Is Not Conceding"

It all depends on the definition of "concede" I suspect.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Jun 2, 2008 4:23:58 PM

I have no idea why the media STILL insists on antagonizing hillary when its ONE DAY away from the end.

They have yanked her chain about 'quitting' for 5 months.

Even at the end, when they couldnt force her out, and the voters kept voting for her, the media needs to MILK one last shot at her?

Selling headlines is one thing, but cmon man, she aint quitting until Obama has the delegates.

She is defiant, and in denial, but considering everything, its just human nature.

Once the superdelegates DUMP their votes onto Obama wednesday morning, she will suspend her campaign.

If Hillary has any notions about going any further, President Clinton is going to step in and talk her down.

Posted by: dummies | Jun 2, 2008 4:25:55 PM

Many Democrats are behind Hillary staying in the race! This is a democracy and as long as the people still want her in (and the largest majority does), she should not be forced out by the left wing media or the Democratic party bosses.

Posted by: Pat | Jun 2, 2008 4:26:34 PM

Too many mixewd messages here.

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 2, 2008 4:27:01 PM

"[I]am slightly* behind in delegates."

Depending in the meaning of slightly. This is about semantic guys.

Posted by: carl29 | Jun 2, 2008 4:27:04 PM

You do all realize that Hillary Clinton has run unopposed for over a month now.

You do realize that if she wrests the nomination away the republicans have plenty of dirt to aim at her.

You do all realize this, yes? we all know Obama will have dirt thrown at him by the republicans. The super delegates know it too. DUH!

If you think they will turn around and vote Hillary in August you are seriously delusional.

Do you think Hillary would run unopposed in a general? You all seem very unaware of the Clinton baggage, but let me assure you the Republicans are not.

Posted by: PARTY UNITY?? | Jun 2, 2008 4:29:25 PM

Then what was this about?

In an afternoon conference call today with about two dozen top fundraisers, Clinton strategist Harold Ickes spoke in very conciliatory terms about Obama, in contrast to his tougher rhetoric in public and on television, according to sources. He told the participants that Clinton wants to "significantly" help Obama, but he did not go so far as saying that she will announce withdrawal -- that is the prerogative of the candidate.

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 2, 2008 4:30:15 PM

You know what I REALLY loved...Hillary Clinton campaigning in Puerto Rico and promising to get them health care. They don't even pay income tax to the US, MY God...she would say anything to get elected!!!

Posted by: dreamer | Jun 2, 2008 4:30:52 PM

People go back to your familes. Raise your kids, say hi and visit your parents. Like it or not the world will NOT end after the next election. We may be in another war and some people that you don't even know may die, but YOUR life won't change too much from today. The President is a PR stunt. It's the people who fund him or her that do the real dirty work. Your wasting all this time over and over again, arguing over the packaging instead of the package! It would be nice if you could direct some of this vitriol to some people you actually CAN hold accountable... like your representatives!!! Come on, get OFF these sites and get AFTER your representatives in congress who effect your neighborhoods, businesses and homes. Stop pointing the finger at each other an go after those who are REALLY in power. Then you be doing something productive, instead of cloning and attempting to impersonate the vapid rantings of Rush Limbaugh or Al Franken.

Posted by: pity | Jun 2, 2008 4:32:06 PM

You know what I REALLY loved......Barack Obama dancing in the streets of Puerto Rico, assuming that he was going to win there. What was so funny was that he was CRUSHED by Clinton 68% to 32%.

Posted by: david from texas | Jun 2, 2008 4:32:58 PM

Perhaps she's going independent with Lieberman as her veep?

Posted by: kravitz | Jun 2, 2008 4:33:26 PM

The media are trying to pit Obama and Hillary supporters against each other to the bitter end.

The media is suffering from multiple personality disorder today. I have seen articles from the same news sources posting diametrically opposed information. Maybe they should gather the facts before they start posting things.

Posted by: Media Manipulation?? | Jun 2, 2008 4:33:28 PM

I think she wants it now cause 2012 and beyond is not in the cards, I think Bill and Hillary will be divorced by then and that will ground her chances for the future. Bill hinted by saying he proabably won't be involved in a campaign like this again ever..

Posted by: Dee | Jun 2, 2008 4:39:42 PM

It is so obvious that Hillary is a strong fighter and although I am a republican, I really admire her tenacity. She really has what it takes and some experience to back it up. Im a McCain man and will vote for him, but I think if McCain was not around, I would vote for her. She is a gutzy and intellignent lady,.. I am scared stiff about the possibility of Obama being our president and Michelle Obama being first lady.. I dont know any polite way to put it but that Obams's wife is really ghetto and I can not see our government having her as first lady. Carter lost Iran by not supporting the shah. Now we have to deal with a possibly nuclear armed Iran.. Bad times are coming if Obama is elected president. You do not even know how bad it will be but he will set us back many years in the disater of a Presidency with him . Dear God. Please do not let Obama win.

Posted by: G Travalini | Jun 2, 2008 4:43:57 PM

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