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Clinton Spokesperson: She Is Not Conceding
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ShareJune 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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What I find amazing is the fact that Obama is now being all nice with Hillary, paying her all kinds of compliments, what a great candidate she is, etc. He knows his a$$ is grass come the GE without her support and the support of her followers. I agree with ObamaKnew, just sit back and watch Obama and his supporters self-destruct!
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 2, 2008 4:44:26 PM
Obama is not trustworthy. He has been lying about his spiritual mentors and church all along. How can you expect this will not be an issue if you have been staying there for more than 20 years? He had to quit the church because he wants to get elected. What a hypocrite he is! Absolutely not the change I can believe in.
I am a Clinton supporter and I approve this message.
Posted by: george | Jun 2, 2008 4:44:35 PM
Media Manipulation?? The only one pitting Obama and Hillary supporters against each other is Hillary. The writing is on the wall and has been there for a while. She has been given many chances to exit on good terms but she is more interested in her own needs than that of the Democratic party. She needs to be shown the door in force and Tomorrow night can not come soon enough. Because we will have a candidate for the GE on Wednesday!
Posted by: batesba74 | Jun 2, 2008 4:45:12 PM
She never should have been in this thing in the first place. No credability, no integrity, no experience, nothing! Give it a rest Bill and Hillary. You had your time.
Posted by: Don | Jun 2, 2008 4:45:17 PM
who in the right minds will vote for her-----if by some chance obama is elimanated, backs out, whatever---it would be a cold day in hell before i or anyone i know will vote for that B*&*^.......period----
Posted by: bonnie | Jun 2, 2008 4:45:30 PM
MR. McAULIFFE: "We have 2.4 million Democrats in Puerto Rico."
How many "democrats" in Puerto Rico came out to vote? Less than 400,000 out of almost 3 million registered voters. Puerto Rico loves Hillary !!!!. No one wanted to miss to opportunity of voting for her. To make things better, this turnout is record(for being the lowest) for Puerto Rico where average turnout in local elections is around 80%, the 2.4 million democrats who Terry was talking about. Women in Puerto Rico? Crazy for Hillary. Actually, this was the first primary where men outnumbered women, 51% men to 49% women.
We love Hillary Huckabee Paul Clinton!!
Posted by: carl29 | Jun 2, 2008 4:45:41 PM
I have been a democrat for over forty years and this is the first time I am ashamed to be in the party. This has been the most racist, sexist campaign I can ever remember. Every time someone questions Obama his campaign claims racism. The way his campaign went after Geraldine Ferraro because she dared state the facts is completely unbelievable to me. If Hillary does not win the nomination I will be voting for McCain. As for the notion of the Obama people only uneducated bitter white people vote for Hillary, I have five degrees and make a six figure income.
Posted by: Linda, CA | Jun 2, 2008 4:45:50 PM
I hope Hillary doesn't concede at all, but DEFINITELY not until after the Montana and South Dakota primaries. That would be STUPID!
I realize the DNC bosses desperately want Clinton to quit, but she should not.
Every day we learn more about the New Messiah (BHO), and by August the delegates may come to their senses. We can hope, anyway.
Hang in there, Hillary! Do NOT quit!!!
Posted by: Rhys | Jun 2, 2008 4:46:00 PM
Why wouldn't campaigning slow up for any candidate when the last primary is tomorrow??? What a bunch of garbage for a title -- designed to confuse people and fuel opposition. On behalf of all the millions and millions of people and delegates who have VOTED FOR and SUPPORT Hillary Clinton, we CONTINUE to support her in this process and beyond. GO DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!
Posted by: Dee | Jun 2, 2008 4:50:49 PM
I vote based on the candiate, NOT based on the party.
Ronald Reagan is Republican, I like him.
I like Hillary, doesn't mean I will vote for ANY Dem. If Obama is nominee, I will DEFINITELY NOT vote for him.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | Jun 2, 2008 4:50:50 PM
We have until August for the GOP machine to attack Obama with their arsenal and you can bet, it will be war and the GOP will win. In Denver, after Obama has been vetted for two months, the SuperD's should come to their senses and see Hillary for the strong candidate that she is. It will be over for Obama and I will be thanking God for his demise!
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 2, 2008 4:51:58 PM
Why is Obama still losing primaries? Because Hillary is still competing and he has turned his attention to fighting the real opponent now. Clinton's supporters are still fired up in the primaries, Obama's more focussed on winning in November.
I think it might well turn out to be that history views this Primary contest as a fight between the 'old' Democratic Party of the Clintons, focussed on the big cities and doing everything to win, against the 'new' Democratic Party of Obama and the 2006 intake with a new emphasis in the west and south west. As ever in politics the new tends to win. As it will in November.
Posted by: markymark | Jun 2, 2008 4:52:20 PM
Don't quit, don't give up.
I strongly believe the super delegates will change mind, switch to Hillary.
Every time, when people do things in hurry, they make
mistakes.
If the super delegates are in hurry to make
endorsement, they will make mistake, and this mistake
is huge, it will drag the country to the wrong
direction, and for many years, it will be more
difficult for future president to make correction. So,
do right thing at the beginning.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | Jun 2, 2008 4:52:48 PM
Hillary wont run independent.
3 things will happen.
Obama picks her as VP and wins the election in a landslide.
Obama gets MUSCLED by Kerry, Kennedy , Pelosi and others in the party who want POWER , and try to force him into NOT picking Clinton. Then he is a world of hurt if Hillary and Bill dont endorse him and simply go home.
-Obama tries to 'smooth' over Clinton supporters in the media , slowly shaping them into calming down, then DUMP Hillary.
Which is NOT going to work .
The piece on President clinton in vanity fair is an attempt to dredge out old crap to 'test' what kind of outrage there is having Clinton on the ticket.
Posted by: dummies | Jun 2, 2008 4:52:53 PM
WHY ISN'T OBAMA CONCEDEING?
obama lost the popular vote, attempted to stop the American people from exercising their constitutional right to VOTE, harassed and pushed superdelegates to support him BEFORE the vote ended!
Will obama resign on Tuesday as he did the other day from his church?
obama - just go and NEVER return!
we don't want the likes of you!
Posted by: Average Joe | Jun 2, 2008 4:53:34 PM
Over 17M voted against her. Don't those votes also count.
Posted by: shall | Jun 2, 2008 4:54:31 PM
Sotero
This is a war between Hillary Supporters and MSM. If Hillary is not the nominee we will vote McCain and show the door to MSM
Posted by: tony | Jun 2, 2008 4:55:04 PM
Hillbilly Hope, I am NOT uninformed. The clamor for Hillary to quit has been building for weeks, not just today. The DNC wanted her to quit several primaries ago.
I am unsure about South Dakota, but I think Hillary will win Montana (a "purple" state).
If Hillary wins either or both of tomorrow's primaries, she should stay and fight for herself and for America.
Do you think I WANT to vote for John McCain?! Since you think I'm stupid, I'd better tell you in plain English that McCain is my SECOND choice, not first.
And, BTW, just because someone has a different opinion than mine doesn't make that person stupid.
Posted by: Rhys | Jun 2, 2008 4:55:14 PM
Sorry Clinton supporters. It really is over. The sooner you get behind Obama the better for our country. We can't afford 4 years of McCain.
Posted by: Dem in Chicago | Jun 2, 2008 4:55:50 PM
ALl the pathetic GOP, warmongers have on Obama is the words of a black Reverend. How sad and desperate are they. They know if they focus on the issues, McCain would be buried. McCain who graduated bottom 5 of his class in college and has no graduate degree. Yeah another stupid president is just what we need.
Posted by: Dean | Jun 2, 2008 4:56:17 PM
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