By John McCormick, Rick Pearson and Jim Tankersley
Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania, but both Democratic presidential candidates claimed victories of a sort tonight, and both cast their eyes forward in the seemingly endless presidential campaign.
Clinton told supporters in Philadelphia that "the tide is turning" in the race, after she held off a better-financed, still-nationally-front-running opponent, Barack Obama.
"Because of you, the tide is turning," she said. "We were up against a formidable opponent who outspent us 3-to-1. He broke every spending record in this state, trying to knock us out of the race. Well, the people of Pennsylvania had other ideas."
Obama learned of his defeat upon landing in Evansville, Ind., where he was looking ahead to the May 6 Indiana primary. He was preparing to rip Clinton and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain before an estimated crowd of 10,000, according to prepared remarks his campaign released.
"We already know that John McCain offers more of the same," Obama was set to say. "The question is not whether the other party will bring about change in Washington - the question is, will we?"
Obama was slated to lament the years and decades political leaders have talked about solving health care, ending foreign oil dependence and blocking American jobs from outsourcing. He took aim at a Clinton ad, aired in the waning days of the Pennsylvania race, that include an image of Osama bin Laden.
"We can be a party that thinks the only way to look tough on national security is to talk, and act, and vote like George Bush and John McCain," he said, per the remarks. "We can use fear as a tactic, and the threat of terrorism to scare up votes. Or we can decide that real strength is asking the tough questions before we send our troops to fight...
"We can be a party that says and does whatever it takes to win the next election. We can calculate and poll-test our positions and tell everyone exactly what they want to hear. Or we can be the party that doesn't just focus on how to win but why we should. We can tell everyone what they need to hear about the challenges we face. We can seek to regain not just an office, but the trust of the American people that their leaders in Washington will tell them the truth. That's the choice in this election."
Clinton invoked foreign and domestic troubles in rallying her supporters.
"With two wars abroad and an economic crisis here at home, you know the stakes are high and the challenges are great," she said, joined on stage by her husband, former Preisdent Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea. "But you also know the possibilities. Those possibilities are endless if we roll up our sleeves and get to work with a president who is ready to lead on day one.
"Some people counted me out and said to drop out. Well the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit either."
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Comments
The fact is the GOP would rather face Clinton, why do you think they are rooting for her?
As for the "center of America" is concerned, I am afraid that is a specious argument. Perhaps Mr. Bennett does not realize the truth about this situation. The people are voting by sending their money to one candidate. That candidate runs 40% of their campaign from donations under 200 dollars. It takes a lot of average Americans sending donations to raise twice and three times the money the other candidates can raise. Those other candidates are running their campaigns from donations in the 75% range coming from donors who give 2300 dollars to 4600 dollars. Those other candidates have periodically run out of money and had to borrow money.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=S
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=X
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=P
If how a campaign is run is any indication how that candidate will run the country there is only one choice.
Flag pins, pastors and "bitter" remarks are ridiculous arguments and most Americans know that. That is why one candidate has received most of the popular votes, won most of the delegates and won most of the States.
Senator Clinton seems intent on saying essentially "if I can't win the nomination then neither will Senator Obama".
McCain has some serious problems of his own and I doubt seriously he can win in November once some of that comes out (unlike the baseless garbage being hurled at Senator Obama).
One of two things will happen.
1) Clinton will not give up and it will go all the way to the convention and then possibly end in a brokered convention (Al Gore?). This could be a serious problem for the Democratic party if this happens and may put many Democrats off.
2) Super delegates will begin to go in droves to Senator Obama after the next two primary States when Clinton either ties (like tonight) or loses badly (like one of the next two primary States is sure to happen).
Either way Senator Clinton should have exited gracefully long ago.
Posted by: Deward Bowles | April 22, 2008 11:31 PM
It's deja-vu all over again (New Hampshire).
The pundits wanted her out so bad that they could taste it. As the lead built to ten percent, they became incredulous.
Still Huffington, Buzzflash and The Swamp try to spin it like it was a victory for both sides.
What is it about 200,000 votes that the media doesn't understand?
Posted by: ElliotNC | April 22, 2008 11:50 PM
For Change Vote Obama!
John Mellencamp Small Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eDkAG3R0h8
Bruce Springsteen Radio Nowhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmLt6kcZ72Q
Supporting Barack Obama 08!
Posted by: Yeil Raven | April 22, 2008 11:59 PM
Not only is Barack "Hussein" Obama the most liberal senator in America, but also the most idiotic.
"We can use fear as a tactic, and the threat of terrorism to scare up votes?"
....?????...B.Hussein .Osama
Ummm...Barack, get a hair and read what's going on around you the world...are you a Jimmy Carter wannabe?
Your toast Barack "Hussein" Obama....no b&lls!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | April 23, 2008 12:10 AM
It's the cliche and the machine against someone who has something to say.
Too bad it has to be close.
Posted by: Roger Langen | April 23, 2008 12:21 AM
Hillary is McCains easiest path to the White House. Hillary cannot attract voters of a divided party or the money that Obama can. McCain is terrified to go up against Obama (McCain pressing public financing on Obama, McCain pandering to African American voters, McCain attacking Obama on everything while not attacking Hillary). A vote for Hillary is a vote for McCain. Obama is the stronger candidate against McCain. On another front, look at all the margins and see who is losing. At which point does Hillary accept that a loss is a loss?
Posted by: Matt | April 23, 2008 2:11 AM
Hillary won by 216,000 votes but only picked up 9 more delegates than Obama.
This is why if you're going to get involved in politics, you need to stay involved in politics.
As an Obama supporter, I'm ready to concede that Hillary has a stronger grasp on the Democratic party and she likely will have a better shot at winning in November.
Obama isn't the Black candidate we've been waiting for. He and his wife are still to angry. It shows up every time Michelle opens her mouth or Obama speaks in private or goes to some function in which he doesn't think anyone is listening.
Well, it's a new era. EVERYONE IS LISTENING ALL OF THE TIME.
I can't stand Hillary, but the base of the old Democratic Party wants her. Obama's doing it with smoke and mirrors and Black districts that always vote - unlike other Democratic ethnic groups that only show up for the big races.
So if Hillary wins the nomination, she has a good argument. But she won't win in the general because blacks won't vote for her and most of Obama's sincere new-comers (and not just Republicans who crossed party lines to make a mess of the Democratic nomination process) likely will stay home as well.
And then the Republicans are going to come at the Clinton with sharp knives.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | April 23, 2008 3:00 AM
This is more like it. This is how any candidate works for the cause.
But BOTH of them need to BACK OFF the nasty talk about Iran.
They both sound like BUSH.
Is it the AIPAC influence?
Must be AIPAC.
In the debate--both of them blew the question about an attack on Israel-they both said response would be there---one said swift the other said rational--SAME THING.
But they didn't say it would DEPEND on what's best for U.S. interests.
That's what matters.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 23, 2008 6:09 AM
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9761.html
Time for an honest discussion in the MSM of racism in America, and self-analysis of the fringe media (Hannity and Limbaugh) who blow stories like Rev. Wright and Ayers completely out of context in a thinly veiled but so far successful attempt to give bitter clingy voters an excuse to exercise racism in their votes.
Proud elitist for Obama...I want a president who IS better than me and the other 95% of Americans.
Posted by: K_Hussein | April 23, 2008 6:24 AM
Way to Go Hillary!
Congratulations Senator Clinton on your big victory in Pennsylvania win!
Posted by: DRPolitics1 | April 23, 2008 7:24 AM
Bud-
So we can only ever have a black candidate if they completely ignore the legacy of racism and discrimination in this country?
Bud, I think if you were a person of color in this country you'd be a bit angry at times too. How dare you say that they are "Still too angry"? Why aren't you just as angry as they are? Discrimination and racism, which still run ra,mpant in this nation deminish us all.
Posted by: JT | April 23, 2008 10:00 AM