Clinton, Obama Use Different Tactics To Court Superdelegates

When ABC News reported that Hillary Clinton had tried to convince Bill Richardson that Barack Obama "cannot win" the general election, it was the latest example of the concerted effort the Clinton camp has made to convince superdelegates to stick with her.

Clinton's aggressive attempt at persuasion didn't work in Richardson's case, but that hasn't stopped her campaign from honing its pitch to the party leaders who could decide the nomination.

Clinton adviser Harold Ickes recently admitted to bringing up the Reverend Wright controversy in his conversations with superdelegates, in order to try to convince them that Obama's baggage may be too heavy to beat John McCain.

Of course, the Obama campaign isn't just sitting on its heals while the Clinton operation tries to wrangle as many superdelegates as possible, and party leaders are being solicited actively by his campaign, as well. Al Gore even joked that he was getting so many call from both sides that in order to do his "60 Minutes" interview with Leslie Stahl, he had to disconnect his phones.

But Obama's frontrunner status affords him the luxury of taking a more nuanced approach to wooing superdelegates. The Illinois senator does not have to take the kinds of risks that Clinton does in trying to convince party leaders that his opponent is fatally flawed.

Obama has recently been described as more "magnanimous" in his approach to Clinton, an approach that the Obama campaign seems to hope will signal to superdelegates that when he becomes the nominee, the wounds of the party will heal rather quickly. The Clinton campaign, on the other hand, may not be able to attempt such subtleties.

[ksh1022]

Obama is buying his superdelegates with Oprahs money. Simple.

[mjvw2]

Clinton''''s campaign manager, Maggie Williams, earned at least $175,000 serving from 2000-07 on the board of Long Island-based Delta Financial, which filed for bankruptcy last year after a history of high-cost loans to low-income borrowers, according to public records.

Obama''''s national finance chairwoman, Penny Pritzker, was chairwoman of the board of a Chicago-area bank in 1993 when it adopted a subprime business strategy that regulators say ultimately led it to collapse in 2001.

From that right wing paper USA Today. Oh those evil neo cons.

[jedi08]

I love how this Billary supportes are agreeing with Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh now. You guys are as sad as your canidate. Also you argument that Hillary can win in the General election and Obama can''t doesn''t make any sense. She couldn''t even beat Obama in the primary so of course he will be stronger in the General.

Obama is going to pay off Clintons debt and in return she will get out of the race an go crawl under a rock

[anappleadae]

If BLKPRESIDENT is an example of Obama Supporters Obama is in trouble.

[anappleadae]

There is little point in this issue other that taking up space. The real issue is the General Election and the best person to provide for National Security.

[ike-3]

Clinton is desperate. So Obama should watch out for the adverts clinton has stocked up for Aprill 20th before the pa. primaries on 22nd. This woman is really desperate.

[leef531]

The Democratic Party will not let the new registured voters just walk away. Once a (new or old)dem voter donates money - they are going to stick with the party - they will show up at the General...unless you throw their candidate under the bus. The DNC knows this...HOPEFULLY.

[donnell828]

Why do I vote?
Issues - Yes
Competence - Yes
Forward Thinking - Yes
Reverend - NO

I am voting on the issues, not the religious advisors.

[lastonmuseng]

All these Hillary supporters sound so desperate to win. They say, ''a desperate person acts dangerously desperate.'' Hillary is just power hungry. Lets bring her to size!

[stirg]

All you name calling mudslinging posters must have grown up under the influence of Rove and Limbo...the tactics, if you want to describe them as such, belong in the republican party-Democrats are the party of WE, and the Republicans are the party of I-so if you are a republican posting as an obama supporter, go home to your party-if you are a democrat-lets act like the civilized party,-disagree and argue on the merits FOR our candidate and stop the trashtalking-dudes and dudettes