Clinton Campaign Gearing Up For Convention Showdown

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

MILWAUKEE -- At this stage in the campaign, all eyes are fixed on Wisconsin on Tuesday, followed by Texas and Ohio on Mar. 4. But behind the scenes, the Hillary Clinton campaign is gearing up for what could be a nasty fight over the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August.

The current delegate count shows Clinton and Barack Obama in a relative dead heat, with Obama slightly ahead. But what the Clinton campaign hopes will happen is that delegates from Florida and Michigan - two states she won but whose delegates are not counted because these states moved up their primary dates without the blessing of the DNC - will actually get seated.

A source close to the Clinton campaign tells CBS News "Ultimately, it comes down to these last remaining states, superdelegates and what happens in Florida and Michigan," the source added, "I think that is still the untold story."

Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe countered the Clinton campaign's delegate strategy, saying, "The Clinton campaign should focus on winning pledged delegates as a result of elections, not these say or do anything to win tactics that could undermine Democrats' ability to win the general election."

During a conference call with reporters on Saturday, Harold Ickes a longtime advisor to the Clintons said, "Both of those states are critically important…over 1.6 million voted (in Florida)."

Ickes recognized the importance of Ohio and Texas but said "This nominating process is long from over ... We're going to win this nomination." When asked if that meant they were prepared to go all the way to the convention, Ickes said "the answer is yes, we're going to the convention."

The Clinton campaign feels that if they hold on throughout the primaries until the convention, odds are that the Democratic Party will choose to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates.

"We are the party that constantly fights voter disenfranchisement. We are also the party that is hungry for a win and we understand how important these two states are in the general election," the Clinton campaign source said.

"An empty Florida and Michigan section at the convention would hurt our chances in the general election," the source added.

And the Clinton source argues if that happens, and Obama is the nominee, "it would be pretty devastating to his chances in the general election without Florida and Michigan."

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by wutuloadu February 19, 2008 6:46 AM EST: "Bill, now be sure to point Juanita out."; Reply to this comment


by wutuloadu February 19, 2008 6:41 AM EST: "These women are all trash. No one will believe them."; Reply to this comment


by valjean7 February 18, 2008 4:39 AM EST: O & C have trashed each other the ability of either to unite the party and wage a successful campaign. The Supers, non-Supers and even those who have already voted need to step back and consider choosing a compromise candidate at the convention who could have a chance to carry the day. Who? Many qualify, even some who dropped out early from lack of funds but not experience and ability. Wouldn''t it be interesting to persuade Powell to come aboard? Gore? Bloomberg? The current sluggers have done a job on cementing their faults in the voters eye far better than the GOP could have done. They have pretty much made toast of each other.; Reply to this comment


by hillsangels1 February 17, 2008 11:26 PM EST: Dear screw clinton,
I have seen you post that very same comment at several other blogs today. You either need to get a little more original with your lies or quit lying altogether because I don''t believe for a minute that you ever really supported Sen. Clinton. Your anger and hatred is not characteristic of any of her supporters, former or present. We tend to be much more mature and polite. But yes, I do believe that you are indeed typical of what the Obama supporters are like.; Reply to this comment


by jeffke1 February 17, 2008 10:10 PM EST: Obama is all smoke and mirrors and fluff. He has nothing more to offer than any other Democrat, while having practically no experience in national or executive politics. He is, as Hillary notes, all talk. He also will not be able to accomplish anything as president because he is far too liberal. He is not centrist at all. He has a few positions that are essentially Repubican, but none that are middle. He will be shot down as a tax and spender, weak on international affairs, weak on terrorism, weak on the economy, and a typical old-school Democrat. If he gets the nomination, McCain will easily win the general election, because as people get to know Obama, they will find they really don''''t like him very much at all. If Hillary got the nomination, people would find they like her more and more, and she would defeat McCain fairly easily. Nominating Obama is the worst mistake the Democratic party will ever have made.; Reply to this comment


by jeffke1 February 17, 2008 10:05 PM EST: O-bomb-a. What a catastrophe. If people think Obama is a straight shooter, they are sorely deluded. He''s a wimp and a liar. Just wait until people learn who he really is. What a gamble the Democrats are taking with this guy, who they know absolutely nothing about, except that he''s black and anti-war, and went to Harvard Law. Other than that, no one knows anything about him, even himself, since he has no experience. What an absolute catastrophe. The Democrats deserve to lose the election if O-bomb-a is nominated. And they will, big time.; Reply to this comment


by valjean7 February 17, 2008 10:04 PM EST: Screwclinton. Obviously, the Dem party is your choice. If the ballot included a NO column, which it should for honesty sake, and the highest net yes wins you could vote no against the greater of evils, helping you party win, while telling your party''s candidate they won but not with your support. They would get the message. Just change the names. The voter should be able to vote as they feel, not as the politicians insist they do, indicating support only, with a yes, no negatives indicating "NO" support allowed. The primary is the time to vote for or against the person. The general election is the time to vote for the party. If your party is not in office you have no voice. I always wonder how many commenting are really shills commenting from an office of the one they are promoting.; Reply to this comment


by valjean7 February 17, 2008 10:03 PM EST: Screwclinton. Obviously, the Dem party is your choice. If the ballot included a NO column, which it should for honesty sake, and the highest net yes wins you could vote no against the greater of evils, helping you party win, while telling your party''s candidate they won but not with your support. They would get the message. Just change the names. The voter should be able to vote as they feel, not as the politicians insist they do, indicating support only, with a yes, no negatives indicating "NO" support allowed. The primary is the time to vote for or against the person. The general election is the time to vote for the party. If your party is not in office you have no voice. I always wonder how many commenting are really shills commenting from an office of the one they are promoting.; Reply to this comment


by valjean7 February 17, 2008 10:02 PM EST: Screwclinton. Obviously, the Dem party is your choice. If the ballot included a NO column, which it should for honesty sake, and the highest net yes wins you could vote no against the greater of evils, helping you party win, while telling your party''s candidate they won but not with your support. They would get the message. Just change the names. The voter should be able to vote as they feel, not as the politicians insist they do, indicating support only, with a yes, no negatives indicating "NO" support allowed. The primary is the time to vote for or against the person. The general election is the time to vote for the party. If your party is not in office you have no voice. I always wonder how many commenting are really shills commenting from an office of the one they are promoting.; Reply to this comment


by valjean7 February 17, 2008 10:00 PM EST: Screwclinton. Obviously, the Dem party is your choice. If the ballot included a NO column, which it should for honesty sake, and the highest net yes wins you could vote no against the greater of evils, helping you party win, while telling your party''s candidate they won but not with your support. They would get the message. Just change the names. The voter should be able to vote as they feel, not as the politicians insist they do, indicating support only, with a yes, no negatives indicating "NO" support allowed. The primary is the time to vote for or against the person. The general election is the time to vote for the party. If your party is not in office you have no voice.; Reply to this comment