Clinton Says There Are a "Million Reasons" To Stay In Race

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

HAMMOND, IND. -- Faced with growing pressure from people within her own party to drop out of the Democratic presidential contest, Hillary Clinton said that "there are millions of reasons to continue this race."

"People in Pennsylvania and Indiana and North Carolina and all the contests yet to come," she continued. "This is a very close race and clearly, I believe strongly that everyone should have their voices heard and their votes counted."

Clinton, who picked up endorsements from seven local mayors today in northwest Indiana, downplayed Obama's endorsement by Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., a superdelegate. "Everybody is free to support who they like," Clinton said. "I'm pleased that, apparently, Senator Obama has decided to pay a lot of attention in Pennsylvania and campaign hard out there, I think that's good, we'll have a really spirited election." Clinton currently leads Obama by double digits in that state.

Clinton was also asked her thoughts about Democratic Party leaders, like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, speaking out about the election. They've warned candidates that there should be a resolution to the nomination process soon, before there is any damage made to the party. "We are a party of many different opinions of strong minded individuals," Clinton responded. "People are free to say whatever they want and their views are all over the map. Lots of people have expressed all different attitudes and positions about this. Some people have said we need to make sure delegates vote a certain way, others have said no, that wasn't the rule. I think the weight of evidence is on the side of those who say that. People are free to say what they want to say."

A more lighthearted moment came when Clinton was asked about comments made by Obama that this nomination process reminds him of a good movie that has gone on 30 minutes too long. "I like long movies," Clinton quipped. Off camera, Clinton was asked what her favorite long movie is, to which she replied with a smile, "This one."

23 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 23 Comments


by blkpresident March 30, 2008 2:45 AM EDT: anappleadae,

Couple things here. First, I believe you meant to invoke Gore and Lieberman in your comments about Florida''s shenanigans in Election 2000. Now, on to your point where you are suggesting that Lil'' Hillary is now the "outsider". She and her supporters cannot have it both ways: lil'' missy is either on the outside looking in right now, and simply should accept that she isn''t the candidate of choice, and simply drop out immediately, or stop with the crocodile tears already before she smudges her mascara while crying a Great Lake for sympathy. After PA. votes, missy''s pipe dream about a woman becoming president will be over. It''s way past time to unleash the Obama shuffle against OLD man McCain. Had your nap today OLD man? Where''s your "blankie" OLD man? Some "war hero"...; Reply to this comment


by anappleadae March 29, 2008 8:32 PM EDT: Isn''t it interesting what was proclaimed by these candidates at the beginning of the contest way back when?

Barack told us he''s the agent. He claims he''s best equiped because he is an outsider.

Hillary"s claimed she was in this race to win to the end.

So far Hillary has been true to her words.

Barack claims this contest is like movie that has gone on too long. He thinks the race should be over. That means people in Oregon can vote but their votes won''t mean much, along with all the other uncounted states waitng to vote. He claims he is not the insider, yet he became the insider at the beginning of his term as Senator. By again joining the insiders, he has decided it is okay if your vote doesn''t mater.

Isn''t that what happened in 2000 when the insiders outed Gore and Edwards in Florida?

It seems Hillary is the outsider or at least she is now.

Now that there might be a chance, however slim, that she might show up at the convention with a win or virtual tie, the insiders, all men, are clammoring for her to quit.

Is this really about saving the Democratic Party or is it tired old sexism?
Who really IS the outsider?; Reply to this comment


by susaninok March 29, 2008 2:50 AM EDT: The party complains when voters are uninvolved and apathetic and now they are complaining over a very close race with high involvement and emotion on the part of the candidates and their respective supporters.

It will divide the party more if they try to strong-arm Senator Clinton into pulling out. I am a strong supporter of hers and if they pressure her to quit or attempt to it will make me less apt to vote for Obama (if he is the ultimate nominee) not more.

This contest is not over, everyone needs to let it play out and quit trying to circumvent the electoral process that this country has in place. If you don''t like the process - change the process, but don''t try to force the outcome to serve your purpose.; Reply to this comment


by ewnnrj March 29, 2008 2:44 AM EDT: October, 2006: "We must trust the president and hope the strategy works out for the best." - Hillary Clinton
March, 2008: ''We have given them [the Iraqis] the precious gift of freedom." - Hillary Clinton
As of March 2008: 4000 US personnell dead
1 million Iraqis dead (including approx. 300,000 children 11 and under).; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 March 29, 2008 1:41 AM EDT: Posted by bigmanal08 at 09:31 PM : Mar 28, 2008

Again, well said!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 March 29, 2008 1:39 AM EDT: Posted by vote4thebest at 08:42 PM : Mar 28, 2008

Well said!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 March 29, 2008 1:38 AM EDT: Posted by ksh1022 at 10:13 PM : Mar 28, 2008

Well said!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 March 29, 2008 1:36 AM EDT: Obama has a bigger credibility problem, along with an ideology problem, and an incompetence problem.

Hillary needs to hang in there, this is serious business, not some kind of popularity contest.; Reply to this comment


by leef531 March 29, 2008 1:14 AM EDT: transperacy...
WHERE ARE CLINTONS TAXES????
WHERE ARE CLINTONS EAR MARKS????
WHERE IS THE DONOR LIST FOR THE CLINTON FOUNDATION & LIBRARY????

JUST GO DOWN TO KINKOS AND COPY THEM
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL
IF YOU ARE NOT HIDING ANYTHING JUST DO IT

OBAMA HAS SHOWN HIS EARMARKS, HIS TAXES, HIS PASTOR IS OUT THERE, RENKO IS OUT THERE, HIS CAMPAIGN FUNDING, HOW HE BOUGHT HIS HOUSE AND SMALL PIECE OF LAND BESIDE IT

SHOW US YOUR LAUDRY NOW....
WITHOUT THE BLACKOUTS AND MISSING PAGES.; Reply to this comment


by ksh1022 March 29, 2008 1:13 AM EDT: Who is Obama? He doesn''t want to be "too black" (distance from Jackson and Sharpton), he doesn''t want to be "too white" (belongs to a militant anti-white church), he doesn''t want to be "too liberal" ("I''m like Reagan and Bush on foriegn policy") Doesn''t want to be too rich ("I came from humble beginings")Doesn''t want to take a stand and claim a position that his opponents can use against him (130 "present " votes in the Illinois senate.) Hasn''t lead or done anything (the committee he chairs has not meet once because he''s campaigning). How in the world do we know who the real Barrack Obama is? Is he Barry or Barrack? Does he know?; Reply to this comment