Obama: Long Primary OK As Long As Candidates Watch What They Say
(CBS)
JOHNSTOWN, PA. -- Barack Obama predicted that the lengthy primary will not divide the Democratic party only if he and Hillary Clinton remain measured in their criticisms of each other.
"I do want to make sure, to the extent that I can control it, that we show some restraint and we are measured in how we present the contrast between myself and Senator Clinton," Obama said at a press conference here.
"We've been very careful throughout this campaign not to say things that could be used as ammunition for the Republicans if Senator Clinton were the nominee."
Obama admitted that his surrogates and those of Clinton are not "blameless" in their attacks on each other. He said that calls from his supporters, such Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for Clinton's withdrawal from the race stem from "irritation." However he argued that the high voter turnout in primaries and caucuses will bode well for the Democratic Party.
Obama said he expects to do well in the Pennsylvania primary; however, he described himself as the underdog in the race and stopped shy of predicting a win.
"I'm not as well known as Senator Clinton is in this state which is reflected in the polls, and she's got a popular Democratic governor that gave her a good head start, and provided her with some institutional support," Obama said, referring to Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa.
"We want to do as well in Pennsylvania. We may not be able to win but I think we've got a good chance and we're going to work as hard as we can."
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who has been campaigning with Obama, said he will have difficulties competing against Clinton in the state.
"Look at the other side, they've been campaigning in the state for fifteen years," Casey said.
"So it's a tall order but we're making progress."
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Where does this child of privilege who went to two Ivy League schools, then spent 20 years in a church where racist rants were routine, come off preaching to anyone? What are Barack''''''''s moral credentials to instruct white folks on what they must do, when he failed to do what any decent father should have done: Take his wife and daughters out of a church where hate had a home in the pulpit?
Clinton: Simply a disgrace and has no shame.
Not only that her coronation did not take place, she now finds herself fighting for her own survival in the race. Suddenly, she becomes the champion of the Florida and Michigan voters! And
she has the gumption now even to accuse Barak Obama of disenfranchising the voters of the two ''defiant'' states. Obama''s only crime was to abide by the party decision.
Clinton supporters are not facing up to the truth. Instead they have joined her in engaging in gutter politics by circumventing the real issue and slamming Obama with all kinds of name-calling. Some of their comments are beneath contempt.
Where will all this end? Perhaps in the victoty of John McCain and in the continuation of another four years of Bush policies. Perhaps, that''s what the Clintons want. Already we are seeing signs of that. Bill Clinton is on record as saying that, besides his wife the only other true American who qualifies to be the next President is John McCain.
Hang in there, Hillary, it''s not over till it''s over!
Obama is backing muslim extremist!