Obama Campaign Looks Ahead After Double Digit Loss in Pennsylvania

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CHICAGO – Barack Obama's campaign continued to downplay their 10 point loss in the Pennsylvania primary this morning, arguing that they anticipated the results last night. "We don't believe that the structure of the race has changed fundamentally," said campaign manager David Plouffe, adding that they achieved their overall goal to cut down Hillary Clinton's lead in the state.

Plouffe emphasized the importance of the May 6th primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, arguing that the combined total in the two states offer more pledged delegates than Pennsylvania. He called North Carolina a battleground state and said Clinton should be able to win there by her own definition of success.

"I know that North Carolina is one of the largest states in the country, so I'm sure the Clinton campaign thinks they are the favorites there," campaign strategist David Axelrod argued last night. "But we feel pretty good about our chances and we're going to compete there."

Both Plouffe and Axelrod believe that Obama's performance in Pennsylvania is not an indication of how he will perform in a general election. "It's not a predictive thing to say that if you don't win in primary you won't win in general," Axelrod said.

Plouffe made a similar argument this morning. "The best chance we will have to win the general election is to stretch the playing field," he said. "Rather than having to win every state you are competing in, extend the map."

With $42.5 million cash on hand, the Obama campaign is confident they will be competitive in primaries to come. "We have the organizational ability, the financial ability and the appeal to put a lot of states in play," Plouffe said.

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by grahampoor April 24, 2008 2:34 PM EDT: Make that 9.2% with 100% reporting:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=27
Media bias for Obama? Hardly.
He tied in New Hampshire, won Nevada, Super Tuesday and Texas.
But you wouldn''t know it from reading the media reports.
This is a race for delegates.; Reply to this comment


by grahampoor April 24, 2008 2:33 PM EDT: Make that 9.2% with 100% reporting:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=27
Media bias for Obama? Hardly.
He tied in New Hampshire, won Nevada, Super Tuesday and Texas.
But you wouldn''t know it from reading the media reports.
This is a race for delegates.; Reply to this comment


by varto-2009 April 23, 2008 9:35 PM EDT: Hello Maria,

Please publish a correction to this article. The loss was NOT by double digits.

One would not make a big deal out of decimal points but since this single-, double-digit issue has become just that ... an issue ... in this campaign, please note that Hillary leads by 9.2% or something around that number.

Otherwise, in rounding figures we, for all intents and purposes, are omitting some of the votes!

It is your responsibility as a journalist to publish a correction.

Thank you in advance.; Reply to this comment


by saltfish55 April 23, 2008 8:57 PM EDT: What an irresponsible headline by CBS News! It was not a double-digit victory. It was a nine-point victory (9.4% precisely) and a far-cry from the 20-point lead she held previously.

The New York Times said it all: she should get out of the race:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/NY_Times_editorial_blames_Clinton_for_0423.html

She is shameful:

http://blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=4470; Reply to this comment


by saltfish55 April 23, 2008 8:56 PM EDT: What an irresponsible headline by CBS News! It was not a double-digit victory. It was a nine-point victory (9.4% precisely) and a far-cry from the 20-point lead she held previously.

The New York Times said it all: she should get out of the race:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/NY_Times_editorial_blames_Clinton_for_0423.html

She is shameful:

http://blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=4470; Reply to this comment


by formlessness-2009 April 23, 2008 5:27 PM EDT: every single comment on here has pointed out that she did not in fact get the 10% she supposedly needed to remain in the race. Close to the minimum isn''t the minimum. she should be dropping out right now, not claiming victory. She essentially saying mission accomplished from the deck of a sinking aircraft carrier.; Reply to this comment


by hhkeller April 23, 2008 4:21 PM EDT: If Obama practiced less in the mirror and more on the Senate floor he would have won already.
I think male politicians are so full of themselves they don''t see past their last shave orthe lump on the front.; Reply to this comment