In Final Days, Clinton Maintains Grueling Campaign Schedule

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

INDIANAPOLIS – In the long sprint to the finish, Hillary Clinton is not leaving anything to chance, maintaining an exhausting schedule and promising to keep it up until the May 6th primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.

Today, she will hit three states, including campaign stops in Indiana, a flight into Kentucky with a drive to southern Indiana, and an evening trip to North Carolina. The schedule calls for a 17 hour day with a variety of campaign rallies, a local stop, and press interviews interlaced throughout the day. Over the past two days, Clinton campaigned for 18 hours Tuesday, followed by a 17 hour day yesterday.

Although Clinton has always kept a vigorous schedule throughout this campaign, never has she put so much effort into the days leading up to a contest. Barack Obama has also put in long days, with a slightly different emphasis on the types of events he does. Over the past few days, Obama has started his day at 8am and ended around midnight. Although that, too, is a long day, a brief look at his schedule over the past two days show that he favors local retail stops to large campaign rallies, splitting the day up with two rallies and two local stops each day. Local stops usually consist of visits to local eateries or popular gathering places, like bowling alleys.

Yesterday alone, Clinton did a retail stop at a gas station, a tour of a sheet metal factory, followed by brief remarks and a press conference. Later that day, she held a town hall event with union leaders, a rally in downtown Lafayette in the heart of Purdue University, followed by an hour and a half drive north to Kokomo for a final rally. Today, she will hold 3 rallies and one local stop before taking a late night flight to Greenville, North Carolina.

When asked why Clinton was maintaining such a full schedule and such long days, Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee joked, "to punish you." He then added, "It's crunch time. She's trying to reach as many voters as possible."

It is clear that for a variety of reasons, Clinton sees Indiana and North Carolina as though the end may be in sight. A big loss in one or both states could bolster support for Obama and add pressure from both the Democratic Party leaders and superdelegates for Clinton to drop out. But winning both – or even just one – will solidify for Clinton and her campaign that this contest is far from over, and that perhaps her strategy of going all day and all night may be working, much to the chagrin of the traveling press corps.

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by anappleadae May 2, 2008 2:04 AM EDT: I see Ata it testifying for the U.S.Prosecution against Rezko today. Seems there was a awful lot of money laundered about the time Obama continued to provide services for Rezko. I know Obama reflects on his association Rezko as dumb. Question is; How involved was Obama? I know many of you Obama followers are in absolute denial about your hero, but... Obama does have a penchant for letting issues slid until the facts are undeniable. Like his association with Ali Abunimah and Kahlili. These are facts that Obama will have to come to terms with, if not now, for sure in the General Election. The Swift Boaters spin their version forcing Obama to set the record staight. And Kerry knows how ugly it can get. The inuendo will hang like oderous methane cloud forcing all of us to gasp for the truth.; Reply to this comment


by pepperwood2 May 2, 2008 1:42 AM EDT: A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue%u201D a long, self-destructive Democratic campaign, former national party Chairman Joe Andrew wrote in a letter designed to have an impact on the turbulent race nationally as well as in his home state of Indiana.
He urged Democrats to %u201Creject the old negative politics%u201D and unify behind Obama.

This attempt to demean Reverend Wright is a perfect example. Being white the Old Guard Clinton Campaign are hoping that old people like us will become intimidated. Become bitter, & negative concerning Obama & rally around Hillary our Great White Hope.

I was a Clinton supporter but have been much disappointed with this Negative polictics of Hillary''s. She claims to have 35 years experience in Washington and when I look at the polictics in Washington during this time. It was a very negative, hostile, & warring time. The all about me agenda.

I realize that she has made a small fortune 110,000,000 dollars practicing her polictics of personal destruction. Little has been done for the People during this time of Bitter rhetoric.

The special conciderations the Judge gave her in the Peter Paul case. Its becoming evident that the Clinton campaign is biased and getting special considerations from the Judical & Media. It''''s time to stop this policy of personal destruction and get back to doing the work of the American people. 35 years of negative polictics is not the answer. Chairman Joe Andrew has it right.; Reply to this comment


by sistahnga May 2, 2008 12:39 AM EDT: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=peter+paul vs clinton&search_type=

Nuff said!; Reply to this comment


by sistahnga May 2, 2008 12:34 AM EDT: November, I can''t wait to hear her supporters say, "Uhhh, whatttt?"

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=peter+paul vs clinton&search_type=; Reply to this comment


by Lai K W May 1, 2008 11:56 PM EDT: It is all the more clear that Hillary is more determined and in some ways better than Bill Clinton.

She doesn''t have Bill''s flair and charisma. But she is tenacious and knowledgeable. She is tough.

The OBAMA fanatics cried out loud when 20 years of Rev Wright was gulit by assciation. Here there is a lifetime with Bill Clinton they can use against Hillary.

You don''t have a choice in family, Stupid. You do have a choice in your church! 20 years of Hope & audacity and spiritual counseling. Sigh!

Bill is not perfect but he gives this country a surplus, prosperity , and keeps the country from wars.

What did OBAMA and company offer? words (with no actions) are cheap!!!; Reply to this comment


by blkpresident May 1, 2008 11:35 PM EDT: Still criss crossing the nation pipe dreaming about a woman becom ing president, smirk. Somebody please tell lil'' missy that terrorist don''t play SOFTball or powder-puff football.; Reply to this comment


by bajaan May 1, 2008 11:24 PM EDT: Forget that Hillary voted for the Iraq war. Forget that she voted to authorize Bush to declare war on Iran. Forget that she is now threatening to %u201Cobliterate Iran.%u201C Forget about Hillary%u2019s elaborate lie about dodging bullets in Bosnia. Forget that Hillary supported NAFTA until she began to run for president, Forget that her campaign manager supported a free trade agreement with Colombia that she (wink, wink) didn%u2019t know about. Forget that Hillary signed a pledge not to recognize the Michigan results and is now trying to get the votes counted even though Obama was not even on the list. Forget that Harold Ickes, Hillary%u2019s campaign manager, was on the committee that decided to strip Michigan delegates for voting to early. IN FACT, FORGET BOTH CLINTONS.; Reply to this comment


by bajaan May 1, 2008 11:20 PM EDT: When Bill Clinton came to the White House in1993, Democrats were a congressional majority, with 258 seats in the House. When he left in 2001, they were a minority with 46 fewer seats. There were 30 Democratic governors, when he arrived, 21 eight years later.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found nearly 60 percent of voters think Clinton is dishonest and will lie when she thinks she needs to.; Reply to this comment


by chat2u May 1, 2008 11:15 PM EDT: Morning,

Since the early campaign promise that Senator Obama had shown, his star is now definately fading. Once people were presented with the different aspects of his personality, beliefs and constant mantras of "Hope" and "Change", the old "familiarity, breeds contempt," mood has set in.

...Even if Obama defeats Clinton, he will never set foot in the Whitehouse...unless invited. Its over.; Reply to this comment


by bajaan May 1, 2008 10:53 PM EDT: REASONS TO KEEP THE CLINTON OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

When Bill Clinton came to the White House in 1993, Democrats were a congressional majority, with 258 seats in the House. When he left in 2001, they were a minority with 46 fewer seats. There were 30 Democratic governors, when he arrived, 21 eight years later.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found nearly 60 percent of voters think Clinton is dishonest and will lie when she thinks she needs to.; Reply to this comment