Clinton on Michigan Re-Vote: What's Obama "Afraid Of?"
(CBS)
TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- During her first campaign visit to Indiana, Hillary Clinton called on Barack Obama to support a re-vote in Michigan saying, “It is critical that we figure out a way for the people of Michigan and Florida to have their votes and their voices count.”
“I do not understand what Senator Obama is afraid of, but it is going to hurt our party and our chances in November. So I would call on him, once again, to join me in giving the people of Florida and Michigan the chance to be counted as we move forward in this nominating process,” added Clinton.
Clinton’s visit to the Saratoga Restaurant in the business district of Terre Haute, drew hundreds of spectators unable to enter the small restaurant and braved the cold to get a glimpse of the candidate. Her trip here comes more than a month before the state’s May 6 primary, but with the nomination in flux, every vote and every delegate is going to matter.
“It's important that we try to get as many people here to participate in this important primary election,” said Clinton. “And that’s why it is critical that we figure out a way for the people of Michigan and Florida to have their votes and their voices count.”
Clinton, who supports proposals to re-do the primary in Michigan, told reporters during a press conference outside a local eatery, that the only person holding up the re-vote is Obama.
“For the life of me, I don’t understand why Senator Obama seems to be afraid of letting there be a re-vote in Michigan, you’ll have to ask him. He comes up with all these legalistic answers, the people of Michigan and their legislature made it very clear that they would proceed with a re-vote, unfortunately, Senator Obama’s campaign said no. Two out of the three of us said yes, you’ll have to ask him what he’s afraid of?”
Clinton was also asked about her opinions on NAFTA during her husband's presidency, in light of the release thousands of documents from her days as First Lady. Clinton, who has been under fire for potentially flip-flopping on her views on NAFTA, defended her criticism of NAFTA, despite reports that she mirrored her husband’s support for it in the 1990s.
“Well, I don’t think that is what you can infer from the release of the schedules. I have spoken consistently against NAFTA and the way it has been implemented,” said Clinton. “Now as a candidate for the presidency, I have been very clear about what I would do to renegotiate NAFTA. I have been consistent, unlike Senator Obama who has not been.”
