Clinton on Obama: “Why Can’t He Close the Deal?”

From CBS News’ Fernando Suarez:


CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. -- Hillary Clinton said if Barack Obama does not win Pennsylvania despite his huge campaign war chest, people ought to ask the question, “Why can’t he close the deal?”

While visiting a polling location in a Philadelphia suburb, Clinton seemed confident that she will pull off a win here, but made sure to lower expectations of how big that win will be. “A win is a win, especially under the circumstances when my opponent has outspent me probably 3 to 1, maybe 4 to 1, an enormous effort on his part on TV and radio on the phone, every way that is imaginable try to win Pennsylvania,” she said. “So I think a win under these circumstances is a terrific accomplishment.”

Clinton went to say that if she wins Pennsylvania, she will have accumulated wins in key states that Democrats need in order to retake the White House in November. She seemed to be speaking directly to superdelegates when she tried to raise doubts over Obama’s ability to win. “With his extraordinary financial advantage, why can’t he win a state like this one if that’s the way it turns out?” Clinton asked. “Obviously we have a long way to go before people are finished voting and the votes are counted. This will be one more in a long line of big states, states that Democrats have to win.”

Clinton was also asked questions about comments her husband made on a local radio show where he accused the Obama campaign of twisting his words about Jesse Jackson in South Carolina to paint him as a racist. “We’re going to stay focused on what the voters are focused on,” she said, dodging the question.