Candidates Reflect On Eve Of Super Tuesday

Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, Obama And Romney Tell Katie Couric Where They Stand

(CBS)  As they made their final push before what is perhaps the most important day in the primary calendar, the leading presidential candidates spoke to CBS News anchor Katie Couric about the race so far.

Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney reflected on their critics and competitors - sometimes one in the same - and on their chances in tomorrow's Super Tuesday contests.

On the Republican side, McCain is looking to solidify his frontrunner status, while Romney and Huckabee hope for stronger-than-expected finishes that will keep them in the race.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are locked in a tight battle that many observers anticipate will endure after tomorrow's results are in.

Below you'll find excerpts of each of Couric's interviews and links to the full discussion.

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Hillary Clinton:

KATIE COURIC: Just three weeks ago, our CBS News poll showed you fifteen points ahead of Barak Obama nationally. Now, our latest poll shows the two of you dead even. What happened?

HILLARY CLINTON: Well, you know, I don't pay a lot of attention to these. They go up, they go down. I think we've learned our lessons with New Hampshire and other contests, that the only polling that counts is what voters actually decide themselves. So, I'm gonna wait to see what voters across the country decide to do tomorrow. That's the best poll as far as I'm concerned. READ MORE

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Mike Huckabee:

KATIE COURIC: What do you need to do tomorrow to keep your candidacy alive?

MIKE HUCKABEE: Well, we've gotta be competitive in the South as well as some of these other states. And I think we will be. But I don't see any candidate coming out of tomorrow with 1,191 delegates, which is what's required to secure the nomination. So as long as, you know, there's still a game on, we plan to be in it.

A lot of people counted the New York Giants out and turned out that a lot of folks were gettin' their Boston celebrations ready just a little bit too early. I think for folks who think this primary's over, they need … to be a little careful and cautious about making too many celebration plans for tomorrow night. READ MORE

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John McCain:

KATIE COURIC: Sen. McCain, you've spent the last few days sort of reiterating your conservative bona fides, if you will, talking about your positions. Also mentioning Ronald Reagan a fair amount. You still have some conservatives to convince that you are the appropriate standard bearer for the country. How do you think you're gonna do that? And do you think you will?

JOHN MCCAIN: Actually, I've been saying the same thing for the last couple years. But the point is that I have a solid conservative record. We are gaining many conservative votes, in a state like Florida, which was a closed republican primary. And we will all over America tomorrow.

I have a clear conservative record. I've never changed my position (LAUGHTER) with even numbered years. And I believe that the majority of conservative voters in my party will support me tomorrow. And we will reunite the party. READ MORE

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Barack Obama:

KATIE COURIC: Sen. Obama, our new CBS News poll shows you and Sen. Clinton running … neck and neck nationally. But when it comes to the Super Tuesday states, currently Sen. Clinton is ahead of you by 18 points. Knowing that none of these polls have been omniscient, how concerned are you about that last figure?

BARACK OBAMA: Well, I have no doubt that Sen. Clinton is the favorite going into Super Tuesday. I mean, keep in mind that it was only a couple weeks ago where we were 30 points down in places like California … and New Jersey. And so she's got a built-in advantage. We would expect her to do well. We think that we're gonna get our share of delegates and our share of state victories.

But, you know, what is important is to see how much progress we've made over the last couple of weeks. People have really stood up and said that they want real meaningful change, especially when it comes to economic issues like the sub-prime lending mess, making sure that people can stay in their homes, making sure that we're doing something about these jobless numbers. READ MORE

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Mitt Romney:

KATIE COURIC: Gov. Romney, you've suggested a vote for Mike Huckabee is, in essence, a vote for John McCain - that Huckabee leeches some conservative voters away from you. And it's really, in essence, a two-person race. Are you suggesting Mike Huckabee should drop out?

MITT ROMNEY: Oh, no. Everybody has every right to stay in the race as long as they'd like to. We've had eight contests so far around the nation. I've won four of those. Sen. McCain has won two. Mike won the first one. He has every right to stay in the race. But I do believe that it's important for us to decide whether we wanna have Sen. McCain as our nominee, or whether we wanna have … a conservative.

And if we wanna have a conservative, I think people are gonna wanna get around my campaign and make sure … that we will get somebody who will, if you will, keep our party in the house that Ronald Reagan built. READ MORE

[bizzzz-2009]

REPUBLICAN VOTERS WERE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF DUE TO RAMPANT VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THOUSANDS OF REGISTERED REPUBLICANS WERE ILLEGALLY SWITCHED TO INDEPENDANTS, THEREFORE COULD NOT VOTE.
WE ARE NOW LIVING IN AN SOCIALIST OPPRESSIVE NATION WHERE OURS RIGHTS ARE CLEARLY BEING VIOLATED.

[smpf38]

It is a two-man race ... barely.

McCain has 12 states, Romney 11 states, and Huckabee has 6 states. But McCain won delegate rich states (some of them winner takes all), so it gives him a very big lead.

Huckabee cannot win outside of the South. There is no way he could be the GOP nominee for President because his support outside the South is quite low. Just look at the percentage numbers in states with lower numbers of evangelical voters. Almost all the states where Huckabee lost, he lost big.

Romney has good percentage numbers in almost every state, but Romney cannot win as long as the conservatives split Huckabee/Romney. So, really it is a one man race. McModerate McCain wins.

[tibu987]

Hillary slightly ahead and looks strong, unfortunately.

It may be four years more of the Clintons; too bad for the country.

More of the same-o, entrenched, inept, corrupt, arrogant pols.

The blondes and little old ladies have spoken; of course they know nothing of the candidates (the Clinton twins), Hillary''s ability to hold the highest office in the world, or the important issues to be undertaken. But hey, she is a woman............

"Who is the more foolish...........the fool or the fool that follows him/her

[candide777]

can''''t get over your disdain
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 08:41 PM : Feb 05, 2008

If "disdain" means "demanding evidence and rationality as a basis for belief," then I''m guilty as charged.

[shalom2u-2009]

I am hoping Hillary wins the most delegates. I seem to think she would make a good president and work well with the democrats in Congress. If Katie Couric ran for president, I would vote for her. She is very charming and the country loves her.

[alanrobisch]

I''''m sorry you almost lost your wife, and I''''m glad you did not lose her. However, the fact that you found solace in a lie during a difficult time does not change the fact that it was a lie.



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Posted by Candide777 at 08:26 PM : Feb 05, 2008
can''t get over your disdain

[candide777]

I almost lost my wife and if it weren''''t for my beleif in a higher power I don''''t know how I would have gotten through it.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:54 PM : Feb 05, 2008

I''m sorry you almost lost your wife, and I''m glad you did not lose her. However, the fact that you found solace in a lie during a difficult time does not change the fact that it was a lie.

[alanrobisch]

Another godless Atheist for Peace and World Harmony














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Posted by tibu987 at 07:12 PM : Feb 05, 2008

I have a ba in history and you are blowing smoke. that atheist along with pol pot and mao tse dung were responsible for more deaths than any other time in history. If you can find numbers you claim to have i''d be fascinated but you are just blowing smoke

[tibu987]

alanrobisch2

Not nearly as many as the catholic crusades and the evil popes.

Threatening Children With Hell Is FUN!

When the rapture comes, we''ll get our country back.

When the rapture Comes, Can I Have Your Car?


God Doesn''t Kill People. People Who Believe in god Kill People.

Another godless Atheist for Peace and World Harmony

[alanrobisch]

maybe you should follow the example of christ. I am sorry to see that you have decided to lose the succor that only Christ can give. I almost lost my wife and if it weren''t for my beleif in a higher power I don''t know how I would have gotten through it.

[alanrobisch]

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things like religion. Read the Bible, it''''s full of absurdities, the very idea that God might punish someone for an eternity for not believing in that garbage is your first clue.


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Posted by Candide777 at 06:41 PM : Feb 05, 2008

I guess you learned nothing sorry to see it. I guess you didn''t learn the lesson of turning the other cheek and not once in my almost 55 yrs of attending church was I taught what you allege is taught by christians or by christ

[candide777]

Do you dismiss them too. Try looking at yourself first before you attack others.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:25 PM : Feb 05, 2008

LMAO -- Christians are number one in (a) scapegoating, (b) hate-mongering, (c) fear-mongering, and (d) general hatred of humanity! I know, I was raised as one and taught by the good Christians to hate anyone who did not buy their BS and to hate myself because I was gay, but I grew up, and got over it.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things like religion. Read the Bible, it''s full of absurdities, the very idea that God might punish someone for an eternity for not believing in that garbage is your first clue.

[alanrobisch]

Another godless Atheist for Peace and World Harmony





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Posted by tibu987 at 06:30 PM : Feb

I glad you are for peace. One of your fellow atheists was Joseph stalin murderer of 20 million

[tibu987]

If god Wanted People to Believe in Him, Then Why Did he Invent Logic?


"Worship Me or I Will Torture You Forever.
Have a Nice Day."- god.


All religion is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.
Edgar Allen Poe

Another godless Atheist for Peace and World Harmony

[alanrobisch]

Have you ever read it without the help of some greedy pastor who is dependant on handouts from his frightened flock in order to survive?


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Were you always such a bigot?

[alanrobisch]

The arrogance of Christianity never ceases to amaze me.


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Posted by Candide777 at 04:26 PM : Feb 05, 2008

The arrogance of Candide 777 never ceases to amaze me or maybe you aren''t human maybe a super being that is all knowing. I guess you have set up your own ethical code all by yourself and have decided that christians just aren''t up to your standards. My guess is that most of your ancestors were christians or believed in some god. Do you dismiss them too. Try looking at yourself first before you attack others.

[sierra20071]

I wonder what other kind of bonehead deals nobama will deal as president. Can the American people afford his boneheaded deals - No! We currently have a bonehead in office, can we afford another. The ears say it all - notice both Nobama & Bush have Mad Magazine or Howdy Doodie ears. Rezko is backing the ole Bonehead Nobama on everything he says - pardon coming soon. I will not be voting for another Bonehead!!

[sierra20071]

As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko%u2019s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens. The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama%u2019s former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama%u2019s state Senate district. Obama%u2019s letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko %u2014 a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked %u2014 who was indicted last fall on federal BEWARE OF NOBAMA, I WARN YOU NOW! SCAREBAMA WILL BE GIVING HIS HOMEBOY REZKO A PARDON IN 09 IF Y''ALL DON''T WAKE UP....

charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Governor Blagojevich. The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he%u2019s known Rezko, %u201CI%u2019ve never done any favors for him.%u201D

[louthesz9]

You know, anyone who voted for that Bible-thumping Huckleberry must be some religious fanatic who absolutely believes that "The Rapture" is coming soon. Religion is not presidential material. We had a president who was a preacher by heart in Jimmy Carter and he was a total failure as president. I''d rather vote for someone that matches the issues that''re most important to me, like illegal immigration, and that would be Mitt Romney. You vote for Huckleberry and you''ll get a pastor, a preacher as president. You know what, anybody who believes in Huckleberry would might as well move to IOWA where everybody wants Jesus to be president.

[candide777]

Revelations is not the only book of prophecy, either.
Posted by singinrick at 12:40 PM : Feb 05, 2008

Rick, I wonder if you own a copy of the Bible or if you just quote the verses your pastor gives you so that you can play Bible bingo, picking the verses that suit your hate-mongering purposes and ignoring the rest, like the Golden Rule, for example. The Bible is so full of self-contradictions that only a complete imbecile would take the position that it is even remotely the literal word of God. Have you ever read it without the help of some greedy pastor who is dependant on handouts from his frightened flock in order to survive?