Clinton: "I'm Just Getting Warmed Up"

Senator Suggests She'll Press On After Tuesday's Crucial Contests As Dems Express Concern Over Long Primary Process

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton reached for the finish line of contentious Ohio and Texas primary campaigns on Monday as senior Democrats expressed concern the party could suffer this fall if their struggle goes much longer.

"I'm just getting warmed up," said Clinton, looking beyond this week's contests and shrugging off 11 straight primary and caucus defeats as well as a three-digit deficit in delegates.

Going in to Tuesday's contests, the Clinton camp is making the argument that it has taken Obama's best shots - and has started to turn the tide, reports CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Jim Axelrod.

The former first lady campaigned from Ohio, where she accused Obama of double talk on NAFTA, to Texas, where her new television commercial questioned his readiness to serve as commander in chief.

Obama spent his day in Texas, a state rich in military bases, where he pledged to begin the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq next year and envisioned a "seamless transition from active duty to civilian life" for men and women who leave the armed forces.

Appearing in a flag-draped setting before an audience of veterans in San Antonio, Obama looked to project an image that his aides hope is increasingly plausible - that of commander in chief, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

But he was shadowed by allegations that he had overstated his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement to win votes back in Ohio. He told reporters his campaign never gave Canada back-channel assurances that his criticism of NAFTA, which is wildly unpopular in Ohio, amounted to political posturing.

"Nobody reached out to the Canadians to try to assure them of anything," he said at a news conference in Carrollton, Texas.

In addition to Texas and Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont hold primaries on Tuesday. Obama has won 11 straight contests, and has been gaining ground among superdelegates in recent weeks as his victories have piled up, and Clinton's support has begun to erode.

"Even if Clinton does well enough to argue for hanging on through Pennsylvania on April 22nd, she may face more pressure to reconsider doing so," CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs said. "Seven more weeks of increased back-and-forth could sap the momentum of even this energized Democratic race." (Read more.)

Senior Democrats have begun to speak out in private as well as public about the impact a continuation of the bruising campaign might have in a fall confrontation with Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting.

On a conference call with reporters earlier this week, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe argued that Clinton must win by big margins Tuesday in order to close in on Obama’s pledged delegate lead, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. (Read more.)

Several Democrats said the party's chairman, Howard Dean, told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week he was concerned about the possible impact of a nominating campaign that stretched through the end of the primaries in early June. Dean also said that if the party is divided going into next summer's convention, it would remain that way afterward, even if the differences were papered over in the four days in Denver, these officials said.

Dean did not suggest any attempt to intervene. The Democrats who described his comments did so on condition of anonymity, saying they had been made in a private setting.

Dean, Reid and Pelosi, all superdelegates, are neutral in the race between Clinton and Obama.

On Sunday, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and a superdelegate, predicted that the results of this week's primaries will decide the party's race.

“D-Day is Tuesday," he told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer. "Whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday should be the nominee."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, told Providence radio station WPRO during the day, "We can't go all the way through to the convention fighting with each other while McCain and the Republicans lob in whatever free shots they want." Whitehouse, a superdelegate who supports Clinton, added, "Let's see how Tuesday plays out, and then let's start thinking about how we're going to get behind a candidate."

The controversy over NAFTA flared after the AP reported the existence of a memo, written by a Canadian official, asserting that Obama's senior economic adviser had told him the Illinois senator's public criticism of the free trade agreement was "political positioning."

The adviser, Austan Goolsbee, said his comments were misinterpreted by the memo's author, Joseph DeMora, who works for the Canadian consulate in Chicago and attended the meeting.

Clinton campaigned from the pre-dawn hours until after dark as she made her way from Ohio to Texas in hopes of a political revival.

Her campaign released a new television commercial designed to undercut Clinton's claim that he is ready to become commander in chief.

"Barack Obama says he has the judgment to be president. But as chairman of an oversight committee charged with the force fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan, he was too busy running for president to hold even one hearing," it says.

The announcer adds: "Hillary Clinton will never be too busy to defend our national security, bringing our troops home from Iraq and pursuing al Qaeda in Afghanistan."

Obama aired a two-minute commercial in Ohio and Texas - the same one he used before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses that kicked off the election season - in hopes of nailing down at least one big-state victory.

"This country is ready for a leader who will bring us together. That's the only way we're going to win this election," he says in the ad. "And that's actually how we'll fix health care and make college affordable, become energy independent and end this war."

Ohio has a wide-open Democratic primary in which Republicans and independents can also vote, reports CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield. The turnout among independents, who are expected to favor Obama, could be pivotal.

Texas, meanwhile, has a diverse electorate in which more than one-third of the population is Hispanic and 12 percent are black, reports Schieffer.

"It's been a long time since it was just cowboys and 10-gallon hats," he said.

[relee42]

The Republicans are actively doing everything they can legally do and maybe some not so legal things to help Hillary win the nomination. They have a Republican,Crist arguing to have her Florida primary votes count. They have right wing talk show hosts urging their listeners to cross party lines to vote for her in open primary states. McCain can''t wait to debate her about red phones. This woman isn''t qualified to run a campaign, so why should she be trusted to run the country.

[rational_1]

In addition Sen. Clinton recently said "I have experience, Sen. McCain has experience and all Sen. Obama has is a speech!".
Posted by tbweb at 10:03 AM : Mar 04, 2008

And McCain probably thought, "You have experience? Sure, as First Lady - whoop de doo. Lady if you bring up the word experience in the general election, you''re going to get buried." Or some thought to that effect. I bet the 3AM phone call ad wouldn''t play too well against McCain either.

[taotxzen]

Oh Boy:

Senator Hillary Clinton Implies that She or McCain Would be a Better President Than Obama. Now, Senator Clinton is Campaigning for McCain. Joe Lieberman, Move Over. Beyond Being a Betrayal of the Democratic Party, She "Balked" at Describing Any -- We Repeat, Any -- Foreign Policy Experience that Would Make Her More Reliable to Pick up a WH Phone at 3 AM.

Shameless.

Buzzflash.com (Great site if you want the non filtered, sans Cooperate Media news)

[user168-2009]

A lot of voters are abandoning Hillary.
Here''''s an editorial by a dog supporting Obama.

http://www.animalinternet.com/animatorial/view/4591/

Posted by CaseyAnimal


Thanks, doggy well said.

Here''s from my dog:

Hope is what I live to, starting when I open my doggy eyes each morning. When this Hiltery (something like that) woman says that I have "false hope", it is such a blow, hard, really really hard blow. I felt my head spinning and my heart chocking. I was sick to my stomach too - what am I to do - all this hope thing is false? Why does she say my hope is false? I wonder if she has ever hoped like I did, and so is hers false too? I wonder if there is a non-false hope that I can hope to hope to hope? But you know, the other day I heard someone named Obama say something very true, "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there''s the United States of America." Then I realize my hope was true, is true, and will be always true. Why O'' why does that Hitler (something like that) say I have false hope and almost killed me?

[popstom1]

Chicago Sun-Times Head lines Obama talks alot answers
a little the chicago journlists were in San Antinio Texes and Obama could not hide they know him and
they will get him soon or later.

[craigh9]

Unfortunately, I have Hillary as my Senator and she has done NOTHING. I think that the fact that she is a Senator from New York says everything you need to know about Hillarys'' convictions. She was not born here, she was not raised here, she was not educated here, and although she owns a house (to establish residency - lol) she lives in Washington. The ONLY reason she is a NY Senator is because the party bosses owed Bill Clinton. Those party bosses, because NY is so heavily Democratic and entrenched in party politics, put her up for election knowing they could get Goofy elected in this state if they wanted to - oops, on second thought I guess they did.

She is a carpetbagger, through and through. She had no vested interest in New York, only vested interest in Hillary - and that continues today. She is showing little regard for the party by continuing this charade, but she''s Hillary - and therefore entitled.

[grazinggoat]

In addition Sen. Clinton recently said "I have experience, Sen. McCain has experience and all Sen. Obama has is a speech!". Nasty stuff, even siding with Sen. McCain a Republican over her Democratic Party member and showing her true colors in the process as if to say "if I can''''t win neither will you and I would rather see Sen. McCain win!".
Posted by tbweb at 10:03 AM : Mar 04, 2008

-Clinton is a camouflaged Republican. Her husband Bill, is the true, at soul, Democrat.

[infidel_us]

She''s so cold, I wouldn''t doubt that she would take a year to get ''warmed up.'' As much as I dislike Bill, I don''t blame him a bit for taking his wrinkle stick elsewhere.

[grazinggoat]

CBS News: ''Iran Winning Iraqi Hearts And Minds
Reporter''''s Notebook: Baghdad Visit Part Of Ahmadinejad''s Strategy To Befriend Iraq''

CBS News: ''Rice Blames Mideast Stalemate On Hamas
Secretary Of State In Region To Try And Revive Struggling Peace Talks''

-Two great achievements of The REPUKONS /Condoleesa Rice one of the most experienced (LOL!) secretaries of sate. Eight years of intensive action in the Middle-East and see what the Repukons have done? Nothing. Plain Failure, Failure, Failure. Experience means nothing in this case, because she was dictated her actions... Experience is bull sh*t... More troubles, more sh*t. More danger of being hit by terrorists. Clintons'' clan promises more of the same in Foreign politics.

-Barack Obama will bring the Talk and Diplomacy that neither the REPUKONS nor Clinton said they would. Way to go Senator Obama.

-Obama for Ohio and Obama for Texas.

[tbweb]

Posted by Xzonz at 09:43 AM : Mar 04, 2008,,,

In addition Sen. Clinton recently said "I have experience, Sen. McCain has experience and all Sen. Obama has is a speech!". Nasty stuff, even siding with Sen. McCain a Republican over her Democratic Party member and showing her true colors in the process as if to say "if I can''t win neither will you and I would rather see Sen. McCain win!".

[xzonz]

Obama and most of us know Clinton''s history well. He is smart enough not to succumb to her pressures to go negative or to be completley answerable to Clintons grinding

it is coincidential that just before Wisconsin pri Rezko was summoned to court and given a date right on the next primaries

During the debate clinton tactically tries to fix Obama to appear that he was not completley denying farrakan

then given the chance to clear the doubt that Obama is muslim she leaves it hanging

she is worse than a rep and if Obama talks he will be a gonner

Once Clinton is out of the way he will have a one to one and clear everything is a lse he has to face Maccain and he cant take a chance

He is a lawimself the problem is with the dark cloud callyer and is not that he cant defend himself the problem is Clinton- she is like nothing i have ever seen in my whole entire life

[popstom1]

Obama does take pac and does owe political favors
Opensecrets.org

[pensacola88]

Voters in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island should remember that lobbyists and polical action committees have invested heavily in Hillary Clinton and expect a return on their investment. If she wins, they will get it at the expense of the livelihoods of the voters.

Barak Obama doe not have any political favors to return to any special interest groups. If you want hope for a counry whose president puts voters first, Barack Obama is your man.

Health Care is one of the most profitable industries in this nation. Even if universal health care became a reality, the opportunity is wide open for it to be legislated corruptly when the chief advocate - Hillary Clinton was accepted PAC and Special Interest money from the Health Care powerhouse.

Republicans want Hillary Clinton, Democrats want Barack Obama. There is more dirt on Hillary for the Republicans to use on the campaign in November.

[popstom1]

And no matter what you say when Bll Clinton left Office unemployment was NOT 5% AND THE USA was NOT
IN DEBT for 9.211 trillion

[popstom1]

Hear''s to the Obamanites
Obama tough TALK on NAFTA but Hay canadia this is just
political BULL$HIT NO WORRY BE happy
Obama campaign has been on the record denying such
meeting never took place with the canadian''s
But new memo show''s THAT WAS A BIG LIE Now what about
that or was this another BONEHEADED MISTAKE like with
Tony Rezko for 17 years Obama Rezko Auchi and the funding for that BONEHEADED MISTAKE Yeah he has real
JUDGEMENT

[mkc2303]

VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN if Hillary keeps with negative Campaign and win the Dem nomination.

Hillary and the Dem Party will loose the general Election.

Wait 4 more years of Rep. Politics in the White with Jahn McCain as President - Sorry for America.

In 4 Years Time Barack Obama will take office as President of the United States of America.

If Hillary chages and win the nomination fair, she will get my vote and the vote of all Barack supporters

[mkc2303]

VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN if Hillary keeps with negative Campaign and win the Dem nomination.

Hillary and the Dem Party will loose the general Election.

Wait 4 more years of Rep. Politics in the White with Jahn McCain as President - Sorry for America.

In 4 Years Time Barack Obama will take office as President of the United States of America.

If Hillary chages and win the nomination fair, she will get my vote and the vote of all Barack supporters

[mkc2303]

VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN if Hillary keeps with negative Campaign and win the Dem nomination.

Hillary and the Dem Party will loose the general Election.

Wait 4 more years of Rep. Politics in the White with Jahn McCain as President - Sorry for America.

In 4 Years Time Barack Obama will take office as President of the United States of America.

If Hillary chages and win the nomination fair, she will get my vote and the vote of all Barack supporters

[mkc2303]

VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN if Hillary keeps with negative Campaign and win the Dem nomination.

Hillary and the Dem Party will loose the general Election.

Wait 4 more years of Rep. Politics in the White with Jahn McCain as President - Sorry for America.

In 4 Years Time Barack Obama will take office as President of the United States of America.

If Hillary chages and win the nomination fair, she will get my vote and the vote of all Barack supporters

[vet_sk]

Hillary is talking about fighting to get thing done rather then finding ways to work together to get things done. How well has that work for her so far at the Whitehouse and at the Senate. No very well. She is more of the same And as the United States falls deeper into a recession and perhaps moving towards a recession, how do you want in there to help get America''s mojo back again. This person who voted for the war that changed how the world sees us, and could not inspire people of the United States much less the world to do anything. Folks, we need someone who can talk for us - not just be some 24 hour techno manager.