Clinton Vows To Stay in Race To Convention

Washington Post: Senator Stresses Finding Solution On Michigan, Florida Votes

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Perry Bacon Jr. and Anne E. Kornblut.

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In her most definitive comments to date on the subject, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sought Saturday to put to rest any notion that she will drop out of the presidential race, pledging in an interview to not only compete in all the remaining primaries but also continue until there is a resolution of the disqualified results in Florida and Michigan.

A day after Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean urged the candidates to end the race by July 1, Clinton defied that call by declaring that she will take her campaign all the way to the Aug. 25-28 convention if necessary, potentially setting up the prolonged and divisive contest that party leaders are increasingly anxious to avoid.

"I know there are some people who want to shut this down and I think they are wrong," Clinton said in an interview during a campaign stop here Saturday. "I have no intention of stopping until we finish what we started and until we see what happens in the next 10 contests and until we resolve Florida and Michigan. And if we don't resolve it, we'll resolve it at the convention - that's what credentials committees are for.

"We cannot go forward until Florida and Michigan are taken care of, otherwise the eventual nominee will not have the legitimacy that I think will haunt us," said the senator from New York. "I can imagine the ads the Republican Party and John McCain will run if we don't figure out how we can count the votes in Michigan and Florida."

Asked if there was a scenario in which she would drop out before the last primaries on June 3, Clinton said no. "I am committed to competing everywhere that there is an election," she said.

The Clinton campaign requested the interview Saturday to talk about how she could win and to emphasize her focus on Michigan and Florida.

Her remarks come as Clinton faces a mounting drumbeat, driven by the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and his backers, for her to bow out and avert a party crisis. Obama's supporters argue that he is too far ahead in pledged delegates for Clinton to catch up; Clinton counters by saying that neither of them has secured the 2,024 delegates needed for the nomination.

At a news conference Saturday in Johnstown, Pa., Obama welcomed Clinton to continue campaigning. "My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants," he said. "She is a fierce and formidable opponent, and she obviously believes she would make the best nominee and the best president."

Central to Clinton's case that she can still win is solving the question of Michigan and Florida, whose Democratic parties scheduled primaries in January in violation of national party rules, leading to their contests being invalidated.

Dean has said he would like to find a way to seat the two delegations, but no agreement has been reached among the state parties, the Clinton and Obama campaigns, and the DNC. The failure to schedule a revote or to count the earlier results has been a major setback for Clinton, who won both primaries, though she was the only Democratic candidate on the ballot in Michigan.

Clinton on Saturday accused Obama of blocking a proposed Michigan revote. Party officials earlier this month cited problems with conducting another primary there, but Obama aides had previously detailed their concerns in a memo, which she called a "smoke screen."

"His campaign rejected the plan that was put forward," she said. "For the life of me, what Barack was afraid of in Michigan I will never understand."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail: "Sen. Obama is actually interested in and working towards a solution, unlike Clinton, who is trying to change the rules she agreed to and is more interested in potshots than solving this problem."

Clinton hopes to overtake Obama in the overall popular vote to argue to superdelegates - the nearly 800 party members and elected officials who are likely to determine the outcome of the race - that she is ahead where it matters. Including Florida and Michigan in that equation could boost her vote and delegate totals, as well as bolster her argument that she is better positioned to capture big general-election swing states.

When asked Saturday how she could still win, Clinton immediately talked about wooing superdelegates, who she said "have a role and very important responsibility."

"We have to nominate someone who can go toe to toe with John McCain on national security and beat him on the economy," she said. "This will all be for naught if we don't win in November."

But in the lull before ballots are cast in the next contest, in Pennsylvania on April 22, Clinton has been deluged with calls for her withdrawal, provoking a backlash among her supporters and defiance from the candidate and her family and staff.

Bill Clinton sent out an e-mail, titled "Not big on quitting," on Saturday that reminded supporters that his wife is behind in the popular vote by less than one percentage point and that she trails by 130 delegates.

"With the race this close, it sure doesn't make sense to me that she'd leave now - does it make sense to you?" the former president's e-mail read.

In the interview, Hillary Clinton brushed aside concerns from party leaders that the campaign will hurt the party's chances against McCain, who launched his first general-election television ad last week and who has spent the month raising money and attacking the Democrats.

"General elections start where there is a nominee or a putative nominee," Clinton said. "They think they have theirs, we don't yet have ours. . . . We have frozen this election."

Asked whether Obama could win in November, Clinton deflected the question. "I'm saying I have a better chance," she said. "You cannot as a Democrat win the White House without a very big women's vote. What I believe is that women will turn out for me."

Staff writer Shailagh Murray in State College, Pa., contributed to this report.

[croft777]

Nostradamus wrote in Century 11...62

Along toward the end of the world, the dark nations shall reign supreme. This presages the rise of the black (African) and third world nations.

[croft777]

Nostradamus wrote in Century 11...62

Along toward the end of the world, the dark nations shall reign supreme. This presages the rise of the black (African) and third world nations.

[croft777]

Obama is the anti-christ...beware!

[croft777]

notbuynit

You were no democrat, quit lying.

[notbuynit]

I have not voted republican in over 20 years, if this b it ch gets nominated somehow, It will be my pleasure to vote for McCain. I used to like Bill, but now cannot stand to hear either of them speak. They have revealed themselves for what they really are. Disgusting people. Dirty politicians out only for themselves. I loath republicans, but I will not vote for Hillary under any circumstance.

[jesterbelle]

Obama''s writing another bokk.It''s called "THe Audacity of Hillary".

[jesterbelle]

Not to worry Clinton people.She''s been saved.I just heard it on the TV.All those jelly donuts are paying off.Goodyear has hired her,and they''ve made her a silver pantsuit with their logo on the sides.

[jesterbelle]

May get blown away here in a few.Tornado headed this way.Oh well,can''t live forever.Been pretty bad in this area all day.We may end up making the national news again.The bad thing is flooding.The ground is saturated from all the storms we''ve had this year.

[jesterbelle]

It must come with the political DNA then, because Mr. Obama is getting really close up there with Mr. Bush and his 935 lies. We may as well make''''s Obama''''s 1,000 lies, because he lies about EVERYTHING, as well as being corrupt and dirty.


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 02:31 PM : Mar 31, 2008

I told ya'' this morning that Hillary is in the Guiness book of world records.When she was born,she was crying,and the doc slapped her because she was lying.They''ve been hunting her parents ever since.Little matter of an unpaid hospital bill,LOL!

[jesterbelle]

Oh well,one good turn deserves another.I can take it,but I like dishing it out more,LOL!Have you tried the new Internet Explorer?I didn''t like it at first,but it kind of grew on me .I''ve got two windows open,with three different articles on them,and can open more if I need to.It''s a free update from Microsoft if you''ve got XP.Try it.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by rjs570912 at 01:43 PM : Mar 31, 2008

Well said! I''m with you all the way!

TO THE CONVENTION!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jesterbelle at 02:27 PM : Mar 31, 2008

:)

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by rufisgufis at 01:25 PM : Mar 31, 2008

It must come with the political DNA then, because Mr. Obama is getting really close up there with Mr. Bush and his 935 lies. We may as well make''s Obama''s 1,000 lies, because he lies about EVERYTHING, as well as being corrupt and dirty.

[jesterbelle]

Posted by jesterbelle at 09:46 AM : Mar 31, 2008


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 02:25 PM : Mar 31, 2008

ROTFLMAO!

[rowdytexan2]

I am sorry that I am a total Obamabot. My inability to face facts is just inbred into my DNA and I can''t help it. My gender bias comes from many years of thinking myself superior to women, and my having to depend on a woman to support me.

I know that Hillary is the best candidate, but like BLKPRESIDENT my failure to know my candidate...well, I just don''t have time to do any real research since I have to sit here and watch the boards and spew Hillary Clinton hating shill all day long.

Please forgive me. I sincerely apologize for being totally stupid and putting false statements on these boards. It comes with my support of a corrupt Chicago politician. I learned how to lie from him.


Posted by jesterbelle at 09:46 AM : Mar 31, 2008

[blkpresident]

Lil'' Hillary is no Dwight David Eisenhower. Our next Commander-in-Chief will have to manage not one, but two wars. Vote smart America. Remember, lil'' missy is no Dwight David Eisenhower.

[rjs570912]

I think it''s a travesty that people continue to berate Mrs. Clinton. How quickly we forget! Apparently people are not interested in a booming economy, low inflation, budget surpluses, and respect around the world. These are the things that the Clintons brought us in the 90''s. I read this blog daily and all I see are small minded people who won''t let the proceess run its course. Many on here seem to think that Hillary is only motivated by self-interest. Try getting up every day and take this constant berating by the press while the other side gets a free ride. I don''t know about the rest of you but I''m willing to ride Hillary''s bus all the way to the convention.

[szelag19]

Obama says%u201CThere was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born. So don%u2019t tell me I don%u2019t have a claim on Selma, Alabama. Don%u2019t tell me I%u2019m not coming home to Selma, Alabama.%u201DAnd as far as Obama%u2019s claim that he apparently was a result of his parents%u2019 union at the 1965 march: That, isn%u2019t possible %u2014 without a time machine. Obama was born in 1961
So I guess he misspoke..why isn''t this making headlines..The media condemned Hillary for 3 days over Bosnia..but let this pass. Where''s the media tirade over this? Oh that''s right Saint Obama lied..so that''s permissable...Hillary supporters go to her web sight and donate..even if it''s a few dollars.Osama has an unlimited supply-Oprah- but Hillary doesn''t have a billionaire with deep pockets paying for her campaign.

[erasmus6]

"SamtheCat...Thanks a lot buddy. I try to open up and have an honest dialogue any you jump on me like I am some kind of liar. I thought the purpose of these posts were to exchange ideas. No I am not voting for Hillary..I never intended to. But thanks for the attack you putZ." Posted by Element51

ACTUALLY, if everyone was to read the rules, it says that you are only to post a comment. There isn''t supposed to be any dialogue going on between people.:)

[blkpresident]

ccfsdca,

Contrary to your implication that Obama will become victim in the general election to quips about his association with Pastor Wright and his church; Mrs. Obama''s first time in her life moment; etc., etc.,; well, don''t think the obam camp won''t comeback with an arsenal of its own. For instance, OLD man McCain''s risk to nap through daily intelligence briefings critical to America''s safety. Unless OLD man McCain plans on having the likes of a Governor Crist, Mitt Romney, etc. to delegate these tasks to, he won''t satisfy America''s confidence and trust that he won''t be asleep at the wheel when we need him most.