Is Clinton Done?

Analysis: CBSNews.com's Vaughn Ververs Says Clinton's Narrow Victory In Indiana Puts Her In A Precarious Position

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

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Hillary Clinton may have gotten what she needed to keep her uphill quest for the Democratic nomination alive - but by the barest of margins. She is now running out of both the time, and chances she needs to stay alive.

A razor-thin victory in Indiana and a blowout loss in North Carolina is unlikely to immediately drive Clinton out of a race she has fought so long to win. But with just six contests remaining and more party superdelegates available now than winnable delegates, her path to the nomination has nearly vanished.

Barack Obama emerged from the contest with a net gain in delegates, and there are now more superdelegates up for grabs (267 according to CBS News estimates) than pledged delegates in the remaining contests (217). He will also log a big gain in the overall popular vote thanks to his big North Carolina showing. Clinton faces favorable terrain in upcoming states like West Virginia and Kentucky but can’t come close to winning enough delegates or votes to narrow those margins substantially.

Despite losing in Indiana, Obama put some questions to rest tonight. Most importantly, he demonstrated that he could weather the kind of firestorm created by his controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright after two weeks of the more intense scrutiny he has faced thus far in the campaign. Obama also showed he could come back from a big loss in Pennsylvania in the middle of it all and right the ship.

The Clinton campaign was quick to point out that Obama had called Indiana a “tiebreaker” contest and claimed a victory there gives them an edge in that argument. But the failure to achieve anything more than a virtual “tie” in Indiana may not inspire the party leaders she now needs in overwhelming numbers to win.

In the wake of her Pennsylvania win, Clinton’s campaign claimed they had raised an impressive $10 million in just the next 24 hours. That - and probably more - has almost certainly been spent since then and a bare tonight’s near double-defeat is unlikely to fill the coffers again.

Democrats will be reading the results in the coming hours and days and, while there remain some troubling signs about Obama’s ability to win over white, blue-collar voters, it’s the hardening split between supporters of both candidates that may be most alarming. A third of Clinton voters in Indiana, and slightly more of them in North Carolina, told exit pollsters that they will support John McCain in general election over Obama should he win the nomination. Fewer of Obama voters said they would support McCain over Clinton but majorities of supporters for both candidates in both states said would be dissatisfied if the other won the nomination.

Those numbers have grown since Pennsylvania and earlier contests when such troubling signs first began emerging. Early on in the campaign, polling showed wide enthusiasm for all the Democratic candidates. But the long and often combative campaign which have revolved around issues like race and gender, appear to have taken a toll, at least in the short term. Democratic superdelegates may be more interested in seeking a resolution sooner rather than later.

Both candidates sought to reach out to the other tonight in their speeches. Appearing at a rally in Indiana, Clinton acknowledged the passions on both sides but insisted, “I think that says a lot about how excited and passionate our supporters are and how intent so many Americans are to really taking their country back. But I can assure you, as I have said on many occasions that no matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party, because we must win in November.”

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Indiana Results
North Carolina Results
Indiana Exit Poll Data
North Carolina Exit Poll Data

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Speaking to supporters in North Carolina, Obama dismissed suggestions that the party will remain divided. “Yes, there have been bruised feelings on both sides,” Obama said. “Yes, each side desperately wants their candidate to win. But ultimately, this race is not about Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or John McCain. This election is about you - the American people.”

When those bruised feelings might begin to heal remains a question, however. Clinton needs less money to compete in upcoming contests like West Virginia and Kentucky. And she still has a battle to wage over the delegations and votes in Florida and Michigan, even if the inclusion of those states wouldn’t make up enough ground to do her any good.

Clinton will be spending most of the day tomorrow huddled with strategists and talking with superdelegates, according to her campaign. Many of those discussions may revolve as much around the when and how this race might end, not whether it should at all.

[tbweb]

Isn''t it ironic how Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton talks about have the support of White working class Voters and Sen. Barack Obama doesn''t! Well, well, well, I recall in 1996 the tables were turned, Sen. Bob Dole had the same constituency, the White working class Voters and Bill Clinton didn''t! In fact Bill Clinton was in the same boat Barack Obama is in now! And as we all know, Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole and went on to become President without the White working class voters but with an overwhelming African-American Vote! So what the hell is Sen. Clinton''s point?

[Lai K W]

The communist party have fixed the election. They sent out Pelosi, Howard Dean and many more so-called chairman and the subpardelegates...Joe Andrew etc. to fix election for OBAMA.

They change democracy to:

"For the party, of the party and by the party''
They changed rules to whatever to get OBAMA elected.
They changed the party and the black blackmail the voters to vote for their candidate. Just a few of those filth make you sick already.

The people are treated like shuts. Hear what elites like Jimmy Carter told us that more than millions of voters being bullied for unfair voting practices is OK for this communist party.

Democratic no more, and communist in fact.

[In-Correct]

"Tulcak", you left out the categories of people who want Hillary Clinton as President is because she is a hard worker, much harder worker than Obama; and those who want her to be President because they don''t want Obama to become President.

[honest_pols]

HUSSEIN OBAMA: DECEPTIVE SPEECHES FROM A CANDIDATE WITH NUMEROUS ANTI-AMERICAN CONNECTIONS, AND ANTI-AMERICAN IDEOLOGIES


It''s an outrage, that Hussein Obama is able to dupe so many Americans with his clever speeches.

Unfortunately, there are many naive ones who believe Hussein Obama.

The fact is: Hussein Obama orates what he knows they LIKE TO HEAR, while he and his MENTORS attempt to destroy America through implementation of there secret agenda!

[lordmi]

her only chance is if Obama disappears.
Obama should increase security .

ASAP.
Extremely important.

[tulcak]

there are two types of people supporting mcclinton: those who want to avenge the monika lewinsky impeachment scandal, and those who want the first woman president. these are selfish reasons. I love the fact the Sen. Obama is an African-American. I''ve been waiting all my life for this. But, I wouldn''t support him if I didn''t agree with his view of change. we need to fundamentally change washington and we need to quit dealing with washington insiders and we need to focus on the broader picture. the best example of republican short-term vision is the "tax holiday" that mcclinton supported(she agreed with mcsame). if we don''t stop focusing on selfish interests and start focusing on what is good for our country, we will ultimately fail as a country. this is a critical time in history: we will (as a planet) either survive or perish and we MUST start taking action instead of taking holidays (gas tax or otherwise)

[craigh9]

Obama will NEVER choose Hillary as his Vice President - there are way too many staircases in the White House do have someone who has shown she will do ANYTHING in order to become president.

[tulcak]

Sen. Obama can "NOT" win the General Election without Sen. Clinton on his Ticket and vice versa, neither can win against Sen. McCain without the other. If Democrats have any hope of winning the White House an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama Ticket is their only hope!
Posted by tbweb
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what are you smoking? Sen. Obama will lose if he chooses mcclinton as a running mate. what a disaster. mcclinton is who the republicans wanted to win the nomination - they''ve been attacking her for decades. they are experts on it now and they have the system in place to do it: talk radio and tv, media insiders, fox news. the GOP has talking points all ready to go. in addition to this, she is a devisive figure and she would ultimately drive away the independents and the cross-over republicans. she has lost the nomination. it would be a tragedy if she helped lose the general election.

[jockh]

The only reason Hillary has not pulled out yet is obvious.

She has LOANED her campaign nearly $12 million dollars; at the moment there is not enough money in her campaign to repay her, if she quits then the donations stop, which means she has a problem recovering her millions.

However if she is clever she can continue and keep making requests for donations from foolish Clinton supporters.
Once enough gullible people have made donations and there is enough money to pay her back THEN suddenly she will announce that she is quitting for the good of the Party !

Does that make sense to you Clinton supporters?

Now go to her website immediately and pay back her loans!

[tbweb]

Posted by ramaci2 at 02:46 AM : May 08, 2008,,,

Sen. Obama can "NOT" win the General Election without Sen. Clinton on his Ticket and vice versa, neither can win against Sen. McCain without the other. If Democrats have any hope of winning the White House an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama Ticket is their only hope!

[ramaci2]

I can see Hilary as the majority leader in the senate.

Next year you will see Obama give the State of the Union Speech and behind him will be all women.

The Speaker of the House, The Vice President and Hilary the Majority leader in the senate. ( But come to think of it, I think one of them is hidden away in case of an emergency)

[ramaci2]

But I would add a couple of things! Sen. Obama would agree to pay off Sen. Clinton''''s campaign debts and offer Sen. Clinton any position she wanted in his administration including Vice President. Actually Sen. Clinton would be a good Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi is too meek for that position.



I%u2019m sorry; did you see Bill and Hilary%u2019s tax return?

A lot of Obama%u2019s supporters will be mad if their money is being used to pay Hilary%u2019s ever increasing debt to run against the candidate they are supporting. Make sense?

She will not be his V.P.

Obama has had enough distraction. Rev. Wright anybody?

I really think Obama is going to stay outside of Washington D.C. and stay away from %u201Ccareer politicians%u201D whose past might be a distraction from winning the election in November.

I really think Obama V.P. will be Kathleen Sebelius.

I think a lot of older women are going to look at this attractive grey hair woman and identify with her. She will be in line to be the first female president. She supported Obama early. Her father was the Governor of Ohio so she has roots and name recognition in Ohio. As far as I know there is little if no baggage. She was re-elected as a Democrat governor of a red state.

[tbweb]

In a joint news conference with her and Obama they should:

1. Seat Michigan and Florida delegates as is.
2. Hilary would suspend her candidacy and award her pledged delegates and her super delegates to Obama giving him the numbers to be the democratic nominee for President of the United States.

They can do the Press conference at the new Trump towers on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. (Donald can throw me a bone for that one)

Posted by ramaci2 at 01:19 AM : May 08, 2008,,,

Interesting proposition!

But I would add a couple of things! Sen. Obama would agree to pay off Sen. Clinton''s campaign debts and offer Sen. Clinton any position she wanted in his administration including Vice President. Actually Sen. Clinton would be a good Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi is too meek for that position.

[ramaci2]

If Hillary has any concerns about her political future with the democrat party, her position in the senate, her and her husband legacy in American politics and with African-American people, her and her husband financial future and her standing with the people who supported her through out her candidacy, I will give her the best advise, she will ever get, for free.

In a joint news conference with her and Obama they should:

1. Seat Michigan and Florida delegates as is.
2. Hilary would suspend her candidacy and award her pledged delegates and her super delegates to Obama giving him the numbers to be the democratic nominee for President of the United States.


They can do the Press conference at the new Trump towers on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. (Donald can throw me a bone for that one%uF04A)

[omaar-101]

That B!tch was Beaten not just by Afro-American Voters...



Clinton was Beaten by her Own Southern ''White Americans'' as well as Independent (NC), (NC) Hispanic & Asian Americans Voters as well !!

NC: Majority Populated White State, Very, Very Southern, George McGovern Endorsed, NASCAR, Confederate Flag, The Bible Belt, President Bill Clinton, Roaming 17 Very Southern, Very Rural(NC) Counties, Hillary Clinton, Burning Rubber all over the Very Rural & Very White Counties & Hard On The Naked Eyes Chelsea Clinton, at Every (NC) College & University and.....


Hillary Still Loses by a Land Slide !!!


Stop Your Race Baiting & Race Blaming, Race Hating Bull Sp!t !!!

It Aint Working, Hillary Got her A!! Stomped...Big Time In North Carolina !!

All The Clintons did was Waste Time, Money & Energy, when they Knew, Obama was projected to be the Winner 2 Months ago and He Kicked her A$$....Royally !!


Accept Hillary got her A$$ Beaten Solidly & Properly...

No Excuses...None Whatsoever

[In-Correct]

"Pledged $100 this morning. It was the least I could do considering the MYSPACE generation donated their allowance to Washington''''s Most Gifted Amateur. I know it takes money to win an election. I''''ll probably donate at least another $100. PROUD OF IT, AND THE FACT THAT I CAN."


-- Exactly. Think of hard she is working. Sounds like she would become an excellent president because of all the hard work. I did not know you could pledge money to fund campaigns. I will plan to do that now and over and over again.

[tbweb]

You accuse HER of posting BS?! I''m black, and I wouldn''''t vote for OBAMA under the threat of Death. How did he (Bill) insult Dr. King ?!!!! whether or not we as blacks like it, what he said was true. What has OBAMA ever done in the Black community outside of IL.? News Flash ...... blacks suffered under REAGAN. Bill Clinton turned that around, and now blacks wanna treat him like a LEPER ''cause another brotha highly capable of running his mouth entered the race. We''''ve come a long way ..... NOT !!!!

Posted by TiredoftheBS at 12:30 AM : May 08, 2008,,,

I''m a real American, I see a person, a character, not a color, I don''t care about your race or her gender, only the issues. I think its disgusting that the news media is covering this election with racial overtones which should be illegal! I spoke of the African-American community''s "perceived" insult to Dr. King, I left out the word "perceived" in this Post but usually include it. Prior to the perceived insult, Clinton was leading Obama in the Black community 52% to 48% so damage was done, justified or not, the Polls bear that out. This is a free country, you can Vote for and support whoever you want!

[tiredofthebs]

I challenge ANY of my brothas & sistas to post ANYTHING that points to OBAMA''''s involvement in the Black Community. You wanna accuse whites of RACISM, the fact remains that many of you support OBAMA, and you don''''t know s*** about him!!!! His academic accomplishments (''''cause it''''s on his site), His election to the US Senate. That''''s it! And the press is wrong about the Black Vote?! Yeah ...... right!

Posted by TiredoftheBS at 12:34 AM : May 08, 2008

If this describes you, YOU ARE A RACIST BY DEFINITION! And a mindless follower.

[tiredofthebs]

I challenge ANY of my brothas & sistas to post ANYTHING that points to OBAMA''s involvement in the Black Community. You wanna accuse whites of RACISM, the fact remains that many of you support OBAMA, and you don''t know s*** about him!!!! His academic accomplishments (''cause it''s on his site), His election to the US Senate. That''s it! And the press is wrong about the Black Vote?! Yeah ...... right!

[k_c_waters]

Go HOME, the people have spoken, you are not going to be the nominee despite what the voices in your head tells you...

Obama 08''