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!