Clinton Vows To Keep Fighting

N.Y. Senator Stumps In W.Va., Says She Will Stay In Race Until There's A Nominee; Campaign Says She Lent Campaign $6.4M

(CBS/AP)  Politically wounded and financially strapped, Hillary Rodham Clinton plunged back into the presidential campaign Wednesday even as Barack Obama's campaign began to craft a general election strategy on the assumption that he will claim the Democratic nomination.

"It's a new day, it's a new state, it's a new election," Clinton told reporters in West Virginia on Wednesday.

Clinton said that she was the strongest candidate to go up against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and vowed to fight on.

“I’m staying in this race until we have a nominee," Clinton said. "I obviously am going to work as hard as I can to become that nominee."

Obama beat Clinton soundly in North Carolina and fell just short in an Indiana cliffhanger, a rebound for the Illinois senator that presented Clinton with fast-dwindling chances to deny him the Democratic presidential nomination.

CBS News has learned several top advisers are suggesting to Hillary Clinton that she stay in the race through West Virginia, Kentucky and Oregon and then bow out in two weeks, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

One Clinton loyalist told CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield, "I can't see the math that gets her to the nomination-neither can anyone else."

Putting her money troubles into clearer focus, Clinton's campaign said Wednesday that she lent her campaign $6.4 million over the past month. Earlier this year, she gave her campaign $5 million.

But even as she sought to rejuvenate her campaign, Clinton suffered the loss of a high-profile backer - former Sen. George McGovern - who switched his support to Obama and urged the New York senator to drop out of the race for the good of the party.

Obama spent Wednesday off the campaign trail at home in Chicago, but expected to travel later in the week to Oregon, where he appears to hold the advantage, and then head to the Appalachian coal-states of West Virginia and Kentucky, where Clinton seems to have the edge.

Reluctant to give John McCain a free pass until the Democratic nomination is settled, Obama is considering adding general election swing states to his schedule, his campaign strategist, David Axelrod, said.

Clinton showed no public signs of easing her pace. The campaign added a noon Wednesday appearance in Shepherdstown, W. Va., to her schedule. On Thursday, she planned to campaign in West Virginia, South Dakota and Oregon.

Clinton backers appeared on early morning television programs to stress that she was still in the race and to urge party leaders and elected officials known as superdelegates not to flee to Obama.

"This candidacy and this campaign continues on," Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said Wednesday on CNN.

According to the latest CBS News count, Obama has secured 1,844 of the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, his campaign finally steadying after missteps fiercely exploited by the never-say-die Clinton.

His campaign dropped broad hints it was time for the 270 remaining unaligned superdelegates to get off the fence and settle the nomination.

In a counter to Wolfson, Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said: "The delegate math gets exceptionally harder for Senator Clinton every day"

In a memorandum to superdelegates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe reminded them of the delegate math necessary to secure the nomination. He said Clinton would need to win 68 percent of the remaining delegates to win - an extremely unlikely scenario, made harder by her poor performance Tuesday.

"With the Clinton path to the nomination getting even narrower, we expect new and wildly creative scenarios to emerge in the coming days," Plouffe wrote. "While those scenarios may be entertaining, they are not legitimate and will not be considered legitimate by this campaign or millions of supporters, volunteers and donors."

It was in the superdelegate arena - even more than in the scattered primaries left - that the Democratic hyperdrama was bound to play out.

Clinton vowed to compete tenaciously for West Virginia next week and Kentucky and Oregon after that, and to press "full speed on to the White House."

But she risked running on fumes without an infusion of cash, and made a direct fundraising pitch from the stage in Indianapolis. "I need your help to continue our journey," she said.

And she pledged anew that she would support the Democratic nominee "no matter what happens," a vow also made by her competitor.

But her campaign schedule belied any immediate reconciliation. West Virginia holds its primary on Tuesday. Kentucky and Oregon hold their contests a week a later. Puerto Rico is scheduled for June 1 followed promptly by Montana and South Dakota on June 3.

Her campaign is making the case that those contests are crucial to her and will press Democratic party officials to resolve disputed contests in Michigan and Florida, which she won but whose results the party voided because the primaries were held ahead of the schedule set by Democratic Party rules.

Obama, addressing supporters in North Carolina Tuesday night, pivoted away from his contest with Clinton and made a general election appeal that singled out his biography and his call for a new brand of politics. Still, his message also had a partisan pitch.

"This primary season may not be over, but when it is, we will have to remember who we are as Democrats ... because we all agree that at this defining moment in history - a moment when we're facing two wars, an economy in turmoil, a planet in peril - we can't afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term," he said.

McCain has been running a general election campaign for weeks. He has reached out to independent voters and sought to secure his conservative base, as he did Tuesday with a speech on his vision of the judiciary. He was scheduled to deliver a speech Wednesday on curbing the international exploitation of children.

The Obama-Clinton contest has been polarizing, protracted and often bitter, hardening divisions in the party, according to exit polls from the two states.

A solid majority of each candidate's supporters said they would not be satisfied if the other candidate wins the nomination.

Fully one-third of Clinton's supporters in Indiana and North Carolina went beyond mere dissatisfaction to say they would vote for McCain instead of Obama if that's the choice in the fall.

Obama scored a convincing victory of about 14 points in North Carolina, where he'd been favored. Clinton squeezed out a narrow margin in Indiana after a long night of counting.

Racial divisions were stark.

In both states, Clinton won six in 10 white votes while Obama got nine in 10 black votes, exit polls indicated.

It was a slightly better performance than usual by Clinton among whites, while Obama's backing from blacks was one of his highest winning percentages yet with that group.

Clinton fell short of the Indiana blowout and the North Carolina upset that might have jarred superdelegates into her camp in a big way.

They have continued trickling toward Obama despite the fallout over his former pastor's racially divisive remarks and Clinton's win in Pennsylvania two weeks ago.

The impact of a long-running controversy over the Illinois senator's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was difficult to measure.

In North Carolina, six in 10 voters who said Wright's remarks affected their votes sided with Clinton. A somewhat larger percentage of voters who said the pastor's remarks did not matter supported Obama.

Obama and Clinton both planned to campaign in the next primary states starting Thursday, after a day in Washington. Obama headed to Chicago after his Raleigh speech before coming to the capital.

[libh8er]

You go, girlfriend! Beat Ubama bloody!!!! :)

[rowdytexan2]

Hang in there Hillary! Make the party do what they know is right and make them quit trying to manipulate this race.

This is the most COWARDLY democratic race I''ve ever seen! The media and Obama claiming he''s won, when he hasn''t had the will of the people in months!

Doesn''t anybody in the DNC have the balls to stand up and put things right???

Are we going to have to step across the party lines and vote in protest AGAINST Obama because you people are cowards???

[remco82]

Bill: Tell her it''s over!

[prairiefox1]

EVEN IF SHE LOSES THE NOMINATION SHE COULD RUN AS A INDEPENDENT AND HAVE A FORMIDABLE FOLLOWING!

[shawnp1968]

If Hillary is that dumb and that stubborn that she haw vowed to stay in until there is a nominee..... then it is the responsibility of the super delegates to put an end to it all NOW, and cast their votes to Obama. End the nonsense!!! Hillary.... it''s OVER!!!

[prairiefox1]

YOU HAVE TO FACE IT!
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A FAILED ATTEMPT!
JUST LOOK AT ITS LEADERSHIP!

[mudrose-2009]

YOU HAVE TO FACE IT!
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A FAILED ATTEMPT!
JUST LOOK AT ITS LEADERSHIP!
Posted by prairiefox1

Sigh and the just don''t get it.

[shawnp1968]

Can''t we just pretend that Hillary has 2 broken ankles... and just put her down and end it once and for all?

[allamr18]

Lol wow you guys are a little fiesty. Hillary can stay in as long as possible. let her go broke and take the money of her supporters and flush it down the drain. hillary wasnt in this race for the long haul she was in it until super tuesday. poor campaign management along with financial responsibilty. but shes not gonna raise alot of money in kentucky or west virginia so she might as well kee loaning herself the millions.

[tibu987]

Now that Hillary has lost again I expect that she and Bill will resort to even lower level vitriol and mud slinging.

That a woman will one day be president of this country is without question, but, that woman should not be Hillary. That hillbilly Bill made it is mistake enough.

Simply put, Hillary and Bill are conniving liars who will use whatever fabrication to aid their cause, as they have throughout their careers.

Do you really want someone like that to again be the president of this country?

Simply put, I don''t.

[jack3213]

How do you spell : "DEAD HORSE" My god, woman, give it up.

[shawnp1968]

Are we going to have to step across the party lines and vote in protest AGAINST Obama because you people are cowards??? Posted by RowdyTexan2

What party line are you crossing? From closet NeoCon to Conservative? Can''''t you Hillary backers at least have the decency to know when to quit? If you are willing to vote for McCain, risk the Supreme Court and continue the war in Iraq, then go ahead and leave the Democratic Party. But don''''t come back.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nokoolaid at 02:23 PM : May 07, 2008


AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[walt1944-2009]

Hilliary Clinton is just as stubborn and arrogant as the person she was cloned after, the Great Emperor Bush II!

Clinton will push this all the way to the convention no matter what damage it does to the Whimpo-crats because she WANTS that Oval Office, period! Even if she doesn''t get the nomination, she will still push it and, though she will say she supports Obama if he gets the nomination, you know she won''t!

The last time we saw a person so driven as that, HE got us into a war that should have ended 5 years ago!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, more of the same, McCain!!!!

[obama8years]

GO hillary the democrat party does not want a anti-american racist as president

[tibu987]

Let''s keep Bill and Hillary out of Washington.

I still cannot believe that Hillary is getting any votes at all. It must be that many people are not aware of all the scandals that Hillary and Bill have been involved in going all the back to Arkansas. One of these scandals in Washington caused a friend and associate to commit suicide.

Then, there is the matter of a campaign donor, Norman Hsu, giving Hillary $1,000,000 that had to be returned once he was indicted. Sound familiar.

Bill and Hillary are two of the most conniving liars ever to reach the White House.

Gimme a break.

[obama8years]

I want Hillary as President. She proves that she is not a quitter. Obama is on the edge. Hillary will crush Obama in the remaining states. Obama is unelectable, he is dishonest, and flip flops on rev wright.

[austinang-2009]

"Putting her money troubles into clearer focus, Clinton''s campaign said Wednesday that she lent her campaign $6.4 million over the past month. Earlier this year, she gave her campaign $5 million."

I thought she would at least be smart enough not to invest in something with no ROI!

[shawnp1968]

Bill... would you grab Hillary by the back of her arm and get her out of here before she starts doing a striptease on the bar!!!

Congrats on the BJ Bill, thanks for the 8 years of prosperity you provided.... now it''s time to get your wife and go home!!!!

[tibu987]

PS,and this, Hillary''s pastor in New York has been accused of child molestation.
Check it out in the Albany, New York newspaper.
And so it goes..........

[rf35]

Obama is a Muslim and his supporters are Koran-thumping Islamic fundamentalists.

[rufisgufis]

SO MUCH FOR EXPERIENCE!

He had a glittering array of experience: Minister to Russia; minister to Great Britain, ten years in the House, five years as Secretary of State, ten years in the Senate, during the time he was in office the nation grew by 33%, but when he was elected president in 1856 James Buchanan soon acquired the reputation as the worst president in American history. So when Abraham Lincoln ran for president he had an easy time, even though his only experience was in the Illinois State Legislature.

[obama8years]

canadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462

Hang on Hillary, the next rev wright story to break will put Obama in a tailspin. You beat Obama in Indiana and youll crush him in Kentucky and West Virginia.

[obama8years]

No Wonder Hamas is Supporting Obama.

But Ali Abunimah is more than just some %u201CPalestinian activist%u201D based in Chicago, the same location as Reverend Wright and the Trinity United Church of Christ. He is, in fact, one of the founders of the fiercely anti-Semitic ISM Arab group Al Awda, the Palestine Right of Return Coalition. Abunimah is a high level international leader of the ISM for the Arabs who travels extensively between Chicago, Europe and Ramallah.

Al Awda in Arabic means %u201CThe Return,%u201D and the group not only calls for the complete destruction of Israel, even denying Israel%u2019s current existence on its website and urging boycotts against not only Israelis, but American Jews and their businesses, but also calls for specifically supporting Arab terrorists in Iraq who kill US soldiers. Among its more than 130 chapters across the US and Canada, Al Awda%u2019s New Jersey chapter is led by a young woman named Charlotte Kates who has called Israeli children killed by suicide bombers %u201Cfair game.%u201D The ISM%u2019s Al Awda openly supports terrorism as %u201Clegitimate resistance%u201D in ISM revolutionary lingo.

[rufisgufis]

Obama is a Muslim and his supporters are Koran-thumping Islamic fundamentalists.

Posted by rf35 at 02:29 PM : May 07, 2008
________________________

The fact of he matter is: Obama is a Christian, but what''s wrong with Muslims? Are you a religious bigot of some kind? There are over 1.4 billions Muslims in the world. In your small mind are you suggesting that they all are terrorists? They are over a million Catholics, are they all pedophiles? Do all Hindus believe in self-immolation. What about Mormons? Are you a racist bigot as well as a religious bigot?

[lucyinbuford]

Hillary is the only chance for America to move forward in a positive direction. If obama wins the nomination, I will vote McCain because obama is just not acceptable or ready to be the President of the United States. As someone above posted about leaving the democratic party and not coming back...well, there is also an INDEPENDENT party. the MEDIA has hoodwinked so many into believe obama already has it and he doesn''t. He''s a ruse. Clinton or McCain. There is NO OTHER choice.

[obama8years]

Obama is Lobbied by terrorist promotion.
Al Awda%u2019s anti-Semitism has also linked to neo-Nazi groups in promoting the boycott and divestment from Israel on American campuses and in the US business community. It became so virulent that the group was booted by the UC Riverside campus administration from holding an international conference on that campus last year. Ali Abunimah, even today, is featured on the Al Awda website supporting terrorism against Israelis because he considers that %u201Cnonviolence is overrated.%u201D

In short, Obama saw no problem being lobbied in the past by someone who openly promotes terrorism and discrimination against Jewish-Americans.

[timdgrim]

Bill and Hillary are two of the most conniving liars ever to reach the White House.

Gimme a break.





Posted by tibu987
Yeah, but we still know who the NUMBER ONE LIAR is, and he''s there right now!

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY IS LIKE CHUCKY: SHE KEEPS RAISING HER UGLY HEAD EVERY TIME YOU THINK SHE FINALLY DEAD.

[obama8years]

If Barack Obama didn%u2019t know about Abunimah%u2019s writings (and Abunimah says he did), the same as his claims of being unaware of Reverend Wright%u2019s remarks after 20 years, then Obama is not competent to be our President. Abunimah likes to lie and claim Al Awda has nothing to do with the ISM or Electronic Intifada, though plenty of evidence exists on the website the homepage at www.StoptheISM.com showing the contrary.

But Obama%u2019s association with the ISM through his church and lobbying in Chicago goes even deeper than just his past links to Al Awda and Ali Abunimah. His pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, are both equally involved with the ISM.

[megamanx1-2009]

OH GOD WOMAN GIVE IT UP FOR CHRIST SAKE. YOU''VE LOST. IT''S OVER. GO HOME. KNIT A SCARF OR SOMETHING. STOP INJURING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MORE THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE....

[realpatriot1]

sunspro is a Republican ploy. There isn''t a rational Democrat in North Carolina today who doesn''t think the state is in play.

Go cry to Easley, that''s if you can find him showing his face!

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY IS LIKE CHUCKY: SHE KEEPS RAISING HER UGLY HEAD EVERY TIME YOU THINK SHE''S FINALLY DEAD.

[megamanx1-2009]

Yeah, but we still know who the NUMBER ONE LIAR is, and he''''s there right now!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by timdgrim at 02:35 PM : May 07, 2008

935 LIES TO BE EXACT.

[miamimama3]

Hillary has been so desperate that she''s resorted to pandering for votes with the gas tax relief. She''s too smart to believe that is a good idea, and if she''s unable to see that then she has no business being president. I used to be a Hillary fan, but now it''s gotten to the point where if I hear her voice I just might puke. The fact that she is still staying in this race shows that her agenda is no longer what''s best for the country and the democratic party, it is now "win at all costs." No more Billary, no more same old same old. Go Obama!

[obama8years]

Now, it has become the ISM%u2019s time to deconstruct religious dogma of Israel belonging to the Jews as is preached in US churches and to increase the number of black churches in America that are working in %u201Csolidarity%u201D with this program. Jeremiah Wright%u2019s church is one of them. Even though the national synod of the United Church for Christ rescinded a boycott and divestment plan against Israel, a wing of the UCC church keeps trying to get it reinstated. That wing includes Reverend Wright%u2019s Trinity UCC Church in Chicago. Few people know also, that there are many Muslim members of Reverend Wright%u2019s %u201CChristian%u201D church, a close ally of Sabeel.

Led by a Palestinian Christian pastor named Naim Ateek, Sabeel%u2019s purpose is as part of the ISM to especially convince churches in America that the diminishing Christian population in the West Bank, particularly Bethlehem, is not due to persecution by the Muslim majority in the Palestinian Authority against Christians caused Christian flight, but because of Israel%u2019s Jews and %u201Cthe occupation.%u201D In order to achieve this, Sabeel practices something called %u201Creplacement theology %u201C which aligns itself closely with the ideas of its Muslim fundamentalist allies.

[megamanx1-2009]

HILLARY IS LIKE CHUCKY: SHE KEEPS RAISING HER UGLY HEAD EVERY TIME YOU THINK SHE FINALLY DEAD.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rufisgufis at 02:35 PM : May 07, 2008

LMAO!!!!!!!!

[canyoutellme-2009]

I want Hillary as President. She proves that she is not a quitter. Obama is on the edge. Hillary will crush Obama in the remaining states. Obama is unelectable, he is dishonest, and flip flops on rev wright.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by obama8years at 02:26 PM : May 07, 2008
+ report abuse

I have 5 words for you.

"It Sucks To Be You"

:)

Have a nice day.

[obama8years]

True, Obama mentioned how Wright taught him to be kind unto others. But according to Wright%u2019s interpretation, that %u201Ckindness%u201D has more to do with fighting %u201Cwhite oppression%u201D than urging nonviolence and brotherly love among all races. Wright%u2019s church even praised Hamas in the past, and has always touted it as an Islamic charity organization showing such social kindness despite its charter calling for unyielding murder and expulsion of Jews in the Middle East.

[bgwinnett]

HILLARY IS LIKE CHUCKY: SHE KEEPS RAISING HER UGLY HEAD EVERY TIME YOU THINK SHE''''S FINALLY DEAD.

_________________________

Yes, getting set on fire, still wouldn''t stop her quitting the race.

[naucoming4u]

935 LIES TO BE EXACT.

Posted by MegamanX1 at 02:37 PM : May 07, 2008
........

That''s like quoting the price of oil six months ago!

Bush is WAY beyond 935 lies about Iraq now.

He''s even well into the triple digits for lies about Iran... and counting.

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE - AS A LIAR!!

NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE IS -

SHE''LL TRY SPIN IT TO WIN IT!!!

FIGURES DON%u2019T LIE BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE

ETHICS BE DAMNED.

SHE HAS A LOT OF CLASS - BUT IT%u2019S ALL LOW!!

[rufisgufis]

SO MUCH FOR EXPERIENCE!

He had a glittering array of experience: Minister to Russia; minister to Great Britain, ten years in the House, five years as Secretary of State, ten years in the Senate, during the time he was in office the nation grew by 33%, but when he was elected president in 1856 James Buchanan soon acquired the reputation as the worst president in American history. So when Abraham Lincoln ran for president he had an easy time, even though his only experience was in the Illinois State Legislature.

[rowdytexan2]

Rise HIllary Rise!...Maya Angelou

Boy whatta to do! Everybody''s so pissed off that ONCE AGAIN, Obama just can''t bring it in!

The fact is, he never will! The only way he''ll be going to the White House is as a guest of Hillary Clinton!

[primilioneah]

I think this was Hillary''s year(at least as far as she is concerned)to show Billy that she is also of a Presidential material so all she has to do is to present herself as an independent with hope that Independents and disastified Democrats will follow her. ok? Alright now all is settled no more bickering please.

[realpatriot1]

RowdyTexan2,

Insert Hillary in place of Obama and you will be speaking the truth for once.

[bgwinnett]

RowdyTexan2 -- You can''t be serious Surely?

[libh8er]

JUST LOOK AT ITS LEADERSHIP!
Posted by prairiefox1 at 02:18 PM : May 07, 2008

Pelsoi, Reid, and Dean (The 3 Stooges)

Thay have managed to pass many ''non binding'' resolutions calling for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. LOL

[severow]

Sen. Hillary Clinton faced an usual pressure-cooker in the North Carolina primary.

The highest political priority for the North Crolina Democratic Party at any given time is the next election for governor, be this in the form of more than one campaign for the next party gubernatorial nomination for a single Democratic statehouse campaign in the general election campaign, which coincides with the presidential election cycle.

North Carolina Democrats have lost the governorship to only two Republicans (Jim Holshouser, 1972, and Jim Martin, 1984 and 1988) since the end of the 19th Century. On the other hand, the state has gone Democratic for U.S. senator only once (John Edwards, 1998) in the last six senatorial elections and hasn''t voted Democratic for President since Jimmy Carter''s reform-oriented campaign of 1976.

Both Democratic candidates for governor in the May 6 primary endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President, and with both wings of the state Democratic party fervently supporting Obama at the polls, Sen. Clinton lost the major urban counties by large margins but still managed to carry more than half the 100 counties in the state.

Without this political crucible to contend with after this week, there is no reason that Sen. Clinton cannot go into West Virginia nd Kentucky with excellent prospects for victory.

David McKnight
Raleigh, N.C.

[naucoming4u]

Question:

What logical and sane woman would "stand by her man" who had cheated on her REPEATEDLY?!

Answer:

A woman who wants to use her husband''s popularity to get elected to public office... including the highest public office in the land.

[rowdytexan2]

RowdyTexan2,

Insert Hillary in place of Obama and you will be speaking the truth for once.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1 at 02:45 PM : May 07, 2008

Even after last nite, HIllary still has the popular vote! He just doesn''t get it!

Since neither can win on delegates, HIllary brings in the votes every time!