VideoCHARLESTON, W.Va., May 13, 2008
Clinton Cruises To West Virginia Win
New York Senator Defeats Obama By 40 Points, Declares "This Race Isn't Over Yet"
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Hillary Clinton On W.Va. Win
Appearing before a crowd of her supporters, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton thanked the people of West Virginia for her win in that state's primary election.
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Hillary Confident In W.Va
Hillary Clinton is confident she will come out victorious in the West Virginia primary. But as Jim Axelrod reports, even a landslide will do little to derail Obama's triple-digit lead.
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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., acknowledges supporters at her West Virginia Primary night rally Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, W.Va. (AP)
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wears a U.S. flag pin as he is introduced at a town hall-style meeting at Thorngate Ltd., in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Tuesday, May 13, 2008. (AP)
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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks holding her ice cream followed by secret service during a campaign stop at a farmer's market in Charleston, W. Va. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, as West Virginians cast their ballots vote in the presidential primary election. (AP)
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Larry Hicks of Stockport, Ohio, shows his Hill-mobile to Samantha Hayes outside of Clinton's campaign headquarters on primary election day in Charleston, W.Va. Tuesday, May 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)
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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. leaves the Russell Senate Office Building after a workout, Tuesday, May 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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Hillary Clinton
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Barack Obama
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"There are some who have wanted to cut this race short," Clinton said at a victory rally in Charleston, West Virginia. "They say, 'Give up. It's too hard. The mountain is too high.' But here in West Virginia, you know a thing or two about rough roads to the top of the mountain." (Watch Clinton Video)
"I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until everyone has had a chance to make their voices heard," Clinton told the cheering crowd. "This race isn't over yet. Neither of us has the total delegates it takes to win."
Obama conceded defeat in the state in advance as he looked ahead to the Oregon primary later in the month and the campaign against Republican John McCain.West Virginia Results
"There is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky [next Tuesday]," the Obama campaign wrote in a statement released to the media on Tuesday. "…But with 49 contests behind us and only six to go -- including several states where we expect to do well -- Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates."
Clinton won with nearly every demographic group, according to exit polls, including men, women, young voters, older voters, people earning less than $50,000 a year and those earning more than that. (Click here to see the full exit poll data.)
Obama won the support of those who said "change" was the quality they were most looking for, those who said the gas tax should not be suspended and those who said that Obama does not share the views of his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"While Clinton’s decisive West Virginia win doesn’t change the overall direction of a race that is lurching toward an end, it won’t help Obama in his transition to a general election campaign," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "And there are continuing signs which, if not a threat to his ability to win the nomination, can’t be comforting for him or his party."
(Click here to read Ververs' full analysis).
West Virginia voters viewed Clinton as the candidate with the best chance of beating McCain in the general election. Sixty percent thought Clinton could beat McCain, while 37 percent though Obama could win in November.
Seventy percent of West Virginia Democratic voters describe Clinton as sharing their own values, while only 47 percent said that Obama does.
Clinton's aides contended that her strength with blue collar voters - already demonstrated in primaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana - prove that she would be the more electable candidate in the fall.
Even before the polls closed, spokesman Mo Elleithee said the primary showed voters "don't want to be told that this thing is over. The people of West Virginia rejected the rush to call this thing over. They sent a very clear message tonight that Hillary Clinton is the best person to take on John McCain in the fall."
Just 24 percent of Clinton voters in the West Virginia primary say they would be satisfied if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee. Seventy-four percent of Clinton supporters would be dissatisfied with Obama carrying the Democratic banner -- the highest number in the primaries to date.
Forty-two percent of West Virginia's Obama voters say they would be satisfied if Clinton becomes the nominee, and 56 percent would be dissatisfied. That level of dissatisfaction is similar to what it was in Indiana when 50 percent of Obama voters said they would be dissatisfied if Clinton was the nominee.
Looking ahead to the general election, 37 percent of Clinton voters in West Virginia say they would vote for Obama if he becomes the nominee, while 34 percent plan to vote for McCain and 25 percent say they won't vote at all. Fifty-four percent of Obama voters in West Virginia say they would vote for Clinton if she's the nominee, 28 percent plan to vote for McCain and 15 percent say they'll stay home in November.
The controversy over Obama's former pastor Rev. Wright seems to have resonated in West Virginia, where 49 percent of Democratic voters think Obama shares Wright's views and 49 percent say he does not.
Seventy-eight percent of Clinton voters think the race for the Democratic nomination should continue until she wins, while 17 percent think the race should end as soon as possible, even if Clinton doesn't win.
Voters also went to the polls in Nebraska on Tuesday, but no Democratic delegates were awarded there since there was a caucus in the state in February, which Obama won. Obama also won the nonbinding "beauty contest" on Tuesday, 49 percent to 47 percent. (Click here to see Nebraska results.)
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, won handily in GOP primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska.
Obama campaigned lightly in West Virginia, focusing instead on the Oregon primary later in the month and the fall campaign against McCain.
"This is our chance to build a new majority of Democrats and independents and Republicans who know that four more years of George Bush just won't do," Obama said in Missouri, which looms as a battleground state in the fall.
"This is our moment to turn the page on the divisions and distractions that pass for politics in Washington," added the man seeking to become the fist black presidential nominee of a major party.
Clinton had picked up 16 delegates from her West Virginia win, while Obama added six to his tally.
According to the latest CBS News count, Obama had a total of 1,879 delegates (of which 1,595 are pledged and 284 are nonbinding superdelegates) to 1,710 for Clinton (1,439 of them pledged and 271 are superdelegates). A candidate needs 2,025 to clinch the nomination at the party convention in Denver this summer. (Click here for the full state-by-state tally.)
The delegate tally aside, the former first lady struggled to overcome an emerging Democratic consensus that Obama effectively wrapped up the nomination last week with a victory in the North Carolina primary and a narrow loss in Indiana.
In the days since, close to 30 superdelegates have swung behind Obama, evidence that party officials were beginning to coalesce around the first-term Illinois senator. Three of his new supporters formerly backed Clinton, who surrendered her lead in superdelegates late last week for the first time since the campaign began.
With her campaign more than $20 million in debt, Clinton desperately needs to raise money following her West Virginia win, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod. On Wednesday, she's calling her top fundraisers to her Washington home to see if there is a way out of her campaign's dire financial shape.
The former first lady spent parts of several days campaigning in West Virginia in search of victory.
She refrained from criticizing Obama directly, but had a cautionary word nonetheless for party leaders who seemed eager to pivot to the fall campaign. "I keep telling people, no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning West Virginia," she said at Tudor's Biscuit World in the state's capital city.
Obama was in the state on Monday, but it was clear he was looking beyond the primary.
He said several days ago he expected Clinton to win by significant margins both in West Virginia and Kentucky, which holds its primary next week. And on Monday, he tried to set the bar of expectations exceedingly low, suggesting that anything above 20 percent would constitute a good showing.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Posted by thisandthat1 at 08:44 AM : May 13, 2008
Barack Obama is no Jack Kennedy....
IF he is the Dem Nom, maybe between now and November SOMEBODY will educate dunker Obama as to what a "free zone" is when he is blithering about NAFTA.
Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 08:20 AM : May 13, 2008
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I went to my local McDonalds for an Egg Mcmuffin this morning and was reminded why I will never vote for Obammie. If they can''t make a simple sandwich correctly, how can one run a country?
Love your country, Vote against the "O" Cult!!!
Will moderate voters fall for such scam????
Will Smart voters fall for such Scam????
Real soon you can get your egg-McMuffins from a lil'' woman in NY...word on the street is America doesn''t want lil'' Hillary presiding over the country so she is seeking reunification with her kitchen stove. When you order your eggs, cookies, brownies, etc. from lil'' Hillary''s kitchen, remember to let lil'' missy know that you were referred to her diner by the Obama Shuffle. She''ll know what you''re talking about because we also sent her a batch of aprons so her pant-suits would get doused with flour, etc...we are a nation at war and people are actually thinking about wasting their vote on a girl pipe dreaming about a woman becoming president, smirk.
Posted by thisandthat1 at 09:28 AM : May 13, 2008
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No! Morons of a different color like you!
Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 09:29 AM : May 13, 2008
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Now THIS IS THE RANT OF A MORON!
Whose your DADDY now?!
Isn''t it time Mommy Michelle took you away from the computer and sent you off to school?
How sad for you that the Obama coronation will take place in the so-called Mile High City--Denver, Colorado. If your Broncos hat is a bit worn we can be sure to get you a new baseball cap, albeit an Obama ''08 one. Face it, lil'' Hillary is weak on forign policy dressed in an apron and grandpa McCain is a grave risk to nap through critical intelligence briefings vital to the safety of America. Soooooo, whose your DADDY now?!
The Obama Shuffle "floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee". We''re the CHAMPIONS baby!!!
How sad for you that the Obama coronation will take place in the so-called Mile High City--Denver, Colorado. If your Broncos hat is a bit worn we can be sure to get you a new baseball cap, albeit an Obama ''''08 one. Face it, lil'''' Hillary is weak on forign policy dressed in an apron and grandpa McCain is a grave risk to nap through critical intelligence briefings vital to the safety of America. Soooooo, whose your DADDY now?!
The Obama Shuffle "floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee". We''''re the CHAMPIONS baby!!!
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Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 10:04 AM : May 13, 2008
Mr. Obama hasn''t shuffled past anybody. ROFL! Why do you think he doesn''t have the nomination?
Will moderate voters fall for such scam????
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Posted by metroduck75 at 09:34 AM : May 13, 2008
Noooooooooooooo, they won''t! :)
The lefty lefts want to deny the peoples choice ! ! !
Well, well, well look who dares to draw her sword and fight yet another day on behalf of lil'' Hillary. How could someone so bright sink with lil'' missy''s ship instead of leaping onto the lifeboat Obama. RowdyTexan2, there are words for people like you: loyalist, faithful, true, etc...but history is full of loyal and faithful followers who blindly followed their leaders. It''s still time for you to save yourself fom sinking with the USS Clintonians. We are a nation at war lady, so remember terrorist don''t play softball or powder-puff football. lil'' missy is out. It''s really that simple--save yourself Rowdy'' or sink with her. The Obama Shuffle rules and the nomination is all but secured. The FAT LADY is making her way to the podium, RowdyTexan2, sorry ''bout your lil'' girl''s pipe dream about a woman becoming president, smirk.
Thank you Sen Clinton for fighting for the peoples right to vote ! ! !
I stood in line in Florida and voted and I did not break any rules ! ! !
Obama says my vote should not count.
That is the lefty left way of thinking ! ! !
Deny the peoples choice ! ! !
NOBAMA! EVER!
Contrary to your comments "NOBAMA EVER", read my lips, "Whose your DADDY" will be the answer to a future Jeopardy category question on Final Jeopardy. The question will be: What household slogan came to be affliated with the successful campaign of the Obama Shuffle.
By late evening on May 20th, disraeli928, you and the rest of America will know whose your DADDY, because lil'' missy will be forced out and grandpa McCain will get steamrolled by the Obama Shuffle.
Hopefully, Americas will vote against each and every Demopublican in Congress...vote for a Turnip! It does not matter...get these corrupt and vile creatures out of Washington!! Every single bridge-killing Kennedy...crooked McCain...Swinish Toe Tapping waste of oxygen...
"It is just wonderful to be back in Oregon and over the last 15 months we have traveled to every corner of the United States. I have now been in 57 states," he said to a smattering of laughter in the crowd. "I think one left to go. One left to go - Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it." Barack Obama -5/10/8
Where''s all the articles saying he''s lost his bearings????
Remember a vote for this rookie car salesman is a vote for WRIGHT, REZKO, AYERS, AND FARAHKHAN%u2026..OBAMA is dishonest and disgrace. He does not deserve my vote!
I stood in line in Florida and voted and I did not break any rules ! ! !
Obama says my vote should not count.
That is the lefty left way of thinking ! ! !
Deny the peoples choice ! ! !
Posted by old300d at 10:53 AM : May 13, 2008
Feel free to use your critical thinking skills at any time.
HILLARY - threw you under the bus when it was to her advantage when she was leading in the polls and wanted to decrease the chances of rivals catching her, she was part of the "CONSPIRACY" and if she has her way NO VOTES across the entire country would count - she wants th superdelegates to ignore it all and hand her the nomination - if you look two-faced up in the dictionary you would find Hillarys'' picture.
STATE POLITICANS - created the situation by believing the primaries were simply a coronation of Hillary gettting the nomination so they wanted to move up to the front of the voting order so their votes would "COUNT" - smooth move! Obama did not create the situation - nor did he impact it afterwards.
POLITICS - is based upon popular votes/deledates, even if you include Florida and Michigan Hillary is still beat.
Even with all that rest assurred your delegation will be seated - I''ve never known a politican yet that wouldn''t invite all their cronies to a drunked party being paid for by the taxpayers.
P.S. OBAMA PICKED UP FOUR MORE SUPER DELEGATES TODAY!
SO FAR!
will not carry the electoral college
SHE''S IN IT TO SPIN IT!
Obama will win every state West of the Mississippi with the exception of Arizona McCain%u2019s home state. Obama is well loved out here in the West we always look into a mans heart and see his soul . That is how the West was won we always look ahead. We do not have all the problems you have on the east side of the Mississippi, we always look forward instead of backwards.
The hate and racism you have handed down from generation to generation in the East does play well out hear in Gods Country. We are not perfect out hear butt we will give a man a honest hearing.
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