Dem Rivals Hit Campaign Home Stretch
Clinton In Puerto Rico, Where She Is Favored To Win; Obama Tells Vets In N.M. "I Will Not Let You Down"
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Video
Clinton Eyes Puerto Rico
Hillary Clinton is eyeing Puerto Rico is what could be a last-ditch effort to rescue her presidential campaign. Thalia Assuras reports.
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Video
Clinton Sorry For RFK Remark
After offhandedly referenced Bobby Kennedy's assassination during an interview, Hillary Clinton issued a public apology-- but not after drawing criticism from all sides. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Photo
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., covers her face as she laughs with her husband, former President Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, during a speech at a campaign rally for her supporters in the AFSCME service workers union in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Monday, May 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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Photo Essay
Hillary Clinton
A look at a life and career full of firsts.
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Photo Essay
Barack Obama
The junior senator from Illinois is making his name known.
Clinton, who is trying despite the odds against her to catch up to Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, visited with Laura Santiago Suarez and Carlos Rivera Figueroa. Residents of a public housing project in Bayamon, the couple talked about their 21-year-old son, Jonathan, a soldier awaiting redeployment for another tour in Iraq.
Sitting in the living room of their apartment, Clinton said that once she is president she will end the war so "you will not have to worry about him going back to Iraq." She also talked about the high cost of electricity and gas in Puerto Rico, and said she wanted to see the island use solar and wind energy.
Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, also reunited with a family that received federal aid after Hurricane Georges in 1998. As first lady, Hillary Clinton had visited them to see how the storm affected Puerto Ricans.
It is the Clintons' long history with Puerto Rico - and Hispanic voters in general - that gives Clinton a decided edge in the island's presidential primary on June 1, not to mention that her home state of New York has approximately 1 million Puerto Ricans.
But Clinton needs something approaching a mathematical miracle to catch Obama in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Puerto Rico has 55 delegates at stake in its primary, but Obama had a total of 1,969 to Clinton's 1,774, according to the latest CBS News tally. He was just 57 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination.
"Hillary Clinton has a slight, a very slight chance to win, but almost negligible at this point," said David Mark, senior editor of Politico.com.
It's practically zip because under no circumstances do the numbers add up in her favor, reports CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras. So the Clinton campaign is appealing to superdelegates who don't vote until the convention.
As Clinton wrapped up her Puerto Rican swing, Obama marked Memorial Day in New Mexico, a battleground state in the general election.
Obama told a group of veterans that he cannot know what it's like to walk into battle or lose a child in combat, since he has experienced neither, but he said he is committed to strengthening the military and improving veterans' services.
"As president of the United States, I will not let you down," he promised.
Obama said President Bush is asking the troops to do too much with too little, such as interacting with civilians without the necessary translators and handling nation-building tasks that could be done by the State Department and other agencies.
"We're asking them to be teachers, social workers, engineers, diplomats. That's not what they're trained to do," the Illinois senator said during a town hall-style meeting at the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.
Heavy use of private contractors, such as Blackwater, also hurts troops, Obama said. Contractors are paid many times what U.S. personnel make, but they aren't subject to the same rules and their misconduct inflames anti-American sentiment, he said. And when troops return home, the Bush administration doesn't do enough to help those suffering from combat stress or to help them get civilian jobs, Obama said.
After his town hall event, Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson laid wreaths at a memorial to the state's fallen soldiers. The wind knocked over the wreaths, scattering the flowers, and Obama and Richardson propped the wreaths against the monument and gathered the stray flowers.
They shook hands with onlookers, including a color guard of veterans, and Obama thanked them for their service.
In Puerto Rico, Clinton also spoke at a rally of union members from AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
"Puerto Rico should support Hillary because she understands you better," Bill Clinton told the crowd. The former president and the couple's daughter, Chelsea, will remain in Puerto Rico while Hillary Clinton heads to South Dakota and Montana, which hold the final primaries a week from Tuesday.
She ended her trip in San Juan at a ceremony to add names to a dark marble monument for Puerto Ricans who died fighting in the U.S. military.
The memorial, she told the crowd, shows why Puerto Ricans should be allowed a greater voice in the U.S. government. Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general election for president.
"That is an injustice and an insult to the thousands and thousands of Puerto Ricans who have served America with heroism and honor," Clinton said.
Not all Puerto Ricans were happy with Clinton's visit.
Jorge Pedroza, president of the Council of Vietnam Veterans of Puerto Rico, said he was upset that she waited until the third day of her campaign swing to meet with veterans. He noted that Obama's first stop during his appearance Saturday was to visit with veterans.
"If she's here honoring the dead, what about the living?" Pedroza said.
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See all 306 CommentsPosted by sjc_1 at 09:37 PM : May 26, 2008
Hillary has zero chance of getting nomination. Unless of course something terrible happens to Barack as she hopes it will. The DNC has made up it''s mind and is just letting her run out the clock.
Posted by sjc_1 at 09:37 PM : May 26, 2008
Hillary has zero chance of getting nomination. Unless of course something terrible happens to Barack as she hopes it will. The DNC has made up it''''s mind and is just letting her run out the clock.
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 09:40 PM : May 26, 2008
Still the bigoted old goat sitting behind your computer hoping someone knocks off Obama so you can blame it on Hillary Clinton?
They walk among us, folks...and they vote!
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 09:40 PM : May 26, 2008
Nope, in fact Obama can claim no win until every delegate vote is cast at convention!
Superdelegates can''t even vote until convention.
And Obama hasn''t won it with pledged delegates either.
Posted by RandyNason
They''ve already got the gay marriage issue in relation to presidential candidates waiting in the wings. Here we go again....
And the last three state''s primaries have shown the public just isn''t buying any more of his marketing campaign, including 42% of Oregon.
Posted by omega39 at 09:46 PM : May 26, 2008
Wedge issues and fear is all the GOP has or knows, but it won''t work this time. The American people are sick of more of the same old garbage, which is why Barack will be the next president.
And yet the Obama honkers have been screaming for months for Hillary to step down!
You see what I mean by his intimidation shill games?
And yet the Obama honkers have been screaming for months for Hillary to step down!
You see what I mean by his intimidation shill games?
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Posted by RowdyWicca at 09:51 PM : May 26, 2008
That''s EXACTLY why they jumped on Hillary Clinton''s words and tried to spin it into a death wish for Obama!
Because they knew if she ever brought up the fact that NOBODY! NONE! ZIP! ZILCH! was calling for Bobby Kennedy to step down, it would show the DNC for the fools they''ve been in this primary season!
Posted by SgtRDS-E4
It may not matter to most voters but it won''t stop the corporate owned media from yammering on about it for months while they avoid any substantive issues and policy positions of the candidates.
Posted by omega39 at 09:55 PM : May 26, 2008
It never does. Still I think an election comes along every once in awhile where the majority of the people are engaged and demanding change. I believe this is one of those elections where enough people see through the smoke screens of the old politics and are sick of what they see.
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 10:01 PM : May 26, 2008
Actually the last three primaries have shown you that people are sick of Obama''s race baiting shill game, and they''re having NONE of it! Including 42% of Oregon voters!
And this last trick of distortion and lies by his campaign will be the last straw!
"Y" platform players. It is sickening. hey beat each other and the Democratic party into the ground. Any attempt I have made to bring rationality to these boards has been abjectly ignored....so do your worst.
The Libertarian Convention this weekend was at least entertaining. Bob Barr Presidential canidate? He should steal some votes from MCain. Refreshing, albeit idealistic debate on Saturday.
Posted by linymo at 10:31 PM : May 26, 2008
She threw away that chance with her assassination wish. I mean who would want a VP that you''d always be having to look over your shoulder to see if she has a gun or a knife in her hand.
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Posted by linymo at 10:34 PM : May 26, 2008
Actually this is just the credentials committee, and if they vote to seat MI and FLA''s delegates and Hillary gets even closer, then the core democrats can go to the rules committee and make them rule on Obama breaking the DNC rules in MI and FLA and he can''t get any delegates in those states and that will put Hillary even closer!
And Hillary''s already shown she can get the majority vote, which is something that Obama can''t.
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 10:42 PM : May 26, 2008
She''s never wanted to be Obama''s VP. I mean who would want to be attached to his whack job administration? Even Edwards knows better!
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 10:42 PM : May 26, 2008
Still the bigoted old goat hoping someone will knock off Obama so you can blame it on Hillary Clinton?
They walk among us folks...and they vote!
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Posted by jedi080808 at 10:53 PM : May 26, 2008
Cry yourself a river! LMAO!
This is hardly over! The people have seen the Obama''s intimidation shill for what it is!
Isn''t it strange, Bobby Kennedy was 200 delegates behind on June 5 of 1968...not a soul was worried about the late date! And NOBODY was asking him to step down!
How many months now has the Obama intimidation network been calling for her to step down!
I think the people have seen about enough of the DNC and Obama''s games! The DNC is just salivating after Obama''s oil and energy! They''re still crying a river that they can''t get any donations!
Guess why? Because people see what they''re doing!
EXACTLY!
Who wants a thin skinned wimp in the White House that can''t take the pressure! Fell like a cheap empty suit in all the debates! Hasn''t a freaking clue what he''s talking about without a teleprompter!
=do you see the Republicans voting for obama?
Posted by fenner at 11:02 PM : May 26, 2008
Yes and yes. As will the bulk of independents. Neoconservatism is dying.
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 11:04 PM : May 26, 2008
Neocons will be leaving the White House with Dubya! It''ll be a great new year!
Obama can''t win without the majority vote...and if the DNC can''t see that, then the voters will be satisfied with the liberal republican and a democratically controlled congress!
Nobody''s going to give a rip other than they won''t cast a vote for Obama!
Anybody with any sense already knows that going from the extreme right wing to the extreme left wing is FAILED strategy!
Too many know what will happen with Obama and his tax based plans. The middle class can''t support them! It''s that simple.
She sure picks good people. Yeah, this woman loves the common folk just like the managers she has to fire. Heck, when she sat on the board at Walmart, she sure was influential in getting that company to really take care of the women who work there. And, last but not least, she voted for the Iraq War. Didn''t that work out great? She''s a woman of great experience and great judgment.
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Posted by jedi080808 at 11:09 PM : May 26, 2008
Dream on! There were 70 county voter registration booths set up here at grocery stores! They''re being overwhelmed with people that want to change their registration to ''independent'' so they can write-in if they want to!
Nobody''s buying the Obama krap anymore!
You have to forgive Chitown...he''s a racist little piggy...look out...here it comes! It''s his only excuse for voting for Obama.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:21 PM : May 26, 2008
Another trashy bigoted old goat hoping someone will offf Obama so they can blame it on HIllary Clinton!
They walk among us, folks...and they vote!
Nobody''''s buying the Obama krap anymore!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:14 PM : May 26, 2008
Peole don''t need to be registered as Independents to vote how they please, or to write in a candidates name. ANY person, can vote for ANY candidate that they want to, OR can write in any name that they want to.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:24 PM : May 26, 2008
Yeah they do...to be able to write in!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:21 PM : May 26, 2008
And your excuse for voting for Hillary is.... "she''s a woman, and it''s about time a woman won the presidency"?
They walk among us, folks...and they vote!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:22 PM : May 26, 2008
YOUR choice for the presidency is the one HOPING for Obama to get assassinated, so she can steal the election - NOT me.
I''m smart enough to realize that he is the ONLY one that can beat CAREER politicans like Bush, Cheney, McCain, and Hillary Clinton.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:27 PM : May 26, 2008
Nope, my vote goes to the candidate who has a proven record for doing good for the citizens of this country and who has the best plans...I don''t want the apprentice...I want the teacher!
Turning the button of the atomic bomb over to the equivalent of a first grader with 143 days in school is absurd!
Especially whose base support is every whack job in Chicago!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:25 PM : May 26, 2008
I don''t know how it works on your planet, but here in America, ANYONE can write in ANY name that they want to.
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:27 PM : May 26, 2008
that really is what it is for some of the more die-hard Hillary supporters. They want a woman as president no matter which woman it is and no matter if she''d be the best choice. Still the bulk of the feminists who support Hillary will vote for Barack because they know that a vote for McCain is a vote for an ultra conservative Supreme Court that will set women''s right and civil rights back generations.
I''''m smart enough to realize that he is the ONLY one that can beat CAREER politicans like Bush, Cheney, McCain, and Hillary Clinton.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:29 PM : May 26, 2008
Nope, just you bigoted old goats sitting at your computers are the only ones wishing for that! You get your jollies off on it!
Well, too bad the rest of the country isn''t buying Obama''s krap!
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 11:31 PM : May 26, 2008
Typical excuses for bigoted old goats! Again, I want the teacher, not the apprentice!
Turning the button of the atomic bomb over to the equivalent of a first grader with 143 days in school is absurd!
Especially whose base support is every whack job in Chicago!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:29 PM : May 26, 2008
I have no idea who you''re talking about. As a NY resident, I can 100% assure you that Hillary Clinton DOES NOT represent her constituents.
As proof, I offer you ALL of her 2000 senate campaign promises. EIGHT YEARS LATER, and they are ALL unfulfilled. So I don''t know what or who you''re talking about when you say "proven record for doing good" because by my scorecard, she has done ANYTHING much less proven it.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:29 PM : May 26, 2008
Too bad Obama''s carrer has been advancing himself in politics by getting support from every corrupt individual in Chicago!
Maybe he should''ve concentrated a little more on passing some decent legislation instead!
As proof, I offer you ALL of her 2000 senate campaign promises. EIGHT YEARS LATER, and they are ALL unfulfilled. So I don''''t know what or who you''''re talking about when you say "proven record for doing good" because by my scorecard, she has done ANYTHING much less proven it.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:35 PM : May 26, 2008
Too bad the rest of New York residents don''t seem to agree with you!
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:35 PM : May 26, 2008
Hillary Clinton is running on her name alone. She''s running on the coat-tails of Bill. If she hadn''t married him no one would have the slightest idea of who she is. Her number one qualification for president (and actually her only one) is that she married well and slept with a president for 8 years. She is no more or less qualified then Laura Bush is.
Well, too bad the rest of the country isn''''t buying Obama''''s krap!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:31 PM : May 26, 2008
And what exactly did Obama say about Hillary HOPING that he gets assassinated?
Why would I wish that the ONLY logical choice for president, be assassinated?
Why would I wish that the ONLY logical choice for president, be assassinated?
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:39 PM : May 26, 2008
Yeah, wasn''t that cute? Obama getting his hit men to jump on her statements and accuse her of wishing him dead....
And then his coming out with his fake graciousness going...Awwwwwwwww she didn''t mean it!
His fake graciousness is wearing a little thin! People kind woke up to that krap after about six times!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:33 PM : May 26, 2008
She''s the teacher all right - she''s mastered the Karl Rove playbook, and is currently re-writing it.
She''s MORE republican than Cheney, and she''s more of a "typical career politician" than Tom Delay.
You are correct - she is the master.
Maybe he should''''ve concentrated a little more on passing some decent legislation instead!
Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:36 PM : May 26, 2008
Al Capone for Barrack Obama!!
LOL!!!
You''re SO delusional!!!
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:41 PM : May 26, 2008
I''ll have to admit that she surprised me there. I was amazed at how sleazy she could get.
She''''s MORE republican than Cheney, and she''''s more of a "typical career politician" than Tom Delay.
You are correct - she is the master.
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Posted by hungry1968 at 11:41 PM : May 26, 2008
Yeah, isn''t it strange...Obama''s assistants saying that anytime they needed to know how to handle an issue that they call Hillary''s office! LMAO!
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