Clinton Calls on Obama to Support Michigan Re-Vote
DETROIT -- Hillary Clinton diverted her campaign to Michigan today, where she called on Barack Obama to help push for a new Democratic primary.
"Senator Obama speaks passionately on the campaign trail about empowering the American people. Today I am urging him to match those words with actions, to make sure states like Michigan and Florida have a voice and a vote in the next election."
Obama sent out an e-mail raising several questions about the process. On a conference call today, Clinton staffer Harold Ickes said that releasing that type of email is "what lawyers do."
Michigan is trying to set up a re-vote because the results from their January primary aren't being recognized by the Democratic National Committee. The DNC penalized Michigan for moving up their primary before Super Tuesday.
It is a frequent Clinton tactic to use Obama's words against him in situations like these, and she appeared to make allusions to his speech on race yesterday.
"It is because of all those who came before that we are both in this race today, and we should carry on this legacy," said Clinton.
It was a statement that strangely, but not surprisingly, echoed a line from Obama's speech yesterday in Philadelphia.
"This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign – to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America," said Obama.
Clinton tried link the plight between women and African Americans' lack of voting rights in the past with Michigan and Florida lack of a vote in the primary.
"No matter where you were born or how much money you were born into, no matter where you worship or the color of your skin, it is a bedrock American principle that we are all equal in the voting booth," said Clinton.
"It has been a long struggle to get to the point where barriers were knocked down and doors opened and we still have not completed that journey, but it is the vote that has given voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless. It is through that vote that women, African Americans, Latinos and so many others have claimed their rights as full and equal citizens."