Clinton Wins West Virginia, But What's Next?
From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:
CHARLESTON, W.VA. -- Hillary Clinton can boast having the most recent primary victory in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after winning West Virginia by double digits over Barack Obama. Clinton will most likely gain 16 delegates from this state, while Obama earned six, with six others unallocated.
While pressure mounts on Clinton to withdraw from the race, she celebrated with her supporters here as they chanted "It's not over!" It's not over for Clinton supporters being hit up for cash, either, as she sent out an e-mail through her campaign, asking for donations through her website. "We've proved conventional wisdom wrong time and again in this race," she said in the email. "We did it again tonight in West Virginia. Let's keep going."
When she took the stage, she told a crowd of hundreds, "I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign."
"We are in the homestretch," she explained, asking the audience and the viewers behind dozens of media lenses for help. "There are only three weeks left in this final contest."
"I want to send a message to everyone still making up their minds," she said, addressing both uncommitted voters and uncommitted superdelegates. "I am in this race because I believe I am the strongest candidate."
Clinton said if voters chose to nominate her now, she vowed to win against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the fall, John McCain. "You know I'll never give up," said Clinton. "I'll keep coming back and stand with you as long as you stand with me."
After Senator Clinton's win became clear earlier in the evening, Obama called her to congratulate her, but left a message instead of speaking to her directly.
According to exit polling, three out of four Clinton supporters say they would not support Obama if he were the nominee in the general election. Conversely, more than one out of three Obama supporters say they would support Clinton if she were the nominee.
Looking ahead, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that Clinton would be meeting Wednesday with committed and uncommitted superdelegates. Clinton will also sit down with the campaign's national finance board, comprised of around fifty members, who will meet to assess the campaign's fundraising and spending.
Clinton will also sit down for an interview with Katie Couric for tomorrow's CBS Evening News before travelling to both Oregon and Kentucky before next Tuesday's primaries in those states.