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http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Hillary_campaign/2008/02/11/71930.html
Hillary Clinton Insists 'I'm Still Ahead'
Monday, February 11, 2008
WHITE MARSH, Md. -- Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton denied Monday
that her campaign is in trouble after losing to Sen. Barack Obama in four
states this past weekend and replacing her campaign manager.
''I'm still ahead in the popular vote and in delegates,'' Clinton said,
though the numbers do not fully support that statement.
An Associated Press tally shows Clinton with a slim lead among delegates _
1,147, compared to 1,124 for Obama. But an initial tabulation of the total
popular vote showed Obama likely to pull ahead once the results of states
that held caucuses are fully counted.
Speaking to reporters after touring a General Motors plant outside
Baltimore, Clinton said she feels very good about the state of the race,
even though she is not expected to win between now and March 4, when voters
in Texas and Ohio cast ballots.
''We had a great night on Super Tuesday,'' Clinton said, referring to the 22
states that voted Feb. 5. Clinton won eight states to Obama's 13 but scored
in many of the biggest contests including New York, California,
Massachusetts and New Jersey. And they divided the delegates almost evenly.
''I believe if you look at the states ... upcoming, I am very confident.''
The former first lady said the decision by Patti Solis Doyle to step down as
campaign manager was personal and reflected the toll of the long campaign,
not a problem with her job performance.
''I have the greatest respect and affection for her,'' Clinton said. ''I'm
grateful for the enormously successful job that she's done.''
She said Solis Doyle would remain a senior adviser. Maggie Williams, a
longtime Clinton confidante and former chief of staff from Clinton's days as
first lady, replaced Solis Doyle.
Solis Doyle's departure capped a rough weekend for Clinton after she lost
the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska, Washington state, Maine and
the Virgin Islands to Obama.
Clinton said she never expected to do well in any of those contests, even
though she had been favored to win Maine. She repeated her criticism that
the caucus system is undemocratic and caters mostly to party activists.
As for Louisiana, ''You had a very strong and very proud African-American
electorate, which I totally respect and understand,'' Clinton said.
She noted that the states she won on Super Tuesday were all states Democrats
must win to succeed in the general election. Many of the states Obama won
that night, such as Alaska and North Dakota, would not be competitive for
Democrats next November, she said.
The New York senator also dismissed concern that Obama had all the momentum
going into the next round of contests. He's expected to sweep the so-called
Potomac primary Tuesday, when Maryland, Virginia and the District of
Columbia cast votes, and is favored next week in Wisconsin and Hawaii.
''Before Super Tuesday you all were reporting on all the momentum. It didn't
turn out to be true,'' she said. ''Let's have the elections. Instead of
talking about them, pontificating and punditing, let's let people actually
vote.''
Earlier Monday, Clinton addressed a campaign audience in the District of
Columbia.
She told a small gathering sponsored by the National Council for Negro Women
that she supports full voting rights for District residents.
''I think this is long overdue,'' Clinton said to cheers. ''I think it is
wrong that we disenfranchise the people who live and work in this city.''
Voting rights in a significant issue in Washington, where nearly 60 percent
of the population is black. The former first lady has struggled to gain
traction with black voters in her race against Obama, who hopes to be the
first black president.
Hillary Clinton Insists 'I'm Still Ahead'
Monday, February 11, 2008
WHITE MARSH, Md. -- Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton denied Monday
that her campaign is in trouble after losing to Sen. Barack Obama in four
states this past weekend and replacing her campaign manager.
''I'm still ahead in the popular vote and in delegates,'' Clinton said,
though the numbers do not fully support that statement.
An Associated Press tally shows Clinton with a slim lead among delegates _
1,147, compared to 1,124 for Obama. But an initial tabulation of the total
popular vote showed Obama likely to pull ahead once the results of states
that held caucuses are fully counted.
Speaking to reporters after touring a General Motors plant outside
Baltimore, Clinton said she feels very good about the state of the race,
even though she is not expected to win between now and March 4, when voters
in Texas and Ohio cast ballots.
''We had a great night on Super Tuesday,'' Clinton said, referring to the 22
states that voted Feb. 5. Clinton won eight states to Obama's 13 but scored
in many of the biggest contests including New York, California,
Massachusetts and New Jersey. And they divided the delegates almost evenly.
''I believe if you look at the states ... upcoming, I am very confident.''
The former first lady said the decision by Patti Solis Doyle to step down as
campaign manager was personal and reflected the toll of the long campaign,
not a problem with her job performance.
''I have the greatest respect and affection for her,'' Clinton said. ''I'm
grateful for the enormously successful job that she's done.''
She said Solis Doyle would remain a senior adviser. Maggie Williams, a
longtime Clinton confidante and former chief of staff from Clinton's days as
first lady, replaced Solis Doyle.
Solis Doyle's departure capped a rough weekend for Clinton after she lost
the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska, Washington state, Maine and
the Virgin Islands to Obama.
Clinton said she never expected to do well in any of those contests, even
though she had been favored to win Maine. She repeated her criticism that
the caucus system is undemocratic and caters mostly to party activists.
As for Louisiana, ''You had a very strong and very proud African-American
electorate, which I totally respect and understand,'' Clinton said.
She noted that the states she won on Super Tuesday were all states Democrats
must win to succeed in the general election. Many of the states Obama won
that night, such as Alaska and North Dakota, would not be competitive for
Democrats next November, she said.
The New York senator also dismissed concern that Obama had all the momentum
going into the next round of contests. He's expected to sweep the so-called
Potomac primary Tuesday, when Maryland, Virginia and the District of
Columbia cast votes, and is favored next week in Wisconsin and Hawaii.
''Before Super Tuesday you all were reporting on all the momentum. It didn't
turn out to be true,'' she said. ''Let's have the elections. Instead of
talking about them, pontificating and punditing, let's let people actually
vote.''
Earlier Monday, Clinton addressed a campaign audience in the District of
Columbia.
She told a small gathering sponsored by the National Council for Negro Women
that she supports full voting rights for District residents.
''I think this is long overdue,'' Clinton said to cheers. ''I think it is
wrong that we disenfranchise the people who live and work in this city.''
Voting rights in a significant issue in Washington, where nearly 60 percent
of the population is black. The former first lady has struggled to gain
traction with black voters in her race against Obama, who hopes to be the
first black president.
