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Clinton Vows to Press Campaign
By Mark ImpomeniMay 14th 2008 1:30PM
Filed Under:eHillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Featured Stories, Primaries, 2008 President
Sen. Hillary Clinton put recent media speculation that she may drop out of the Democratic primary race to rest with her victory speech following the Mountain State primary last night. More properly put, the voters of West Virginia did. Lopsided is not strong enough of a word to describe the magnitude of Clinton's win in West Virginia. She bested her rival Sen. Barack Obama, by 41 percentage points, 67-26. The rout was complete. Clinton won every single county in the state, most by more than 20 points, as Obama was only able to break above 40% in one county. Clinton won men and women, churchgoers and non-churchgoers, college educated and non-college educated, rich and poor, all by large margins.At her campaign victory rally, Clinton delivered her victory address in understated tones, but the implications in her rhetoric came through loud and clear. She still believes that she is the stronger candidate to face Sen. John McCain in the general election, and she intends to continue campaigning until the primary calendar is complete.
"There are some who have wanted to cut this race short. 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. We know from the Bible that faith can move mountains and, my friends, the faith of the Mountain State has moved me. I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until everyone has had a chance to make their voices heard."
Clinton hit on every one of her campaign's rationales for remaining in the race, and for claiming the status of stronger general election candidate. The Clinton campaign has been pitching to the Democratic superdelegates her strength in the expected general election swing states. She has won Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the disputed states of Michigan and Florida. Sen. Clinton told the faithful last night that despite trailing in the delegate count, she has amassed an impressive number of votes, and an important list of states.
"I am in this race because I believe I am the strongest candidate - the strongest candidate to lead our party in November of 2008 and the strongest president to lead our nation starting in January of 2009. I can win this nomination if you decide I should, and I can lead this party to victory in the general election if you lead me to victory now.On her appeal to rural, working-class democrats, and by implication Obama's growing trouble winning the important voting bloc, Clinton stressed her connection to the voters who have largely fueled her post-Super Tuesday string of victories.
The choice falls to all of you, and I don't envy you. I deeply admire Senator Obama, but I believe our case, a case West Virginia has helped to make, our case is stronger. Together, we have won millions and millions of votes - by the time tonight is over, probably 17 million, close to it. We've won them in states that we must be prepared and ready to win in November – Pennsylvania and Ohio, Arkansas and New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Florida, and now West Virginia. It is a fact that no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning West Virginia.
The bottom line is this – the White House is one in the swing states and I am winning the swing states.
I'm in it because of the people that I have worked for my entire life and the people I meet along the campaign trail, people who need someone who fights for them because they're fighting so hard every single day, the people who drive for miles to show their support, who come with the home-made sign, who raise money by skipping those dinners out, who have stood fast and stood strong. I'm in this race for the millions of Americans who know that we can do better in our country, for the nurse on her second shift, for the worker on the line, for the waitress on her feet, for the small business owner, the farmer, the teacher, the coal miner, the trucker, the soldier, the veteran, the college student.She asked voters to think hard about the election season and to consider, "how we will win in November." That was perhaps a subtle reference to her campaign operatives' contention that Democrats can't win in the general election with Obama's coalition of the educated, liberals, and African-Americans.
All of the hardworking men and women who defy the odds to build a better life for themselves and their children. You will never be counted out, and I won't either. You will never quit, and I won't, either.
Although Obama did not compete strongly in West Virgina, even choosing to forgo a concession speech, the loss is potentially very damaging to his campaign. It is difficult for any candidate to explain away a 41-point loss, let alone the presumptive nominee of the party. Mike Huckabee came close but did not win a state from John McCain after Super Tuesday crowned McCain as the eventual Republican nominee. Clinton is set to score two straight. Polls show Clinton poised for another double-digit victory over Obama in next week's Kentucky primary. Obama will likely next win Oregon, but that may only serve to cement the notion that his campaign plays well to the educated elites on the coasts and struggles with Democrats in the nation's mid section. Clinton sees no reason to challenge that perception, not as long as she keeps winning.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 6)Alicia1:56PMMay 14th 2008
I guess all these type of voters aren't needed for an Obama victory in November, huh.
I would love to see Obama try and pull this off without Hillary at his side.
TJ2:01PMMay 14th 2008
OBAMA IS JUST RUNNING AROUND LIKE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND WILL NEVER SEE CLINTON SNATCH THIS ELECTION. HE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WEARING LAPEL PINS AND SHOWING UP. AND TALKING HIS GRANDFATHER BEING IN THE MILITARY(NOT OBAMA, BY THE WAY)AINT GONNA CUT IT.
PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING HIS 'SPEECHES' ANYMORE.
HE IS BEING BEATEN BADLY BY HILLARY CLINTON IN CONSTITUENCIES THAT ARE "REQUIRED" TO WIN. THE DNC IS IN FOR A SHOCK IF OBAMA IS NOMINEE. THEY ARE HURRYING TO LOSE THIS ELECTION.
PEOPLE AINT BUYING HIS SOARING RHETORIC AFTER JEREMIAH WRIGHT--THAT IS REALITY. THE LAPEL PIN IS A JOKE.
TJ2:08PMMay 14th 2008
A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRAZY TIM RUSSERT "MATH" CROWNED OBAMA THE NOMINEE, THE WEST VIRGINIANS WENT TO THE POLLS AND REJECTED HIM 67%
CRAZY FUZZY MATH!!
HERE IS A LIST OF THE LOSER IN A BIG HURRY TO LOSE THIS ELECTION
MCGOVERN.. RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND LOST..BIGGEST LOSER
TED KENNDY..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST
DODD..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST
EDWARDS..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST
RICHARDSON..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST/TRAITOR
KERRY..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST
JOE ANDREWS..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST/TRAITOR
JESSE JACKSON..PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOST
HOWARD MOOOO DEAN... PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO LOTS
NANCY BAAAAH PELOSI... THATS A WHOLE OTHER STORY
A BUNCH OF LOSERS
NEXT WE ADD OBAMA..LOSERS
IF THEY ARE IN A HURRY TO LOSE, I WILL HELP THEM BY VOTING,
CLINTON OR MCCAIN
HOW IS THAT?
TJ, OBAMAMANIA BUSTER FOR ALWAYS
Alicia2:10PMMay 14th 2008
Obama is the presumptive nominee for the democrats and I am so proud to be an American. Clinton's pandering to her audience last night was a disgust. Was it all for the sake of money? I supported the Clintons in the 90's and was eager to do so this time around. I cannot believe the tactics in which Senator Clinton has belittled herself to. She is like the politics of the old. More lying and dishonesty. It makes you sad to see a person so desperate. I wish she would just be honest. I really did have a hard time voting for her in the primaries knowing she voted for the war in Iraq. She still hasn't owned up to that mistake. I don't know, I think she has earned the respect from the dems to keep campaigning, but I hope she and only she can exit gracefully when the times comes. She has really caused a lot of division among the party and this worries me. Top democrats, please do something.
Victor2:13PMMay 14th 2008
OBAMA only won RED states (republican states) because "caucuses" allow anybody to vote, including aliens and felons, without ID. CAUCUSES are NOT a true representation of the REAL AMERICAN VOTING PUBLIC. Primaries are.
HILLARY WON ALL THE PRIMARIES AND BLUE STATES, ALL THE BIG DEMOCRATIC STATES, ALL THE SWING STATES. HILLARY is the strongest, most viable candidtate for President. BUT the washington "boys club" is closing ranks behind junior rookie Obama, and try to fix the election by pushing out the BEST CANDIDATE before all 50 states have voted.
If this is not a bigoted sexist fix, I dont know what is.
WE DEMOCRATS, HILLARY SUPPORTERS WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
We will go all the way, get ALL 50 STATES to vote, their votes MUST BE COUNTED. If the DNC nominates Obama without all 50 states votes, there will be a LANDSLIDE LOSS in november.
BY THE WAY, HILLARY CAN RUN AS INDEPENDENT AND WE WILL ALL VOTE FOR HER. SHE IS THE ONLYCANDIDATE WHO CAN WIN FOR THE DNC.
TJ2:17PMMay 14th 2008
I FORGOT TO SAY,
LONG LIVE THE CLINTONS
AND JOBS AND BALANCED BUDGET?
DID I ALSO SAY BILL CLINTON IS THE MAN?
6TH PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME!!!
YEAH
QUIT DISRESPECTING HIM BECAUSE YOU FOUND A MESSIAH...
DID I SAY OBAMA HAS DONE NOTHING?
OKAY, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
LAST MINUTE LAPEL PIN DOES NOT A RACIST, ANTI-AMERICAN CHANGE..
TJ, THE OBAMAMANIA BUSTER FOREVER
Alicia2:19PMMay 14th 2008
Alicia2:10PMMay 14th 2008
Obama is the presumptive nominee for the democrats and I am so proud to
----------
awwwww! isn't that sweet! Some chicken shit is using my name! I feel so loved!
Katherine2:23PMMay 14th 2008
Yes, good article. But I think Obama did campaign strongly in West Virginia. He had more offices open than Hillary and he outspent Hillary 2 to 1. Obama DID try to win, even if he is acting like he didn't.
This is a HUGE win for Hillary. Supers need to pay attention and see that she wins so many of the most important swing states and blue dem states. This is getting so STUPID. Hillary has more experience and all the needed states, what on EARTH could the supers and big top dems be thinking if they choose Obama?
Unless they plan to throw Obama in the general and cheat on every single electronic voting machine, there is no way dems could win without Hillary as the nominee.
QUARTERHORSE2:23PMMay 14th 2008
step down, obama.......a whole state told you we dont want you, every county ! has any state said that to hillary ? you are a fraud, stop embarassing the nation. you can not win the general election, you are not electable. go away.
D. L. GRAHAM2:27PMMay 14th 2008
CLINTON CLAWS STOP "GENERAL" CAMPAIGN!
David Axelrod must set aside his "General" Campaign program, as the Clintons have no intention of letting or getting out of the way and allowing the Democrate Party to heal any split or divide's. But have shown what a third term Clinton Presidency will be like, one of racial divide, and no reaching across to the (GOP) to accomplish anything in a bi-partisan way.
With the Clintons we will only see more fighting, more gridlock and no compromise.
David Axelrod has no one in the Democratic Party who will end this "knife-fight" and pull Hillary off the individual who "IS" even in the view of The Raging "Cajon" James Carville, the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
It is time for David Axelrod to do what must be done turn back in full force to the "Primary" and do what must be done remove (D-NY) US/Senator Hillary Diane Rodham-Clintons claws from his nominees back, and TAKE THE PRIZE which has been won.
Hillary is damaging race relation setting them back decades, giving the (GOP) with each passing day a larger head start in the "General Election", making a case that the "Black-Guy" can't win, that The United States is a Racist County, while providing aid and comfort to the enemy.
The "Super-Delegates" are showing there is a racial problem within the Democratic Pary, and David Axelrod, has to turn on the Clintons, with those who reject racism as mean to an end NOW!
Alicia2:30PMMay 14th 2008
Sorry 1st Alicia, cannot help my parents named me this name. Get over it. Just happy I don't have your small mindedness.
Alicia2:35PMMay 14th 2008
Alicia2:30PMMay 14th 2008
Sorry 1st Alicia, cannot help my parents named me this name. Get over it. Just happy I don't have your small mindedness.
_________________
Well congrats on your first post here on pm then!
Nicole (TEXAS)2:35PMMay 14th 2008
"OBAMA" AND "CHANGE!" (WHATEVER!!!!!!!!)
RACISM? Whatever. I don't see a black man. I see the (TWO) WHITE MEN STANDING BEHIND Obama. They worry me, not Obama.
Look behind Obama Look to the right....
Do you see Kennedy?
Look to the left.....
Do you see Kerry?
You want to talk change?
*I see a political puppet pushed to the forefront, but hidden from the"spotlight" lies the "old school."
*Obama is a forefront for the same old "Democrat Party." I am not manipulated by words. I see a black man in a suit. I see a deception. I see race hiding the true agenda.
*Obama is a "political puppet" and the puppeteers are hidden behind the curtain. I DON'T WANT A "PUPPET SHOW" IN THE OVAL OFFICE. I don't want Kennedy or Kerry running things!
*SO I have heard Hillary is the old? No. Kerry and Kennedy can't puppeteer Hillary. So they don't want her! And they are calling her the old? Whatever.
*So what changes with Obama? Can someone tell me?
I just don't see Obama, I am looking behind the curtain!!!!
No Puppet. Never.
Alicia2:36PMMay 14th 2008
you seem to know a lot about my mind considering your new.
PROUDAMERICAN2:57PMMay 14th 2008
WHO IS THIS IDIOT? OBAMA SAYS HE'S VISITED 57 STATES! IF YOU ADD FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN --- THAT MAKES 59! WHERE ARE ALL THESE NEW STATES?
Watch closely --- more superdelegates will be “BOUGHT AND PAID FOR” BY OBAMA. THEY WANT THE MONEY HE HAS COLLECTED FROM HIS ANTI-AMERICAN, TERRORIST FRIENDS AND CONTRIBUTORS!
SUPERDELEGATES ARE ROBBING US OF OUR DEMOCRACY --- OUR RIGHT TO CHOSE THE CANDIDATE WE WANT.
Superdelegates = the end of democracy!
HILLARY ’08!
RURAL VOTE2:57PMMay 14th 2008
Rural people are not all racist. There are racist people everywhere. Most of West Virginia is not racist. They are hard working people. They aren't impressed by Barack Obama. He is too flashy and new. It has nothing to do with race.
Mary O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\3:02PMMay 14th 2008
Good for you Hillary! Thank you West Virginia for keeping our greatest hope for November alive and well. I'm so sick of "do the math". It was less than 3 months ago the pundits said Obama cannot win by math alone. Thump, 41 points, thump, West Virginia. You do the math. Obama cannot win in the general election. We Democrats need to do the right thing and nominate Hillary. She can win in November without Obama and he can't win without her (not that he would ask or she would accept). Just like men, pundits, DNC, news media, to ask the woman to make him President. Please wake up, voters left and superdelegates, it's not over yet, and Hillary will win and prevail in the end!!! Also, please donate to Hillary at:
www.hillaryclinton.com
Rj3:13PMMay 14th 2008
www.andwearenotsaved.blogspot.com
Hillary Clinton is a true fighter and the democrats needs her. Make nice and keep her happy. Respect what she and her husband have brought to the table. A decade ago, the Clintons revitalized the Party. They brought in new ideas. One of the most important things they brought to the party was welfare reform. Many were against and were critical of Clinton, but it worked. It got millions off the welfare roles. They were the first to bring life into a stale party. Now Obama is talking change but being backed by the old establishment. I only hope he recognizes and appreciates what was put down before him and not make light of it. If chosen to be president he will be the first democrat this century and should build a bridge that remembers the old but looks ahead for the new. Only then can the party succeed. Ode to the Clintons.
Rj3:18PMMay 14th 2008
www.andwearenotsaved.blogspot.com
www.beentherehatedit.com
Let's face it true Democrats will vote Democrat no matter who is at the top and true Republicans will vote Republicans.
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kaflooey1:55PMMay 14th 2008
"It is difficult for any candidate to explain away a 41-point loss, let alone the presumptive nominee of the party."
Yes, it certainly is. Thank you for your honesty. It is a rare thing in these days of no holds barred Obama glorification.
The fact that he also completely ignored the people of WV by barely campaigning there and then bypassing a concession speech speaks volumes about this man. He has not been held accountable for anything since this contest has begun.
People need to take the blinders off and consider what both of these candidates truly and realistically can accomplish for the country. Hillary Clinton is not making empty, grandiose promises. She is the one who can deliver the goods in November.