Pennsylvania Win Shows That Clinton Is "Hitting Her Stride," Says a Top Adviser
Hillary Clinton has emerged as a far better candidate than Barack Obama and is riding a strong wave of momentum because of her victory in the Pennsylvania presidential primary yesterday, says top Clinton strategist Geoff Garin.
The longtime pollster told U.S. News, "She has been hitting her stride. He is a little bit off his stride." Garin said that as the Democratic race proceeds to Guam, Indiana, and North Carolina in early May, Clinton will only get stronger and will impress both voters and "superdelegates" with her tenacity and savvy.
Garin argued that by early June, when the final nine nominating contests are over, the race will be "very, very close" in both delegates and popular vote in the caucuses and primaries.
At that point, party leaders will be focused not on any numerical "matrix" but on the "qualities of the candidates" and what it will take to win in November, he said.
And Clinton is emerging as "far more clear, far more articulate, far more compelling," her senior adviser argued.
Garin outlined Clinton's next steps in her come-from-behind campaign: compete fiercely in the remaining nine contests and make the case to the nearly 800 superdelegates—elected party officials and activists who might hold the balance of power in the nomination fight—that she can best defeat Republican candidate John McCain in the fall.
Garin said Clinton has now demonstrated that she can "put it all together" for the general election. He added that if the disputed results of the Florida and Michigan primaries are counted, Clinton will be ahead of Obama or virtually tied with him in popular votes by the end of the primary process.
Of course, the Democratic National Committee has disqualified those two states' delegates because the primaries were held too early, in violation of party rules, and it's unclear how or whether the dispute over the delegates will be resolved.
Clinton, who won both primaries, wants to count both the delegates and the popular votes. Obama doesn't want to count either, arguing that Florida and Michigan broke the rules.
—Kenneth T. Walsh
Tags: Democrats | presidential election 2008 | primaries | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton | Pennsylvania
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Reader Comments
The race game
I'm a black woman. Obama and his black supporters are openly racist. The media do not want to point it out. The blacks always cry racism, but they are practicing it every day. Hillary is a good , decent, stronge and loving person.She cares for all race . The black race should grow up. Stop thinking about black, and start thinking about America and the world. Hillay is the right and better person to be our president. Obama step aside and give America and the world a break. At this time of the world , we need a president with experience,and maturity, not a boy, or a change with no policy. Obama needs to learn from Hillary for eight solid years before competing in a general election. I will not vote for Obama . I pray the Super Delegates will do the right thing and endorse Hillary, regardless of what Obama or the blacks may style it. Thank you Hillary, Be Blessed and keep going stronger.
HRC's Momentum
Hillary's momentum reflects the transformation of her image from a vague name recognition to a real knowledge of who she is specifically. Her trajectory has been decidedly downward. The more people get to know her, the less they like her. PA was her last gasp, that brought her only 10 more delegates, and that is insignificant compared to how far she is behind by any metric. So, now she argues that numbers are not the measure, but the psychology of switching Super Delegates is what will give her a win. The disenfranchisement of that many voters would ensure a McCain victory. Republicans have always viewed her as the candidate that can unite the fractured Republican base, and revive their fundraising. That's why the right-wingers are crossing over to vote for Hillary, making up small but significant percentage of her alleged popular vote totals. If the other side was voting for me because they thought I was weak, or that I would destroy my own party, I would step aside and cheer on the front-runner. The fact that Hillary is selfishly bringing the party down with her shows us the depth of the flaws in her character and judgment.
It's Time
IT'S TIME AMERICA:
It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have defeated her. And proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources. In all honesty. I felt some of that too.
But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say’s that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton’s have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
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