We have to give Hilary Rodham Clinton her props. In spite of the odds, she’s found a way to hang in there.
In the latest example, the Democratic presidential hopeful got a much-needed win Tuesday by beating front running candidate, Illinois Senator Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary.
Even though her victory was predicted, the New York senator is still behind the proverbial 8 ball in her efforts to catch and pass Obama in the race to win the most committed delegates for the upcoming Democratic convention this August in Denver.
"Some counted me out and said to drop out," Clinton told cheering supporters who packed a hotel ballroom in downtown Philadelphia. "But the American people don’t quit. And they deserve a president who doesn’t quit either."
Clinton won the state with a 10 percent point margin, adding strength to her argument that she is better placed to win big, populous states that Democrats will need in November’s general election against Republican John McCain.
"It’s the equivalent of a political earthquake," Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a strong supporter of the former first lady, told shouting supporters at a victory rally.
As noted, even with the win, Clinton is still behind Obama. She must use her new momentum to convince so-called superdelegates, elected officials and party leaders, that she is more likely than Obama to beat McCain.
Reuters reports that Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, said Tuesday’s results and accompanying "spin" or interpretation would at least give those crucial party insiders reason to pause.
"I think the numbers and margin — combined with the spin — will leave superdelegates wondering ‘why can’t this guy just beat her.’" he said. "As long as they are thinking that, she gets a little time."
Barack Obama
Meanwhile, Obama has moved on. Literally. As the polls closed in Pennsylvania, he flew to Indiana to focus on the next round of contests on May 6, flying.
Advisers down-played his loss and said the election was basically unchanged.
"If you don’t think we’ve done well enough, ask the Clinton folks if they’d like to change places with us," Obama strategist David Axelrod told Reuters.
"We made it very clear from the beginning we didn’t come in with oversized expectations," Axelrod said.
Overall, Obama leads 1,705.5 to 1,575.5, with 2,024 delegates needed to win the nomination.
There were 158 pledged delegates at stake Tuesday, the biggest single prize left on the campaign calendar. Clinton won at least 66 and Obama 57, with 35 still to be awarded, according to the Associated Press.
ADDITIONAL
PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY ITEMS
Exit polls found a pervasive sense of economic gloom shrouding the Keystone State: 80% of Pennsylvania voters surveyed believe the nation is in a recession; 4 in 10 called it a serious recession, according to polling done for TV networks and the Associated Press.
Clinton received slightly higher marks than Obama when voters were asked which could best address economic issues.
Replicating her earlier success, Clinton drew strong support among women, who made up 60% of the electorate, as well as seniors. She outpolled Obama among white men, a swing group ardently courted by both candidates, and stayed competitive with Obama among whites younger than 30, who have been a key part of his constituency elsewhere.
Obama continued to win overwhelmingly among black voters and among the better-educated voters of both races. He also won among newly registered Democrats, a group that constituted about 1 in 10 voters Tuesday,April 23, 2008, according to exit polling.
Reprinted with permission from eurweb.com
