Couric To Clinton: Has She Considered Not Getting The Nomination? "No, I Haven't."

For tonight's CBS Evening News, Katie Couric sat down with fellow glass-ceiling breaker Hillary Clinton to talk about the race for the Democratic nomination. CBS News headlines it as "Confident Clinton" — not surprising for the woman in the asbestos pantsuit — and that's exactly how she comes across.

When Couric asked Clinton if she'd be disappointed not to be named the nominee, Clinton answered: "Well, it will be me." See above re: confident. Clinton did say that she'd support whomever the nominee was...but clarified that by saying that she hadn't actually considered that possibility. Watch:

Clinton did, however, acknowledge that it's "a tight race" and said she anticipated "a mad dash to Iowa caucuses [followed by] a mad dash to New Hampshire and then keep going."

Clinton also put Couric's questions about the ratcheted-up tenor of the campaign in context, setting herself apart by noting that "The Republicans have attacked me as well, which I think is also a badge of honor." Clinton also professed herself unconcerned that Oprah Winfrey would be campaigning for Obama ("I think it's great!"), but when she started speaking of all the great supporters coming out, Couric interrupted her: "Are you concerned that this will give him a big boost?" There aren't many people who can trump Oprah, but Bill Clinton is one of them, and it was at that point that Clinton pulled him out: "It's wonderful to have someone with his knowledge and experience and incredible ability to vouch for me campaigning for me."

Full transcript of the exchange regarding whether Clinton had considered not getting the nomination below - click on "Read Whole Story."

Confident Clinton Takes On Attacks [CBS News]

This post has been updated since it was first published.

Here's the full exchange regarding whether Clinton had considered not getting the nomination:

Couric: If it's not you, how disappointed will you be?

Clinton: Well, it will be me. But of course, I'm ready to support the democratic nominee, whoever it is.

Couric: I know that you're confident it's going to be you but there is the possibility it won't be and clearly you have considered that possibility.

Clinton: No I haven't. You know, when you get up every day like I do and you go out and meet hundreds and thousands of people and you talk about yourself, and you talk about your dreams and hopes for the country and you talk about what you will do as president and draw the contrast with your opponents, that takes up all my time and energy, to just keep presenting myself and my candidacy. So I get up everyday intending to meet and reach as many as people as possible then I go to bed at night and then I get up and do it all over again.

Couric: So you never even consider the possibility?

Clinton: I don't. I don't.

Comments

[jfh]

06:27 PM on 11/27/2007

There is no big revelation here. Any of the other wannabes would answer this question or some variation of it in the same manner Senator Clinton did. For a candidate to admit that he/she has doubts that he/she could get the nomination would be the death toll of the candidate’s campaign. Think about it … if the candidate doubts his/her ability to get the nomination why should a potential supporter bother to vote for that candidate.

That is what I like about Senator Clinton --- her confidence and ability to bypass these silly, trick (in Couric’s mind only) questions.

[WIpatriot]

04:55 PM on 11/27/2007

What, no Plan B??

[Talcott]

04:25 PM on 11/27/2007

.
.
.

No More Clintons

No More Bush's
.
.
.

[starrianna]

04:12 PM on 11/27/2007

Katie Couric? she is like a guppy to Keith Olbermann's great white shark.

She is a nothing.

Keith Olbermann, however, is HOT!

He's the only newsman who really kicks Bush's sorry ass. I love it!

[connorin]

03:57 PM on 11/27/2007

Couric To Clinton: Has She Considered Not Getting The Nomination? "No, I Haven't."
---------------------------------------
"...Its because of all the private investigators I have researching the other candidates and how I have pocketed the MSM...I maen seriously...how could i NOT get it?"

[Talcott]

03:55 PM on 11/27/2007

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Elitist in a donkeysuit.

"The only way to get the big money

out of politics is for the little money

to unite in a common cause."

Micheal Rivero

[Bulbul]

03:53 PM on 11/27/2007

So easy to pen down things, what the rest have done so far ?
Leave Biden and Dodd out of the equation. and then take your pick !

[ConcernAmerican]

12:11 PM on 11/27/2007

And here's a smackdown to Clinton haters:

From NBC/National Journal's Athena Jones
SPARTANBURG, SC -- Clinton received the endorsement of a group of South Carolina ministers, the vast majority of them black and from the upstate region, here on Tuesday.

About 60 male and female ministers stood behind the New York senator on stage when the announcement was made.

The black vote is especially important in this early voting state; they made up about half of primary voters in the 2004 Democratic primary. The endorsement announcement will likely be spun as a blow for Obama for the simple reason of race. But the Clintons have long been popular in the black community across the nation, and some black voters have expressed concern that Obama cannot win the general election.

These black ministers endorses Hillary Clinton instead of Obama. Did it ever cross anyone's mind Obama is a MUSLIM? That's the reason if he becomes the nominee for the democratic party I will NEVER vote for him. I grew up with Muslims, being a christian surrounded by Muslims you ALWAYS have to watch your back - they're TRAITORS!

[Chandidevi]

11:44 AM on 11/27/2007

It is called AFFIRMATIONS. Karl Rove used it; he used to say that if you say it is true often enough, people will believe it...a la mainstream media and their bogus polls showing Ms. Clinton way ahead (even tho she has the highest negatives).

[Thomann213]

11:27 AM on 11/27/2007

DUH! Couric once again goes for the hard insightful question. (Big eye roll here.)

[ConcernAmerican]

11:22 AM on 11/27/2007

snruB (See profile | I'm a fan of snruB)
This is the stupidest justification I've ever heard for voting for someone as President, ConcernAmerican. Do you know how many mothers there are in America? Do all of them deserve to be President? Giving birth (something that billions of people have done before) does not qualify you to run a goddamn country

ANYONE is QUALIFIED to run as president of USA IF they meet all the REQUIREMENTS written in the US Constitution...next?

[ConcernAmerican]

11:19 AM on 11/27/2007

Ah Obama the "robert kennedy"........LMAO!

HRC will get my vote, after the primary, I'd be campaigning for her while the rest of you will be stuck in this blog.

I love intelligent women like HRC. I can't stand morons and naive people.

[Airborne2]

11:18 AM on 11/27/2007

She really needs to consider it and look at other options.

Cause the wind of "Change" is blowing.........Go Obama

[jackpinesavage]

10:57 AM on 11/27/2007

Who, in their right mind, would enter a presidential campaign considering losing?

I'm no fan of HRC, but i wouldn't expect her to answer the question, "Why, yes, every morning i wake up and figure that i've already lost...its what keeps me going."

This is going to be a long election cycle if every time someone says anything negative about HRC they get attacked for hating women. Albright is a woman, and i remember her saying that the US has such a grand military that it would be a shame to not use it. (paraphrasing) The idea that a woman would be a less warmongering leader is bunk. Women are just as affected by power as men.

[doodlefarbe]

10:57 AM on 11/27/2007

Question for the audience:

Why has the MSM decided, more or less collectively, that we should not have a decent opportunity to hear what Senator Biden has to say?

Anyone paid attention in the debates? The moderator and media running the show give Senators Biden, Dodd etc. about 1/4 the time they give to Senators Clinton and Obama and former Senator Edwards.

Then, when they decided to give someone like Senator Biden or Senator Dodd a few minutes to speak, instead of asking something relevant ("Senator, would you please explain your foreign policy platform to America?"), they toss out an inane question like, "Well, wut do you think about that last snippy exchange between Hill and JohnE?"

Senator Clinton says she "has the experience" to be President. Her experience is frankly dwarfed by Senator Biden's.

But most of America doesn't know if it would like to vote for Senator Biden, or Senator Dodd, etc., because the MSM has decided they're not in the running.