Obama Camp Optimistic As Clinton Camp Attacks

Sen. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's presidential campaigns struck highly different chords the day following Obama's 17-point victory in the Wisconsin primary.

In dueling conference calls with reporters, the Obama campaign presented an electoral landscape that could prove all but impossible for Clinton to overcome. The Clinton camp responded with defiance, suggesting that Obama was not qualified for the position of commander-in-chief and stressing that they, in fact, were positioned to eke out a delegate victory.

Obama's campaign manager projected that his boss emerged from Tuesday's elections in Wisconsin and Hawaii with a net gain of 18 pledged delegates, padding his overall lead over Clinton to 159. "In order for them to erode this pledged delegate lead," he added, Clinton would "likely have to win [upcoming Ohio and Texas] by more than 20 points...They're gonna have to win landslides from here on out."

The Clinton camp took exception to Plouffe's math. Taking into account superdelegates as well as those from Michigan and Florida (which currently do not count because the states' parties violated DNC rules), officials with the campaign predicted that sometime around the Puerto Rico primary on June 7, Clinton will have clinched enough support to secure the nomination.

Disagreements between the two camps extended well beyond delegate math. Putting an optimistic take on a larger-than-expected Wisconsin loss, Clinton's chief strategist Mark Penn once again stressed that Obama had yet to win states that would portend a strong general election run.

"It would be hard to imagine a nominee from this party who didn't win New York, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania," said Penn.

Asked whether or not Wisconsin's electorate reflected that of Ohio (as is commonly perceived), Penn retorted: "Ohio is very different from Wisconsin. Wisconsin has a very different electoral history. We always said that it would be extremely challenging for us."

During the call, both Penn and Howard Wolfson, Clinton's press secretary, repeatedly hit Obama for lifting words from a speech of his friend and surrogate Massachusetts's Gov. Deval Patrick. The two Clinton surrogates also went after their campaign rival for not revealing the full extent of his relationship with indicted supporter Tony Rezko. The most direct political attacks, however, came when Penn took Obama to task for being unqualified to serve as commander-in-chief.

"[Sen. Clinton] is the only person in this race who is both ready to be commander-in-chief and would end the Iraq war and start to bring troops home within 60 days, compared to both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain," he told reporters.

The raised rhetoric reflects an increasingly dire situation for the Clinton campaign. Obama's win in the Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries made it ten in a row for the Illinois Democrat. In addition, in January Obama raised $36 million dollars, far more than Clinton, and his campaign picked up the support of several influential unions.

And indeed, on its conference call with reporters the Clinton campaign acknowledged that, because of the recent slew of losses, their situation had grown politically tenuous.

"I think that [the March 4 states] are critically important," said Wolfson. "We expect to do well there. I'm not going to make any predictions, but there is no question that they are critically, critically important."

Comments

[ctom]

Talk about experience and solutions.

*Raised $140 million to date, now broke again.

*With all the money spent, what are the results?

*With all the top political gurus hired and trained assassins on board, can't get a simple slogan fixed or manage to knock the competition back by a few points?

Look, even Bush had better organization than this and he spent far less for better results. Clinton should hire Karl Rove. He might just do it to see how far will Hillary go to win?

[ntmessage]

Managing a campaign is orchestrating a PR and branding exercise, putting on a big TV show and concert series. The Clinton years balanced the budget, ran a surplus and were great economically for all. No one, read no one, did this since 1949.

Running a broad multifaceted government, with a 10T budget I would go with the person that has been around the block a few times. To equate a campaign with the government is a false equivalency. Put on a commercial? Go for the Obama’s team. Run the Government? Go for Hillary.

[S1m0n]

She'd be better off devoting her attention to becoming ready to run for the presidential nomination, not worrying about anyone else.

[watchingthings]

If Hillary thinks that being a corrupt backstabbing asshole is the credentials needed to be President, then she may be right that Obama is not ready to be President.

[HGS111]

I think all this talk about Commander and Chief sort of marginalizes the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the entire Pentagon Community, and all Branches of the Military. Do you think there might be few good advisors in there somewhere???

[TellingTruth2Kooks]

Hey Barack, Need some more political catchphrases? Please feel free to plagarize these, as they come from a proven Orator that Moved the MASSES!!!

"Words build bridges into unexplored regions."

"Even today I am not ashamed to say that, overpowered by stormy enthusiasm, I fell down on my knees and thanked Heaven from an overflowing heart for granting me the good fortune of being permitted to live at this time."

"The doom of a nation can be averted only by a storm of flowing passion, but only those who are passionate themselves can arouse passion in others."

"Man has become great through struggle"

"The broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force."

"The efficiency of the truly national leader consists primarily in preventing the division of the attention of a people, and always in concentrating it on a single enemy."

"If you wish the sympathy of the broad masses, you must tell them the crudest and most stupid things."

"Faith is harder to shake than knowledge, love succumbs less to change than respect, hate is more enduring than aversion, and the impetus to the mightiest upheavals on this earth has at all times consisted less in a scientific knowledge dominating the masses than in a fanaticism which inspired them and sometimes in a hysteria which drove them forward."

"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."

"The man who lives in communion with nature necessarily finds himself in opposition to the Churches. And that is why they are heading for ruin - for science is bound to win."

"The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Especially if it is repeated over and over."


http://hitlernews.cloudworth.com/quotations-of-adolf-hitler.php

[RooneyD]

You forgot this one:

"You just listen to the old Pork Chop Express, and take his advice, alright? On a dark and stormy night; when some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs you by the neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against a bar room wall, looks at you crooked in the eyes, and he asks you if you've paid your dues...Well, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eyes and you do what old Jack Burton does at a time like that. 'Have you paid your dues, Jack?'...'Yessir, the check is in the mail.'"

[loball]

Wow- Comparing Obama to Hitler huh?
Raises an interesting argument that words can move nations for good or evil.
Not sure of your point though

[TellingTruth2Kooks]

When Adolph was giving his speeches, No one seen him as an Evil man, but instead he was looked upon as the Savior of the Nation! How else did he managed to trick most of his nation into electing him and those that opposed him were soon hunted down and quietly eliminated! Until he was able to take total control of all facets of the Government, and be Proclaimed Fuhrer!

There are some very unsettling similarities between Adolph Hitler and Barack Obama! Especially his flowery oratory, lack of substance and demonizing our fellow americans.

[iPolitics]

23 Senator voted against the War in Iraq. NOT Hillary. Commander in Chief? Tell that to the 4,000 dead American heroes

[Macready]

thank you iPolitics . . I was going to say the same thing . . . hillary repeatedly dug her own grave with her craven following of the bush agenda . . . she is just not presidential material . . . and we know it

[BardEric]

GW is the one to Blame for our dead heroes..If you are going to scapegoat; then at least chose the right one.

[situationcritical]

What's with the all the situation critical headlines on Huffpo.

I can think of a lot more critical situations than Hillary's.

[oshpd1]

If I was still in the Navy and Hillary became Commander-in-Chief I would get out of the military. She does not deserve to have that position. Her personal actions and dishonest actions are a discredit and embarrasment to the Americans in Uniform. She has not earned the right to be associated with our Military.

[nuttincowboy]

You forgot about her draft-dodging husband who thinks it's a good ides to tell the press about clandestine SEAL operations but is good with the boys who want to bugger each other in a foxhole.

[BardEric]

"the boys who want to bugger each other in a foxhole." ?!? Wow man that is so totally profound!! Let me wire you some cash so you can buy a clue;-Our gay/lesbian troops deserve every bit as much respect as our stright ones. They are putting their LIVES on the line every single day, and they are DYING just like everyone else. Your personal predjudices reguarding sexual behaivor do not belittle them; but they sure as hell do you..

[BardEric]

Reality check; the buffoon in the White House is the embarassment to our men and women in uniform. He has spent their lives fighting a campaign that was never anything more than a deception at best, and at worse, an outright attempt to finish what daddy Bush started but couldnt finish.Personally, I have to wonder if BHO(who has ZERO military experience BTW) is the best person to lead the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, not to mention managing our continued (but often overlooked) deployment in Afghanistan.

[RooneyD]

Listen, Obama supporters:

He's winning, alright? What's the real advantage of rubbing it in? Think about it: How much do we want to piss off Clinton supporters? Do we really want to at all? This kind of crap is just silly and childish, and it's certainly not going to help a Democrat win the general. Remember, if he is indeed the nominee, he'll need her supporters, as well. Let's not do our part in blowing it simply so we can feel smug on some thread.

[TimeForChange]

If you read elsewhere on the internet, you'd know that rich Hillary backers have put together a 527 group to swiftboat Obama in TX, Ohio & PA with negative attacks. She has also made it known that she intends to win by getting Michigan & Florida delegates counted and with super delegates. Never mind the disasterous damage that would do to the Democratic party.

It's win at any cost for the Clintons - don't forget it.

By the way, Hillary's so called experience in Congress is the following:
In her first six years she managed to author and pass into law 20 pieces of
legislation. These bills can be found on the website of the Library of
Congress.

1- Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2- Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3- Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4- Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5- Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6- Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7- Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8- Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9- Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of
his death.
10- Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on
winning the championship.
11- Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on
winning the championship.
12- Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution
Commemorative Program.
13- Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14- Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express
condolences on her death.
15- Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who
lost their lives on duty.

Hillary Clinton also made it to the top of the senate list for most earmarked pork for her corporate buddies.

Go girl go - go home and stay there!

[SteveCox]

You mean earmarked money to help out NY after 9/11? So you were against the Federal gov. helping out NY?

Do you people ask yourself, what would Obama do?

Let's ask Rezko.

That list you keep posting is the same one on Freeper. You forgot about health insurance for Reservist and National Guard. Health Insurance for children,

What did Obama do? Pass a lobby reform bill where they can still buy meals if they are standing up? And now, when Mccain asks him to take money out of politics, he won't do it.

LOL

REZKO TRIAL STARTS MONDAY!!!!!

[scandals&skeletons]

this board is about as lively as funeral home.
i guess the hillary huggers are are in a dark corner in the fetal position rocking back and forth. while the obamenettes are all hung over.

[PortiaElizabeth]

There are more than a few people I see posting here and enjoy reading. I have the strong suspicion that soon these reasonable voices will find other venues to express their dismay and disappointment in the Democratic party. I share that pessimism and ponder what has happened to the party I've been a member of since college, years ago.
Perhaps it's time, as someone suggested, to leave the Democratic party and form a new political party. The USA is a large enough country to have ample room and supporters for a third party. No less than Teddy Roosevelt promoted the third party idea. Maybe the time has come...

[scandals&skeletons]

umm, portia the third party idea, it's kinda already been done.

[BardEric]

If only it were that simple..In presidential elections in the modern era, 3rd parties only serve as spoilers , and result in opposition parties winning the electon. The reality is even if an Independant candidate were to gain the majority of popular vote, it would be all but impossible to gain the majority of the electorate vote.

[yasou11]

a real person can lead us to the bright furture!And by the way.rencently i find a fuuny web~~SenoirWoo .com~~ It's a site for successful boomer singles to mingle.

[scandals&skeletons]

so mitt's out of pocket was 42 mil. by my estimate his 286 delegates cost him
$146,853.14
such a bargain!

[scandals&skeletons]

each

[preatorius]

Hillary's campaign is a wreck, and her finances are a mess, she had to loan her campaign money. And she wants to run a country?

Is she going to loan the U.S. money, to get us out of debt?

[naturesway]

Yes we do. We need a real person. A Mother, a congresswoman and a First Lady to lead us out of this hell path the earth is taking. Global climate change may have already reached the TIPPING POINT. Get used to seeing those two words.
Tipping point.

_____The planet is dying and we discuss drivel.
Hillary is the only one to take control and it is NOW.
Who better? Who?

[scandals&skeletons]

naturesway, i always said you have a great sense of humor.

[jorydozier]

Obama!

[EricFromCleveland]

Isn't there some irony in Clinton's central claim that she is more ready than Obama to be president, considering that clearly she has been less ready than he to run an effective presidential campaign?

By most accounts, this nomination was hers to lose, and lose it she appears to have done, with one major misstep after another.

Perhaps Obama's abilty to build a highly effective organization and reach the brink of nomination only one year after deciding to run should be considered relevant to his ability to "govern from day one."

[scandals&skeletons]

some irony
perhaps

[preatorius]

She can't even manage her campaign.