Clinton On The "Anchors Of The Electoral Map"

Hillary Clinton on Saturday reinforced her campaign's talking point that she was a stronger candidate because she had won Ohio and Florida, crucial "anchors of the electoral map" in the general election, in her words. But she hedged when a reporter asked her to explain why her primary victories would preclude an Obama victory in those same states in the fall. Watch the full exchange below:

Reporter: Your campaign has made a big argument that you have won in the big swing states and this makes you a more viable candidate in the general election. Could you just explain that logic because if Obama lost in Ohio that doesn't necessarily mean he will lose in a general election As well Al Gore and John Kerry both won Pennsylvania in a general election. So could you just explain that argument?

Comments

[TrueBlueMajority]

Unfortunately the reporter did not ask this question the right way. Instead of focusing on Ohio, which HRC won, and Florida, which HRC won because of name recognition and no campaigning by Obama or Edwards, the reporter should have asked about New York and California. Evidently the HRC campaign actually expects us to believe that those states will go Republican if Obama is the nominee. I hope someone asks HRC that question specifically, maybe even at the next debate, and let's see her squirm out of that one!

[Duffs]

She's going to get HAMMERED in the next debate, not by Obama, but by the necessary questions themselves that she cannot answer.

-Why did she endorse John McCain?
-Why is she still running when it's impossible for her to catch up in the delegate count?
-Why is her campaign creating an ILLUSION that some how Obama can't win democratic states in the general election, even though the premise of that argument is totally ludicrous and demonstrably false?

Sidenote: Whoever that moderator will be for the PA debate, if he/she asks either candidate about healthcare I'm going to reach through the television set and b/slap someone.

[TexasMom]

Amen!! I even wrote to ABC and begged them not to ask about healthcare. Maybe if we all do they'll listen to it. It's so frustrating because you never get to hear their ideas or responses to questions about anything else.

I'm one of those strange people who have actually seen or heard all the debates and I feel like i could give you chapter and verse about what is each of their healthcare plan, what they don't like about each other's plan, and what the things will be when they talk over the moderators to make yet more points about healthcare.

My family is self-employed and we pay 100% of the cost of our health insurance to the tune of over $10,000 a year for us and our two kids. I want cheaper healthcare as much as the next guy but I'm sure that when or if a plan does happen it's not going to look anything like either one of their plans.

I'd like to hear someone talk about those almost 4000 dead in Iraq or the $4.00 a gallon gas that's coming up.

[OfficialA]

It's a giant leap of faith to presume the necessary questions will be asked.

[Anie]

So why is Obama currently against a new primary in Florida while Hillary is for one?

I think he realizes he would not win even now that they 'know' him or possibly because they feel they do. Whatever, if he is the nominee, without considering all the voters in Florida due to the dumb DNC handling of this, you can forget Florida as a state (and many other Dem voters).

In his past Obama has shown a preference for making sure he could get rid of opponents and run uncontested, and that's been his focus all during this primary too, where the rule is to get 2025 or the superdelegates step in.

[ddlrid]

Where do you get your information? He's not against a new primary. He even went so far as to say that whatever the DNC decided to do in both Michigan and Florida, he would abide by it. The only thing he is against is seating the delegations as is...he wasn't on the ballot in Michigan and no one was allowed to campaign in Florida.

[jorydozier]

He isn't against a re-vote in FL.

[dutchess2]

I have never seen any sign of Obama trying to keep voters from making the choices.

He is not against whatever the DNC decides to do in Florida and Michigan..

It is Hillary who has been medling among the superdelegates. She and Bill announced that 'technically', there were superdelegates who were not dedicated that they could pick off... That is their way of saying they've been pressuring those even in states where Obama won, to vote for her, claiming Obama can't win the big states...

The most recent salvo is that she has gotten several of her large contributors to claim they will not donate as promised, or want their money back if things don't go her way.

You get so you recognize the fingerprints after a bit.

[Giglawyer]

Amen. Someone should put the question to her - "do you believe that these anchor states will go to McCain in the general election if Obama is the Democratic nominee?"

[dutchess2]

I disagree, with explanation:

She needs to be persuaded to leave the race with some dignity.... we do not want to offend her supporters.

I don't think Hillary can win now on the basis of popular vote, delegates or states.

If she persuaded the superdelegates to vote for her while Barack Obama carried
the things that are supposed to elect a POTUS, the Nation will be in modern day
Civil War.

That is why you hear assurances from some of them that they should vote for the candidate who had won the popular vote.

[presto]

I believe she was talking about "swing states". In fact I know she was talking about swing states because that is what the discussion was about. That is the issue. NY and California have never been swing states. Of course they won't go Republican. I think the reporter knew what she was doing. So, no need for Hillary to squirm on the basis of your brilliant observation.

Also, point of fact - Clinton did not campaign in Florida. Obama was the only one that did anything - he ran one TV ad there. Edwards did not.

[truthyguy]

Can't criticize Hillary - that's sexist.

Obama? He's that black Muslin guy, right?

[exeye]

Can't criticise Hillary? What planet do you live on?

[presto]

joke, exeye - nothing planetary.

[PistonMoaned]

He's usually wearing a suit. I've never seen him wearing black muslin.

[presto]

hee hee. I like that one.

[realpolitic]

Right, you counter criticism of Hillary with an untrue and misspelled assertion about Obama.

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Nope, not seeing it...Everyone who is opposed to the war in Iraq is going to vote for the Democrat whether it be a he or a she, whether they be black or white. The last thing Democrats want is 100 years of war in Iraq as has been suggested by John McCain.

For Hillary or Obama to say that either of them are the ONLY one who can carry any particular State is ludicrous. But given Obama's appeal to people who truly want something new, something different whether they are Dems or Rep, or Independents gravitate to Obama and thus he is the best chance for change in Washington.

[gvidal]

The Obama people need to lower the rhetoric about him being ahead..
NEITHER of them will have the delegates to win at the end of this - and super delegates have the obligation to choose the one who can BEST win in November.

[BeeClone]

So your telling me if Clinton was ahead her people wouldn't be pointing it out every chance they got. Give me a brake.

[joselopez]

SHE DID NOT EVEN ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

BECAUSE HER ARGUMENT IS NOT LOGICAL. IT IS LIKE OBAMA SAYING SHE IS NOT GOING TO WIN THE TWENTY SIX STATES HE HAS WON TO DATE.

HER CAMPAIGN IS GRASPING AT STRAWS AT THIS POINT.

[yotinzepol]

She answered the question quite clearly. She can only speak for herself. And she's telling you she won the big swing states. That gives her the better chance to win them in Nov. Obama has little to show why he'll win them in Nov. when he can't win them in the Primary. It's all about who has the better chance if the Dem are to win the WH back.

[Schnitzel]

Well, that may be although I don't think the job of super delegates is to defy the will of the poeple. Hillary would certainly be the wrong choice for them anyway. She couldn't get elected dog catcher in a town full of cat owners.

[CBS]

That is utter nonsense. That is in fact stealing the nomination. Obama will have enough delegates thanks to the superdelegates listening to people like Nancy Pelosi (major party clout among superdelegates holding elected office) who have signaled in bold print that she expects the SDs to go with whoever has the popular vote. And Hillary's parsing of delegates not counting because they are caucus delegates or because they were gained under a full moon or whatever is not going to change this. The Clintons are paddling upstream. They will never make it honestly so they are resorting to backroom deals but I think they will be checkmated long before the convention. Way long before.

[LisaSurfing]

He has won more states, has the lead in the popular vote and most importantly a league in the delegate count. Those are the facts. I bet if Clinton had these stats she and her surrogates would be all over the air waves preaching them. It's almost fascinating to watch Clinton and her supporters find ways to obfuscate this. Maybe you want to "lower the rhetoric" because you're concerned that more people are going to catch on to the weakness of her arguement.

[hugs4u]

Hillary only cares about Hillary. She doesnt give aq damn about the party or anything else. To her it is win at all costs, because she is wanting to rent out the Lincoln bedroom again.

[presto]

And that's what you heard when you listened to this?

[army193]

Hillary you lost...it's time for you to step down and unite the Party.

[byrok67]

Is she really suggesting that if Mr. Obama won the nomination, none of the people that voted for her in the primaries would vote for the democratic nominee? She is so full of shit. I say that he would get all of his votes, plus at least half of the people that voted for her, plus in the case of Florida, a shitload of independents and republicans.

I think that with all of the new registered democrats in the country, given the record turn-outs in all states, if Obama wins the nomination, there will no longer be red and blue states. The political map of the country will change completly.

By the way Hillary, you did not win Florida. I'm an Independent registered in Florida. I was going to change party affiliations so that I could vote in the primary until I was told it did not matter. There are thousands of us, along with people that just stayed home because of that too. You call that winning? And as in Michigan, there are many Dictators in the world who place only themselves on a ballot and call that a win.

If the only way you can accomplish anything is with duplicity, than you are just Bush-Light.

(all mispellings are on purpose)

[rwferr]

She needs a lot more than half of Hillary's voters like 95 percent to win the election. The latest poll shows 25 percent of Hillary voters go to McCain if Obama is the nominee and that was before the pastor scandal. If you look at the states he won and the breakdown of the demographics it is clear Obama cannot win. Now after Pastorgate his winning is impossible. The superdelegates need to save the party and pick a person who has a shot.

[idontthinkthisishelping]

What?

[ayak9]

The 25% of Hillary voters who say they wouldn't back Obama in the general are Republicans who crossed over because Rush asked them to. Are we going to allow Rush and Mann Coulter and the rest of the insane crew to dictate what the Democratic Party will do? They just love the Clintons.

Go Hillary. Go away!

[UnknownSoldier]

I guess since he's black and Kerry and Gore were white, Obama isn't qualified to win those states, only she and McCain can win those states. Commander and Chief Test.

Hillary is the New Nader, McCain wins in November.

[AZDemocrat500]

Folks, the issue of race in America is alive and is on the front burner but it is better now than if we were to have a nominee that could not stand up to the race issue because the Republican will use it if Obama is the nominee. Let us all face it, a lot of whites will not vote for Obama and a lot of blacks will not vote for Hillary. We need to have these two candidates sit down and face reality and have their supporters and talking heads shup up and try to sort this out. This could tear opur party apart if the issue of race gets much deeper.

[casper11]

I think you are wrong about whites voting for an African American candidate.

Also, Hillary's argument is pure nonsense. Democratic voters in Ca, Ny, Pa,, NJ.,ILL and Mass would vote for Mickey Mouse if he was the Democratic niminee.

[byrok67]

you are crazy to suggest that most of the people that voted for obama are black. every white male and the majority of white woman that i know voted for him. the man does not win more states, more delegates, and more popular votes based on "black" votes. yes they helped, but hundreds of thousands of "white" votes did as well.
Race is on the tip of the tongue of short sighted, un-evolved people only!

[PistonMoaned]

Colorado has less than 5% black population. We went for Obama by 67% to 32% for Clinton.

[keir]

the black population is 12% total.

In Mississippi Blacks are 37% of the population. Obama won 61%, Hillary won 37% with 26% of Limbaugh Repubs. So if you take the 26% away, Hillary got nothing...and means that Obama got more of the white vote.

[robXdion]

HuffPost's Pick

The difference is that blacks won't vote for her based on character issues, her corrupt history which still has trials pending, and the fact they don't care to be insulted in a way that revives all the worst memories of American racism. Why so many whites can't see that is pathetic and part of the mass denial America deals in. Everyone thinks a racist is a 1960s Southern style redneck, but there are people who live and breathe the same sentiments all over the US and hate to be shown a mirror.

[ggmome]

Your statements are so on the spot! If, there were a Black Candidate, with as many flaws as Hillary and her motley crew, the media and populace, would be all up in and on him or her. However, the code is, stick together like rice, and against all odds...

To know that Barrack Obama is the best choice regardless of the tenacious dogma of a person, any person, who has greivious flaws, and come with baggage in tow, who are sending out others to do their dirty work, is ALL of what we have, and want no more...

Look at the big picture, the ties of 'subprime rates' on loans and the investigation of Spitzer, and you will see the tricks, that have become standard operating procedure, of our (or their) Government today...

Plain and simple, NO MORE OF THIS!

[c1ee]

Yep, let's give in to racism. Let's hand the nomination to the candidate who has less delegates, less popular votes, less states. Let's do this because we sure as heck won't fight for what's right. We only care about winning!

So what if it sinks the progressive and civil rights movement back 20 years. So what if it leads to an exodus of young voters, scarred for life, with some never voting democratic again.

We sure ain't confident we can fight off those rednecks, pushing back on bigotry and ignorance, the same electorate that voted in Hitler and GWB. Let them have cake, because we want the do-anything, say-anything candidate Hillary. Hillary = winner!

[presto]

I don't think you read that comment carefully.

[apcalc]

I want to hear Obama speak to the issues, period.

I am waiting for specifics. And don't tell me to go to the website. I want to hear it from him. Also don't get into Hillary this, Hillary that, that's all obfuscation. All that Hillary criticism is warmed over Republican talking points. And don't mention the word race.

What makes him qualified to be president?

[barriosbabe]

What makes her royal highness qualified?

[greejambri]

Well, for ONE thing, he's ahead in delegates, votes, and states, and it's mathematically impossible for Hillary to catch him. It look's like that will at least qualify him to be the Democratic nominee! LOL

[midwesthousewife]

How about checking out their voting records and success with legislative initiatives and bipartisan support for said initiatives? See who is the most effective legislator. That info is available at the Library of Congress. Other than that, there is no training program for the position of President, not even First Lady. It is all on-the-job training.

[passthesewords]

apcal, if you won't read his policies and positions, to make an informed voting choice,
you should leave your phone number or email address so he can PERSONNALY give you the information you need. Be an adult, What issue/issues are important for your vote? Intelligent adults research the candidates position and make informed decisions. Key words, here (adults, intelligent, informed decisions). The Miss America Pagegant has a different criteria.

[eXcommunicate]

Okay, this one is a little more interactive than just going to his website. Go to Youtube and watch the videos on the Barack Obama channel, especially his more recent speeches and town hall meetings. He's delving deeper into policy lately. Give him a shot.

[AMERIKA]

Of course Obama will win the states as the national candidate.

[Lindsay]

New York, New Jersey and California will go to a Democrat. Obama has managed to win all the smaller red states. Her argument is hallow. Please, let us rid the Democrat Party of the Clintons once and for all.

[a35mmlife]

she won florida... *cough cough* bullsh@t *cough cough* ... love how she changes the rules midway, is claiming victory and as such is completely disregarding her own pledge not to campaign there... thats what i want in a leader... *pffft* liar.

[realitycheck7]

we need change

this country is collapsing due to 8 years of the worst presidency in history

Hillary is more of the same, and nonetheless, cannot beat McCain, even if it wasn't for the upcoming corruption trial.

McCain means death

Obama is the only hope for America

[Cid]

If Hillary manages to steal the nomination, I'll be staying home on November 4th. If I wanted to vote for a republican, I would have registered as such. - Sincerely, A 3rd Generation US Veteran, Progressive Patriot

[FZliveson]

Hey hey Hey! Wait a minute. Now whom do you think you are to ask for a tangible
response to a smoothly created, good sounding campaign tactic?
It is not fair to demand clarity and cogency in a candidate's yammerings.
It is about feelings and persuading people to FEEEEEL comfortable.
That was below the belt and not fair. Ask a question she can gloss over
so the charade may proceed unimpeeded.