Chris Dodd: This Race Must End

In a new interview with National Journal, Sen. Chris Dodd says that continuing the Democratic primary race for the next several months would be "devastating," and that over the next several weeks, Democratic leaders "have to step up to the plate and say enough is enough."

A few excerpts from his interview:

Look, we've got five more months to go before the Democratic convention at the end of August and, candidly, we cannot go five more months with the kind of daily sniping that's going on and have a candidate emerge in that convention. My hope is that it will be Barack Obama, but if it's Hillary Clinton, she too will suffer, in my view, from this kind of a campaign that I think is undermining the credibility and the quality of the two candidates that we have. We have two very strong candidates. So I'm worried about this going on endlessly and to a large extent, Linda, the media, a lot of these cable networks, are enjoying this. It's what is keeping them alive financially. The fact that this thing is going on forever, back and forth every day, all night -- I don't think it's really helping the candidates or the political institutions.

Asked about the solution to ending the race:

Dodd: Well, the solution is -- look, we've got a contest coming up in Pennsylvania and one in North Carolina and Indiana very quickly afterwards. In my view, the outcome of those three races will determine -- I think the race has been determined, anyway, at this point. I think it's very difficult to imagine how anyone can believe that Barack Obama can't be the nominee of the party. I think that's a foregone conclusion, in my view, at this juncture given where things are.

But certainly over the next couple of weeks, as we get into April, it seems to me then, that the national leadership of this party has to stand up and reach a conclusion. And in the absence of doing that -- and that's not easy, and I realize it's painful. But the alternatives, allowing this sort of to fester over the months of June, and July and August, I think, are irresponsible. I think you have to make a decision, and hopefully the candidates will respect it and people will rally behind a nominee that, I think, emerges from these contests over the next month. That's my suggestion. That's what I would do.

...I mean, if a person wants to stay in the race, stay in the race. But if you have enough people rallying behind what appears to be the likely choice, and I believe the choice is Barack Obama, and I believe that will be the choice over the next several weeks, then I think you have to step up to the plate and say enough is enough. We want this to be over with. We want to get behind this candidate, and we want people to pull together to win that election in November, to build those majorities in the House and the Senate if we can, and then start doing the work on health care and Iraq and all these other issues that demand our attention.

Read the full interview here.

Comments

[natasyenehc]

The fact of the matter is that Hilary is losing and will eventually lose the nomination.
It's pointless dragging this on.

Dodd is absolutely right in calling an end to this ego-fest fro mthe Clinton and their supporters (lining up for kickback favours)

[AnninCA]

"Quack, Quack"

Meanwhile, in the real world, Clinton is ahead of Obama in face-to-face against McCain.

[Shelly1970]

AnninCA, I'm confident to say that there are many people who are more than a bit curious about your motives here on HuffPost.

You spend many hours on here every single day (a quick click to your profile reveals that). What we are witnessing from you is the posting of a seemingly endless amount of comments that are clearly meant to be one-sided and contain not even a small hint of intellectual rigor. Granted, this has been a heated contest and it's not uncommon to see posters going a little overboard, but your posts have gone far off the deep end a long time ago.

In all seriousness, what are your intentions here? Are you really just killing time? Do you enjoy posting non-stop all day long about how perfect Hillary Clinton is, and how terrible Barack Obama is?

While there seems to be a few people left on here who are treating you as if you were somehow serious, there are many who are quite suspicious.

"AnninCA", what exactly are you trying to accomplish on here?

BTW, I voted for Hillary. (No, I wouldn't do it again).

[Melissa]

Why in the world should she quit? There are still many states that have not voted. Should the DNC forget about them as they did with Florida & Michigan? All of this is going to come back and haunt them in November.

[WLA]

What poll is that from? Because yesterday evening NBC showed Obama ahead and Hill losing to McCain. Polls are crap anyway. A few month back the polls had Rudy leading the Rep race. A poll now predicting November is useless.

[wino486]

Hmmmm...wonder what song Dodd would be singing if he were the one in Hillary's shoes, what with it being so close. You can bet your sweet behind, he would be singing a different tune.

[billrott]

Ah he was in Hillary's shoes. He was in a position where he could not win the nomination a few months back after having invested considerable time and effort into the quest for the nomination. He did the right thing and withdrew.

[way2muchsense]

Irrelevant question. Obviously you weren't comprehending what Sen. Dodd was saying. We need to wrap this up. It isn't good for either Barack Obama OR Hillary Clinton for this to continue through the summer. It would be better if some of that massive store of ammunition were saved for John McCain. As it is, Sen. McCain doesn't have to do a damn thing but go on junkets with Dick Cheney, smile, and wave. Could you see him actually having to campaign from now until November? The man would have a heart attack. The media aren't the only ones giving John McCain a bye until September - WE are with this bickering back and forth. WE are losing our focus and WE will pay a price for it in November REGARDLESS of which candidate gets nominated. So PLEASE STFU about this bullshit double-standard you're trying to sell us. It's not helping.

[SuppersReady]

What song would Hillary be singing if she were in Obama's shoes? He would have been long gone....

[hopefulintexas]

actually, it's not "so close." as demonstrated by his behavior, he would have been able to be a rational person and bow out of the race with grace and dignity when it was time and not stymie the party--and the country--due to his own massive ego.

[cybersense]

You know, this blog just isn't true. This is another campaign stragety to down Hillary again.

The campaign can and should go on. I really think this rhetoric about this "this must end" thing is nothing more then trying to make people upset about it.

I have been around for many campaigns and there is no issue, nor should there be at this time.

Don't get confused with rhetoric that tries to make you mind up for you. You said you want good politics, how about really acting like you do.

[AnninCA]

Interesting. I've not really followed any campaign this closely. I do notice this. At first I got all excited over stories. Now I'm seeing a pattern. Even if something is inflammatory, it won't be in 3 days after the other side presents its own cogent arguments.

So I tend to agree with you. Much ado about nothing.

The big story to me is about the 30% attrition rate of Hillary supporters to McCain. I believe that's due to a very fundamental opposition to Obama and a serious question of misdoubt about him as ready for the presidency. I don't believe he can make that up because he chose to run on such a thin resume. He's not connected with those voters yet. I doubt he'll find the way in.

I fault his elitism and his communication style. He's academic. That just doesn't float their boat. Won't ever.

[Kim445588]

A couple of interesting points. I must ask you though, after you belittle Obama's resume, accomplishments, etc., how do you explain why your candidate is eating his dust?

Why is she the one broke?

If his supporters are demographically more educated, how do you support this zombie / kool-aid explanation as to why people are fleeing the HRC, that I have seen you pose on occasion?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

I also find it interesting that only Obama supporters are constantly asking for Hillary to step down. Would they be saying the same of Obama if the statistics were reversed. I am a Clinton supporter. So is the rest of my family. WE don't want her to step down, and neither do any of the rest of her supporters. AND that makes approximately 48% to 50% of the Democratic Party.

[dsbsh]

"I believe" = "I don't know, but here's my uninformed opinion." I'd love to see "deeper" polling on the 30% attrition rate. From the few numbers I've seen, it represents the "Hillary or no one" voters-- they know next to nothing about Obama, and what they do know is pulled from selected news stories that reinforce their own biases... not unlike the 30% who still support your current president. Case in point: Obama's greatest strengths are his communication skills. Calling him too elitist and academic is ludicrous. In fairness, the same is true of most Obama supporters who refuse to support Hillary; a good part of what they "know" about her is pure bunk, driven by an intense support for their candidate. The reality is that the Clintons have invested years cultivating many of these people-- and I don't mean that in a cynical way-- and they feel a powerful connection to her. Of course it's difficult in a head-to-head contest to win over your opponent's most ardent supporters. The attrition rate is simply one step beyond rational, which is not surprising given the tenor of the race and the recent trend into politics as a zero-sum game. We can only hope it's a heat-of-the-moment reaction, and that the party will be able to pull everyone together.

[hopefulintexas]

are you saying that hillary's campaign is "good politics"? is there no line you refuse to cross in trying to win? no moral or ethical boundary? jerry springer politics is now "real" politics?

as one of the "people" and not a campaign insider, i will tell you what makes me "upset." it's not the cries for this to end. it's the nearly daily new levels of low that hillary clinton stoops to. i suspect that i am not alone.

[Oldtt]

Your post is proof positive that the media are doing their self-appointed job Name the last three "lows" that Hillary Clinton has stooped to. What was her most vicious comment this week? How about Bill - what was his last racist insult? Now tell me what Barack's plan is for dealing with home foreclosures, and how it differs from Hillary's plan? What forces would Barack leave in Iraq, and where would they be stationed? Or is requesting any specifics from Barack supporters crossing the line?

[GwenElle]

I am an Obama supporter but I believe that every voice should be heard; that the remaining primary contests should be held.

I understand the concerns of those who are calling for the race to end, but I wonder why rather than calling for Clinton to exit the race that party officials are not instead insisting very publicly and in no uncertain terms that Clinton change her tactics, that she run a constructive race based on her merits rather than tearing down her opponent and propping up McCain. It occurred to me that this kind of appeal in all probability had already been made to Clinton privately, but to no avail. Her response has been to continue to make it clear that she is willing to do anything to win and that it is her right and privilege to do so.

For the unprincipled way in which Clinton has conducted herself and her campaign, she has lost my vote, but I do not think that it would be democratic to deny the remaining states their say.

[TekTami78]

I absolutely agree that the remaining contests - even fair revotes in MI and FL if they want to have them - should take place before seriously pressuring Hillary to exit the race. ALL Americans should have their say.

If Obama is ahead in pledged delegates, popular vote, etc. after all the contests have taken place, I DO NOT agree with Hillary insisting that she still has a chance and deciding to continue the fight for a few more months til the convention. It may be 'within the rules' and 'her right if she chooses to do so', but it's not graceful, and it's just another example of her believing that somehow she is entitled to this nomination.

Furthermore, it would not allow Obama to focus all his attention and campaign skills on McCain.

Hillary has said time and again that her husband didn't secure the nomination until June. I think that if she is still behind by June, it should be pretty plain to her that she is NOT going to secure the nomination...even after June. At that point it would be time to be a gracious loser, and bow out.

[AnninCA]

If she doesn't have a clear, cogent argument, she'll bow out and endorse him with grace and dignity.

I'm sure about that.

But she's sure not going to let him just swipe this from her based on caucus states and the Potomac blow-out.

Give me a break.

[Oldtt]

I assume that -if Obama wins the nomination but finds himself trailing McCain in late October - that he will forgo the oldpolitik notion of fighting like hell to win and will simply accept defeat gracefully on behalf of the Democratic party and all its misguided supporters. He would do this because it would be better for the nation to stop tearing itself apart in a contest which McCain supporters assure him he could not win.

[uglybetty]

That makes just as much sense as Obama Nuts Yelling for Hillary to quit !!!

[gadfly55]

More reality checking and decisive action in the second week of May when Clinton will absolutely not be within an asse's roar of getting the majority of pledged delegates, forget the rule breakers of Michigan and Florida. The jig is up, get with the program and elect the winner to the oval office. The bitching and moaning from the Clinton camp is disgusting and would repel anyone with an ounce of decency. This is not a smack down drag em out no holds barred street brawl, but the Democratic Party primaries and it is appalling to see Democrats behave like gangs in a schoolyard shouting at two kids grappling in the dirt. Of course the media love this nonsense. Wake up and face the facts, and put some order and discipline into the pandemonium. Responsible superdelegates should move after Indiana/North Carolina to make their commitments and effectively end this process of death by a million sound-bites and facebook loops. Dodd is obviously correct in his assessment which means that Obama should get these people organised now.

[billrott]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Z9o37FQI4

All should watch.

[GwenElle]

Thanks billrot. Goes to the heart of the matter and re-confirms my conviction to simply not cast a vote in November for president should the democratic nominee somehow turn out to be Hillary Clinton.

This controversy is not about whether she exaggerated her role in Bosnia, but that there is simply something amiss at the core of Clinton that this whole episode brings into stark awareness. That something, to my mind, is character.

[ntmessage]

Dodd is worried since Obama is hosed all over the east of the US as far as electability in the general. Unless Clinton is the nominee Obama likely loses MI, FL, OH, AK, TN, PA, NJ and WV to McCain and now the polls show MASS and Dodds own home state of CT are not slam dunks.

[conscioushope]

We must end this suicide march that the Democrats continue to travel.

Although I was once for Hillary, it is clear to me that she must "give up the ghost" .

The Party must bring an end to this madness. It is now OBAMA's time.

[ntmessage]

Dont blame the candidates, blame the DNC for putting on an election where no clear winner can be established before the convention. Most Dems want this to play out anyhow about 62%. Lets hear from ALL the voters including FL and MI so that we can make an informed decision on what the people want. Not the DNC, Dodd or anyone else who is freaking out because they are at risk for creating such a mess.

[HuffJob]

if we don't do universal health care now we never will and history will look back to this day and say you had your chance. those of you with family members that can't get or afford health care insurance know what i mean and those of you that don't should research the issue.

Clinton is the only one who can and will do that.

Dodd has no business telling anyone who will stand up and fight for me, I know who will and it's Clinton.

[AnninCA]

Today's polls show HIllary ahead of Obama in head-to-head against McCain.

Yet Obama supporters are calling for her to quit?

And we're to believe that this is not due to being afraid of the voters?

I should go check NC and see how she's doing there. *haha

[Kim445588]

The notion that the poor people in states like Ohio and Michigan are going to shoot themselves in the foot for love of your candidate is a fallacy.

That means, they will vote for their friends and family to continue to get killed in the War, vote for tax breaks for the rich, and decide that they really can afford $4.00 per gallon gas, as long as they just stop eating.

They will also be voting for McWar's new economic plan, which consists of people basically 'learning a lesson' about making bad loans, and sucking it up.

The people in the states that you mentioned may not be the most educated in the party, but I don't believe that many of them are that stupid either.

[ntmessage]

You are kidding right? McCain and Clinton get more cross over voters and Obama has done little to speak to the voters in those states. They dont fall to PR or media bias in pushing someone as inexperienced and unproven as Obama. They are more media sophisticated and need a reason to vote for someone as opposed to against someone else. He has simply not convinced the majority of voters that he would really be a better choice.

[lakeqi]

Do you really think that teh most hated woman in American can be the president? The only way Obama loses all of the states that you mention is if Hilary fails to support him. In fact she can;t support him now even if she wanted to because of her comments that only her and McCain are qualified. The only reasons Obama can't win is because of Judases like you.

[AnninCA]

The woman who beat out Oprah as the Most Admired Woman in America in polls for the past 12 years?

*haha

[Oldtt]

So you're saying in advance that - if Barack is the nominee, but loses to McCain - that his loss will be the fault of Hillary Clinton. I would rather nominate someone who can carry the fight on her own.

[dsbsh]

That's just silly. Clinton beats Obama among certain segments of loyal Democrats, whereas Obama does much better among new voters and independents. The primary says very little about the general. Either Democrat will win the entire NE, including NJ, handily and, given the economic conditions, probably MI, OH, and PA. Similarly, that Hillary won the popular vote in TX (and Obama won in SC) is irrelevant; those states will go GOP in the general.

[ntmessage]

Thanks for the feedback, but the race in the fall will be either Clinton or Obama against McCain with a winner take all EC primary system. So the primary conventional wisdom does not hold. In that race Clinton wins more Pubs and Reagan Dems and takes a large majority of the Latino vote but loses more Inds to McCain. Obama also loses Inds to McCain but loses so much of the Latino and Reagan Dem vote that the math demonstrated more empirically what my post states.

This is a serious issue on electability. Right now folks are simply trying to say that it is the tear down fight on the Dem side, but the percentages have stayed amazingly constant. Indeed prior to this so called fight Clinton wins over McCain in the general while Obama loses. At this exact moment they BOTH lose. In order to have a Dem in as President, the biggest thing the Dems can do is to get MI and FL seated and you will see the tide turn back to what the original math suggests. Clinton over McCain and McCain over Obama.

So far nothing has shifted the model, with all the noise through the campaigns.

[nohat]

Here we go. CNN is just this minute starting the Wright's-c­omments-on­-Italians thing. Speciial tomorrow night. Doesn't matter if CNN is biased, we all know it is; all that matters is that millions watch CNN. I guess this is CNN's attempt to influence the Italian vote. We musn't leave any group out, in trashing Obama by means of trashing his pastor. This is never going to stop, they have a file. And they will time-release the info, timing is everything. They wait until Obama's poll numbers go back up, then strike. So please do end it, Dodd. Stop talking, and act. If you can.

[unenrolled]

Let's have rev.manning , the beloved one of the clintons come to the front.

google.rev.manning

[Kim445588]

Two things- I am now convinced that he has the nomination locked up, so let them get this out now. I've noticed that he is talking about it more, like on the View, and I think there is definetly rationale behind this strategy.

If we continue to get it out now when it has already done about as much damage as its gonna do, months from now we will consider it old news.

Number two, TURN OFF CNN!

[demlover1]

Why on earth should the race end now. Neither candidate has enough delegates to win. They are separated by less than 1 percent in the popular vote and there are roughly 10 contests to go and FL and MI need to be settled. It's like calling a game in the fourth quarter because one team is ahead by 1 point. Unbelievable. If the situation were reversed and Sen. Clinton had a small lead with many contests to go, and Clinton supporters and their allies in the press were calling on Sen. Obama to drop out, Sen. Obama and his supporters would be outraged and rightly so. So why the double standard? Why not just let the election go forward and see who wins, rather than declaring premature victory? The more Obama supporters and their allies in the press overstate their case (the way Bush did when he won over Gore in 2000), the more Obama will alienate Clinton supporters should he be lucky enough to be the nominee.

[popozuda]

You're almost right, except it's like being in the semi-finals, ending the game in the fourth quarter if the losing team has NO CHANCE of winning and the loser ultimately wants the winner to win in the finals and be somewhat rested. Kind of. I hate sports analogies. It's the math dunderheads! She can't win. 10 states left or not. Mathematically she can't win!!!! Why do Clintonistas refuse to understand this!?

[AnninCA]

Because Hillary is ahead of Obama in national polls against McCain?

Imagine that some of us would like to win in the Fall.

[whizkid]

I don't mind Obama.
Its his supporters who remind me of Naderites in 2000.
They did their damage and ran under the refridgerator like so many cockroaches.

[thebirdstheword]

And Hillary's supporters remind me more and more of Bushies in 2000. One in four thinks Obama is a muslim. They are easily scared by Big Brother. What's your point?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

NO Democrats think Obama is a Muslim. Now the repubes are a far different story.

[vickic]

A few supporters on each side get overly intense. It's not an Obama thing or a Clinton thing. The vast majority of supporters on each side are passionate for their candidate, but in the end just want a Democrat to win and will support the eventual nominee.

I do agree with Dodd that the sniping and personal destruction going on, largely originating from the Clinton camp (although Obama camp is not innocent), is not helping the party. If the race is to go on, both sides need to tone down the rhetoric. If the current intensity keeps up, there is no choice but for the supers to take sides now and get this thing over with. While the Dems keep fighting, McCain's numbers continue to go up and up.

[su3xsu2xu1]

Why do Democrats continue to bring out this canard? For every Democrat who voted for Nader in 2000, there were at least five Democrats who voted for Bush. I was strongly tempted to vote for Nader in 2000 because the Democratic party is so bloated and corrupt and vile. Since Clinton, it has redefined itself as a center-right party rather than a center-left party, leaving the Republicans with the right to far-right slot. We have no left in America today. Instead of being mad at Nader, be mad at Bush Democrats. Be mad at anyone who thinks we're fighting for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. Be mad at anyone who supports the USA Patriot Act, or the Department of Homeland Security. Those are the real traitors.

[mouselion]

You've now got two camps for the Democratic race -- no, I'm not talking Hillary and Barrack, it's the Gore "let 'em duke it out -- it's the democratic thing to do" camp, and the Dodd "I can't stomach this anymore, the Republicans have their nominee already!" camp. The rabidity is so intense, one wonders if the democrats can lay down their respective mantra of "it's my candidate -- or I screw the party and vote for the devil!" Such self-destructive tendencies are being brought out in this race, this temper tantrum "I gotta have MY way" mentality. Get over it so we can smack down McBush and finally put this nation back on track!

[KDH]

All Obama has to do, is drop out and problem solved!

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Why should the candidate that is leading drop out? Isn't that what the candidate who is in second place supposed to do?

[Thomei]

Why should the #1 person drop out? You're delusional if you think this is going to be settled with Obama tossed out. What we're into now is a typical female response to rejection...and I can attest to this because I'm female. What Hillary thought was her god-given right to be president has proven to be just the opposite. She can rant on and on about winning, but it doesn't matter if her rich friends threaten all the super-delegates and try their bully routine day after day, the fact remains that Barack Obama is a money magnet, his message is clear as a bell, his fans are determined and strong in their support, and we all know that when the dust settles, the super-delegates will do what's best for themselves and the party...and side with Obama. Yesterday's politics just won't do anymore!

[rucognizant]

NO WAy, Jose..........I'm not voting for a liar who voted against the cluster bomb ban!

The media isn't getting "fat cat" over me I can't watch anymore.
The only reason I don't cut my DIrect TV is the John Adams series.
When that's done off it goes!

[Opus007]

More Clintonian twisted logic like

He's the frontrunner but he can be VP

I can't win but I'll just keep saying I'm neck and neck with Obama

I know the votes in Michigan and Florida don't but now that I didn't get my February 5th coronation it is unconstitutional not to count those votesl

Why is the media splitting hairs over sniper fire?

[kwahlin]

end the Billary McClinton drama, vote Obama.

[EinChicago]

You could also characterize them as the "Gore-count the votes and y'know, be democratic" camp and teh Dodd/Obama "suppress the votes and disenfranchise the states we didn't win camp". Unfortunately, I can see where this is headed. Obama will get the nomination and lose in November. meanwhile, HRC will, like Gore, when not being torpedoed by the uneducated fringe of our own party be free to rpove herself as an actual liberal, like Gore did, and the "self-proclaimed "progressive" (i.e., loony fringe) Nader herd will have screwed us over once again.

[Xiexie]

This race should go all the way to convention. Dems created the rules by which this process moves, and that's exactly what's going on. Let the process play itself out. I'm sick of these "we're scared" messages. People want to decry politics of fear, yet they fall right into it with this drivel about this race destroying the party. The party would only be "destroyed" if the Dems let it happen. We'd have no one to blame but ourselves.

I believe in both our candidates. I'd vote for either of them in a heartbeat. If your sentiments are "my preferred candidate, or nothing", grow up. That's just not how the world works. I'd much rather have Clinton or Obama tainted by each other over McCain and any running mate he hatches. We don't need Republicans in power for 4 more years.

There's not too many more states left. Let people have their say. As of now, neither of our candidates has met the 2025 delegate mark. If and/or when one of them has done such, then let's rally behind him or her. Until then, let the process follow its course. It's time for us Democrats to buck up and pledge to spurn whichever candidate is our nominee into the White House. This is no time rush behind either candidate because of some perceived "damage". That "damage" will only last if we let it.

[AnninCA]

I agree with you. I get the feeling that the "damage" factor is overblown so as to skip over the voters and go straight to coronation of Obama without any more shake-ups.

That's silly. Obviously, Hillary is capable of also misstepping. *haha

Let them duke it out, folks. We'll all benefit. The more we know about both of them, the better WE will be. Obama supporters aren't chanting "Yes We Can" anymore. The notion that he's the second coming has deflated into realism. That cannot be bad for anyone. And Hillary let Bill off the hook with her Bosnia story. She blew that one, not Bill. That can't be bad.

Seriously, it's much ado over nothing. Let the voters vote.

[Kim445588]

Please don't pretend like your candidate actually cares about people voting.

The only way she wins is if she manages to overturn us peasants with the super delegates.

Bottom line, after all this continued fighting, she will still be way behind in PLEDGED delegates. GET OUT

[whizkid]

GravitonX
You get four posts in a row.
You smear Clinton while your time
on stage gives tish tosh to Obama.
Superdelegates take note.

[richcpl]

What Does Hillary Want?

[kwahlin]

it doesn't exist...

[popozuda]

different math

[smustaro]

I got it!! It's the young ones on overdose levels of anti depressants, part of the zombie nation. It must be! No on has manners, civil inattention, respect for another persons opinions that is just as entitled as theirs. No understanding of social grace or common decency.
He might at least have taken the time to give you a primer on how to interact with others in a humane way. BTW, you all have your shots?
Dear God, you all think THIS is how you are supposed to act because your Messiah Obama is a self centered, self serving irresponsible Master. I came to address this subject but I'm in shock at the escatation of the bloodletting. What in Gods Name is wrong with you people??? C-ya!