Senator Leahy To Clinton: Drop Out

** NEW UPDATES BELOW **

Obama-backing Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) has become among the most senior Democrats to explicitly call for Sen. Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race:

In an interview on Vermont Public Radio, said "There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama. Now, obviously that's a decision that only she can make frankly I feel that she would have a tremendous career in the Senate."

Leahy said he was fretting about the impact of the protracted Democratic race.

"I am very concerned," he said. "John McCain, who has been making one gaffe after another, is getting a free ride on it because Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have to fight with each other. I think that her criticism is hurting him more than anything John McCain has said. I think that's unfortunate."

UPDATE: Leahy has released a new statement phrasing the issue in a softer tone (and without a call for Clinton to drop out):

Any clear-eyed appraisal of the campaign at this stage adds up to two conclusions:

The bottom line is that, first, Senator Obama continues to hold a lead that appears to be insurmountable, and recent indications are that more and more unpledged delegates have begun to add their support to his column.

And second, John McCain, who has been making one mistake after another, is getting a free ride on those gaffes, because the Democratic candidates have to focus not on him but on each other.

Senator Casey's endorsement of Senator Obama in Pennsylvania is the latest sign of how the race is going.

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A Democratic victory in November is important to the future and to the change in course that the American people want and deserve. The last thing the American people need is for Senator McCain to continue a third term for President Bush.

Senator Clinton has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to. As far as the delegate count and the interests of a Democratic victory in November go, there is not a very good reason for drawing this out. But as I have said before, that is a decision that only she can make.

Senator Clinton has begun a tremendous career in the Senate, and she has a bright future ahead of her. She faces difficult decisions ahead, and I wish her the best.

Also, the Clinton campaign released statements from their top Pennsylvania supporters:

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell: 'To call for an end to this race before the people of Pennsylvania have had a chance to make their views known is wrong and a disservice to millions of Democrats.' "I respect Senator Leahy and like him very much but as the governor of one of America's largest states, I am disappointed in his comments. By virtually every measure, this race is neck and neck with less than 1% of the more than 27 million votes cast forming the difference between the two candidates. To call for an end to this race before the people of Pennsylvania have had a chance to make their views known is wrong and a disservice to millions of Democrats." [Statement from Gov. Ed Rendell, thepage.time.com, 3/28/08]

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter: 'What [Sen. Leahy's] proposing would be like calling a baseball game in the 7th inning. Let's play this out... I think it's important not only that our concerns be discussed, but that our voices be heard and our votes be counted. "While I appreciate the loyalty Senator Leahy feels to Senator Obama and the concern he may have about his candidate's ability to win, what he's proposing would be like calling a baseball game in the 7th inning. Let's play this out. We have yet to have a real discussion about the issues at stake in cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton and I think it's important not only that our concerns be discussed, but that our voices be heard and our votes be counted. That's democracy. There is no reason whatsoever to disenfranchise Philadelphians and deprive them of their right to participate in our democratic process." [Statement from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, 3/28/08]

Comments

[atexas]

The reason they want to stop Hillary is because they know FOX NEWS will soon release a new tape of
OBAMA HUSSEIN and REV WRIGHT at the altar at the same time. Please fox news do it now............

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Looks like new leadership is needed in the Dem party - starting with Leahy, Pelosi, and Reid.

[melann830]

Time to clean house.

[LarBear]

Interesting spin from Barack supporters... Neither Candidate can get enough delegates to clinch the Nomination before the Convention... But Hillary should drop out... The rules of the Contest are the Delegates and Super delegates can support whom they choose... Barack supporters call for following the Rules for Florida and Michigan... However, if the Delegates/ Super Delegates follow the Rules and Nominate Hillary, they are "stealing" the Nomination...
Republicans in Florida moved the Primary and disenfranchised the voters... So sad, screw you, to bad, follow the Rules say Barack supporters... In Michigan the "Old Guard" Democrats supporting Barack wanted to move to a early Caucus that would favor Barack... Unable to get that, they co-operated to move the Primary which favored Hillary, but would not count... So sad, screw you, to bad, follow the Rules say Barack supporters...
Golly Gee Whiz, it's screw the voters... Empower the Old Guard! Holy Mature Manure, Rat Man, I smell a Rodent...
While Democrats choose their Candidate, the Old Guard is willing to throw the Election to the Republicans, to try and stay in Control... Isn't that the essence of why the House and Senate have caved to the Bush Administration, over and over? Why the Invasion/ Occupation keeps rolling tragically along... Impeachment off the Table...
Old Guard first... Control second... Voters third, or is that to high?

[hillarysupporter]

Very, very disappointed with the Democratic party leaders --- this is too tight of a race to ask one of
the candidates to drop out. What are they thinking? They're so desperate for their boy to win,
that they're forgetting the other half of the democratic voters? They obviously don't give a damn
about us! I'm tired of feeling "invisible"... maybe HIllary supporters need to speak up, write letters,
start petitions, because the Democratic party is turning their back on us.

[MaineMike]

Huckabee continued through the Republican primaries even as his chances dwindled. He stayed in the race until McCain reached the magic number, so why shouldn't the Clintons? They certainly have the right to.

I still don't think the Clintons can win, however, but this makes watching cable news interesting.

[knerd]

I thought so. I for one can't wait until Hillary Clinton wins the White House: she will be ignoring good advice on Day One.

[texanna]

Gee, I'm so amazed -- yet another Old White Guy wants the little lady to just sit down and shut up! I might suggest to Sen. Leahy that there are plenty of reasons I can think of regards his performance as a Senator that would cause me to tell him to pack it in. Maybe he could devote a bit of time to doing something substantive with his Senatorial position about the problems that we've got on our plate right now and let the primaries continue until all have had their say. Come back and talk to us again in June, Sen. Leahy, and until then why not just do the job you have?

[JohnTalbutt]

As an Obama supporter I hope she stays in the campaign for at least three reasons.

1.If she does some of her honest supporters such as yourself will feel that something was unfair.

2.There is nothing more she can do to help McCain or hurt Obama. Her campaign has already said that she and McCain are the only patriots, only she and John McCain have the experience to be Commander and Chief, and Obama is where he is only because of his race. .

3.. The more her campaign keeps repeating those things the more people will see through them.

[mojopo]

Politicians and showboating media types keep trying to call this thing before the votes in each state. It is so ridiculous that even Obama is calling for resolutions in Florida and Michigan, because even HE understands that the party needs their support this November. But then you have guys like Richardson and Leahy, who want their choice to win. They inject themselves into the process, which is meddlesome. Let people make up their own minds!

[billrott]

Notice how there really is not any Clinton supporter getting up on TV saying she should stay in the race.

[tumblewind]

I will have to agree with Senator Leahy! She needs to withdraw! It's obvious she isn't going to win. The longer she keeps up this nonsense the worse she hurts our party! The fact is Hillary can not win in a general election! She has to much baggage from the days her husband was President. To many people despise her. All she is doing is screwing the whole process up because she can't admit she isn't that popular!

[Trueheart]

Well, I just threaded my way though as much of this as I could. Some people don't want to face the facts, but this tactic of asking Mrs. Clinton to end her campaign will work in her favor, not Mr. Obama's. The single smartest thing that Super delegates could have done for their party would have been to keep their mouths shut and not endorse prior to convention. But they have blown it, and made it very difficult for Obama and Clinton supporters to come together in support of whichever candidate makes it out of the convention process.

Even as we post our thoughts on internet discussions, conflict in Iraq is ramping up. Osama Bin Laden has called for a renewed effort--an all out attack on our homeland. If we are, indeed, moving into a new phase of escalation, then it's over for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Neither of them has what it will take to scoop the presidency from John McCain.

Don't hit me with any crap about being a Republican. I'm an Independent whose rose-colored glasses shattered when that bonehead Ronald Reagan took the helm, and led us off on a merry course that has resulted in the social and economic disorder we are living with today.

[union79]

"Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter: 'What [Sen. Leahy's] proposing would be like calling a baseball game in the 7th inning"

No, May Nutter ~ in baseball there is no ceiling number of runs needed to win ~ the game can be won in the last half of the ninth or even 15th inning. The Democratic nominee has to win a specific number of delegates to win. Leahy was saying two things, as I read his comments:

1. No matter how many votes are cast and delegates won between no and Denver, Hillary can't get to the magic number.
2. Continuing the Clinton/Obama battle rather than shifting party's to focus on winning in November is not a winning strategy.
3, He recognizes that it is Hillary's choice.

Is my memory correct that Obama has said the primary campaign should continue through to Denver?

If so, all we are seeing here is a lot of varied opinions by a lot of concerned Democrats as to the best way to win the White House ~ the objective for all Democrats.

To rant and rave about Leahy's character rather than his opinion is a disservice to a Senator who has spoken out over and over about the issues that matter ~ Bush's trashing of the constitution and the dishonesty of the Justice Department.

Let's stop character assassination so that a variety of opinions can be heard!

[zebstar]

I wish the Obamabots including Leahy would shut up. If we wanted Hillary to dropout we have stopped voting for her longtime. They are really pushing many of us permanently away from Mr Change with this talk of our candidate dropping out.

[StillAmused]

One day later, and ol' Pat's jammed in reverse, pedal to the metal...

"even his Democratic colleagues call him "imperious" and a "pain to work with.""

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2038

[Bulbul]

Leahy is not that powerful to shape the election. Yesterday, I happen to tune to King. In some of these, talk shows , it is more power to the people who has louder voice to soft. Miller and Scholtz were so loud, were not letting the lovely Carol Simson speak or the Congressman who was there.

How about the voter, stupid ???
How can they pressure Hillary to drop out before the voters in the other eleven states get a chance to vote ?
I have a better Idea Leahy, go to the Supreme Court and decide the winner !

It is going to backfire, all of these good intentional people are digging a path to hell for their favorite...

[schoolmaster]

It is ridiculous to say that super delegates should follow the majority of pledged delegates who are favoring Obama. It is quite possible that Obama may come out victorious in whatever way the votes are counted. Democratic primary process involves weight given to three segments independently. 1. Delegates by primary voting, 2. delegates by caucus and 3. super delegates. Each segment expressing their own choice independently does not upset the democratic process.

[dadw5boys]

THEY ARE WORKING OVER TIME TO STOP NATIONAL HEALTH CARE !!!!!!

STOP HILLARY AND STOP NATIONAL HEALTH CARE.

[darker]

Stop Hillary and YOU STOP nat'l health care.

National HEALTH CARE is not a luxury or an option. It's NOT an option HAVING A BODY.
Health care is ESSENTIAL.
Both Hillary and Obama must advocate for and institute national health care.

[melann830]

We agree 100%.

[melann830]

We know that the greedy old coots in congress, still lining their pockets with insurance lobbyist perks are trying to thwart her chances. We have always known this. This is why Obama is really so attractive to them. This is why they sided against her in the nineties. Greed, pure greed. Obama is falling for it. I bet you if he changed his mind and sided with Clinton on universal health care, they would all change their superdelegate votes at the convention.

[pdsimdars]

And this is the same Clinton who has more money from lobbyists in the health care industry than any other person in Congress? Who are you kidding? Seriously, you have to stop living in a dream and come down to reality. The statements about her and health care are more like knee jerk republican thinking, that is, a rote response, "Oh, Hillary, Healthcare, synonymous." Whereas the reality is what I said above, more lobbyist money than every other person in congress. Doesn't that register?

[DavidK08]

why does hillary get the credit for being health cares only hope? She has a loosing record and is treated by some that without her, there is no hope.

Lets try someone else and give Obama a shot. You acctually have less to worry about with him. He doesn't have a loosing record.

Hillary has pissed off a lot of dems in congress now. She would have a tough time getting it through.
She may have it blocked by these dems only to have legislation that Obama supported passed. There is more going on than just wanting a certain candidate. Once the election is over, there will be a lot more players who are and aren't pissed at the Clinton machine.