Clinton Says Obama Wants to Stop Votes

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused rival Sen. Barack Obama and his allies of trying to stop people from voting as some of his backers have called on her to drop out of the presidential race.

The Obama campaign rejected the charge, dismissing Clinton's criticism as "completely laughable."

In a series of television interviews in states holding upcoming contests, Clinton vowed to press on with her campaign and suggested Obama and his supporters wanted to keep those states from playing a role in selecting the party's presidential nominee.

"My take on it is a lot of Senator Obama's supporters want to end this race because they don't want people to keep voting," she told CBS affiliate KTVQ in Billings, Mont. "That's just the opposite of what I believe. We want people to vote. I want the people of Montana to vote, don't you?"

Montana holds its primary June 3. The New York senator made similar comments in interviews with stations in Indiana and North Carolina, which hold primaries May 6.

Obama leads the overall race for the Democratic nomination with 1,631 delegates, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. He got the backing of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Monday. Clinton has 1,501, according to the latest AP tally.

Clinton almost certainly will end the primary season narrowly trailing Obama in the popular vote and among pledged delegates unless the nullified primaries in Florida and Michigan are counted _ an unlikely scenario at best. But Obama is unlikely to end the race with the 2,024 pledged delegates needed to win outright either, meaning the nominee will be determined by roughly 800 superdelegates.

Responding to Clinton, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said: "That is completely laughable from a campaign that thought the race would be over on February 5. We have encouraged our supporters to do no such thing and Senator Obama was very clear he supports her carrying on in this race."

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Campaigning in Pennsylvania, Obama called the continuing primary battle "a struggle" but said he believed it was a good process that would strengthen the party in the long run.

"It is a healthy thing that so many people are passionate," Obama said in Johnstown. "I think it is great that Senator Clinton's supporters are as passionate about her as my supporters are about me... I think that is making this historic race that much more compelling."

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy last week became the first leading Democrat to openly call on Clinton to step aside and cede the nomination to Obama. He said he worried the prolonged nominating battle was strengthening the chances of the Republican nominee in waiting, John McCain.

Since then, Obama and his supporters have said Clinton should stay in the race as long as she chooses while indicating a lengthy primary battle would not help the party's position in the general election.

Obama has been picking up superdelegates at a rapid clip while Clinton's success with that group has slowed considerably.

"I don't even keep track of it, I can't even tell you that figure," Clinton said when asked by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA how many superdelegates had endorsed her in recent weeks.

As she spoke, her husband, former President Clinton, was in Oregon, lobbying uncommitted superdelegates.

___

Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett in Johnstown, Pa., contributed to this report.

Comments

[maxfusion]

After the latest big lie, there's nothing left to say. Guess what happens in the Military when you fabricate a hostile engagement? You will face a Courts Marshal. She is unfit to be commander and chief. But, but I slept with Bill when he was president. Yeah honey, you and couple dozen others. Hell, nominate Monica.

[etc]

What do you mean by "commander and chief'"?

[TK77]

Mr. Barrett: You suggest Howard Dean (and Obama) have deprived Florida and Michigan of “swing state” status. However, Michigan and Florida will be on the margin only if there is a "do-over". Why not advocate for seating the delegations per the January primaries? Go check Real Clear Politics: Even if Michigan and Florida are counted, Obama is in the lead in delegates and popular vote. Hillary is in the “4th quarter,” but she needs a 5th quarter "do-over" to have a shot at the popular vote lead.

You refer to “the media's pro-Obama tilt.” “Media bias” is a tired Republican canard, but now Hillary is playing from the Republican playbook, chatting up Richard Mellon Scaife, having Rendell praise Fox News and putting Bill Clinton on Rush Limbaugh on Texas primary day. Neither “media bias,” now Howard Dean, nor Obama has banished the 366 Florida and Michigan delegates. No one has erased Hillary’s “329,000 vote” margin in March with the insignificant Wyoming caucuses. What about Obama’s larger margin in previous states? Maybe she wins Pennsylvania, but what about North Carolina? The remaining states will be largely a wash, but of course, only Hillary’s wins are important.

Bottom line. Hillary entered this primary with every advantage, but Obama has run a better campaign. She can keep running, but second is still second. That’s where she is and that’s where she will finish. No “do-over,” no 5th quarter.

[jmk65]

actually noone will be in first after the primary season. noone has enough delegates. nor will they.

[LAJonathan]

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/57053

Hillary was fired in 1974 for lying. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I guess her supporters feel this is actually a good qualification to become president in this country. Nothing like a good cover up!

[bobdob]

While I welcome any valid evidence to support the charges against Senator Clinton, this article sits squarely on the side of hardly credible conspiracy theories. Check this out:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/reviews/matthewdallek.htm

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Clinton supporters, please answer the following questions:

Why won't Clinton pledge to return constitutional liberties?
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/politics?type=politicsNews&w1=B7ovpm21IaDoL40ZFnNfGe&w2=B7tmRCRJt2YFzDsa7MJ1CblL&src=blogBurst_politicsNews&bbPostId=Cz1VeFnrO5fmhCz7sNEgkr6eaqCz3hWJURc5eE5Cz8bp0emPnej3&bbParentWidgetId=B7tmRCRJt2YFzDsa7MJ1CblL

Why didn't she show for the FISA vote?
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/senate_votes_for_retroactive_i.php

Why does the right wing CATO Institute think she is a neocon?
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8495

Why does Bush trust her with his Iraq legacy?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20080127/ai_n21218524

Why did she vote to give Bush the authority to go to war in Iran, with Kyl/Lieberman?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-durang/beware-kyllieberman-pro_b_65797.html

[SCG]

** Another Truth Alert! **

How about that vote on the Bankruptcy Bill? Which she said she voted FOR, but was hoping it wouldn't pass.

[TiffShelton]

You have to judge her on her internal opposition not her external support.

[SCG]

Why did she vote to give Bush the authority to go to war in Iran, with Kyl/Lieberman?

^ Because she's a firm believer in peace by threats.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Actually the DLC (she's a DLC leader) believe that America should continue to expand military presence in the Middle East and increase the army by 100,000.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/27/55951/1586
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/21/AR2006052101182.html/
The DLC's plan B for Iraq:
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=450004&subid=900021&contentid=254187

[IslandGyal]

These come for the repubs, but they are funny.

http://www.gop.com/superdelegates.htm

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Hillary Clinton's hidden thesis:

ALINSKY's RULES FOR RADICALS

"Personalize it"

Saul Alinsky's rules of power tactics, excerpted from his 1971 book "Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals"

1. Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.

2. Never go outside the experience of your people.

3. Whenever possible go outside the experience of the enemy.

4. Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.

5. Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.

6. A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.

7. A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.

8. Keep the pressure on.

9. The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.

10. Maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.

11. If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside.

12. The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.

13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17388372/page/2/

[TiffShelton]

Yeah it is so wrong for the male Obama surrogates to ask Hillary to quit and endorse Obama, BUT Bob Johnson (pimp and BET founder) can threaten Nancy Pelosi, without word one from faux feminists like Gloria Steinem and NOW or those feminists who believe this country is ready for a female president.

Hillaryites are such hypocrites. The female Hillary supporters are so outraged at Sen. Leahey for suggesting that Sen. Clinton quit and endorse Obama, but didn’t have problem with that awful pimp Bob Johnson did to Nancy Pelosi.

I guess principles go out the window when you are trying to get a woman in the WH. I remember this same hypocrisy during the Monica incident.

[PaulRaymond]

Wouldn't the guy that has gotten MORE new people to vote, want to continue getting MORE people to vote?

[patapsco99]

Obama has the victims coming out of the woodwork. Poor me, Poor me, I am a victim of society because society can be perfect and we can live a fairy tale life. I don't know-people having the emotional reaction of a 12 year old- should be able to vote?

[SCG]

Your a voter? I think you answered yourself.

[JohnTalbutt]

How funny. I know you are aware that only a six year old mocks like "poor me, poor me". Very witty. But step out of character sometime and let us know what you really think.

[Texas4Obama]

Of course Obama wants people to vote .... and he wants to go to all of the remaining 10 states. The more states that are in play the more new democrats Obama will get registered to vote and then there will be more registered democrats that will be voting in November! The dems are going to blow the repubs out of the water in November!

[DGregory]

In a day in age where everything can be found on the internet i find it hard for her to make such a claim. The spin on this is extraordinary.

How does one campaign who figured they would "win" after super tuesday accuse another camp of stopping the votes.

How does one campaign who signed a pledge that the votes in michigan/florida

how does one campaign have the gull to say the other campaign doesnt want revotes when the other campaign only raised the question "What about the people who crossed party lines to vote republican because they were told democratic primary didnt count

This, may work on those who are not advent readers and dont actually do the research.

Also can someone tell me "Why she is still in the race" when its mathematically improbable.
Can someone respond to me with the answer, i dont understand the implode theory since
-Suspend campaign so if obama implode she will be picked.

All it seems is that she is going to debt

[patapsco99]

Let’s see, on March 29, 2008, During a speech, Obama put an unwanted birth in the same category as an unwanted STD. Have to love those principles. He said he would not like see someone punished by either one. When does a baby’s life become punishment? I’m for the right to choose, but a baby always equals joy for a willing mother, who might not be the birth mother.

[ZsaZsa]

The "mothers" Obama was talking about as being punished are not "willing mothers." They are girls who aren't ready to become mothers.

[Mike O.]

But they were ready to have sex right? Where is abstinence in sex education?

[Texas4Obama]

Oh come on you can't see how an unexpected pregnancy can ruin the life of an uneducated poor teenager that can't take care of herself let alone a baby. What planet do you live on.

The point of what Obama said at that rally was that America needs to do a better job at educating people so that their future has a chance.

Perhaps you are an educated person living above the poverty level and could handle anything that comes along - but not all people are.

[patapsco99]

Obama grew up wealthy, his wife makes a high salary, he makes a high salary. What does he know about being poor. Its ok to just another's cause, but to act like you know is a turn off. See, he is trying to reach an audience that does not feel his pain. He is a wealthy man that acts wealthy. He has never been poor. The middle class in America are worst of than the poor.

[IslandGyal]

patapsco99,
Your paragraph is 10x more stupid than the statement made by Obama. Many, many young women and older wome's lives have been negatively impacted by unwanted births. I am sure you are some well to do MAN saying this nonsense.

[patapsco99]

I guess you know what is right for all of society the same way Obama is suggesting that all unwanted or one unwanted birth are punishment. Many great gifts come from the unknown, but liberals want to make their thoughts everyone else's thought. See faith says that everything can become better. People should have the right to choose, but to say an unwanted birth is punishment or will be punishment does not understand the miracle of life to heal and change, then that is taking away someones right to believe what can happen after birth.

[IslandGyal]

patapsco99,
It amazes me that you pro-life people like to stop women from having reproductive rights, but you same folks are nowhere around when these unwanted American babies are born, rather, you all go to Russia, Korea, South American, etc to adopt, leaving the American children to live in foster care etc. OH PLEASE!!!!!

[abellofgrace]

Patapsco99, you know exactly what he meant about an unwanted birth. Most people understood. Why would a teenager who have not completed their education, not married and certainly not in a position to be a mother want to be a mother? It would be doing a disservice to the baby and the young mother. Please, are you that ignorant.? Stop reaching for straws.

[Texas4Obama]

FACTS:

1) Senator Obama has won more pledged delegates.

2) Senator Obama has won the state of TEXAS.

3) Popular vote doesn't count in this nomination race only PLEDGED DELEGATES and SD's count.

4) Senator Obama is closing in on Clinton in the polls in PA - Obama WANT'S the voters of PA to vote!

5) The rule for the National Anthem is to STAND and TAKE OFF YOUR HAT - the rule is NOT about putting your hand 'anywhere'.

6) The DNC makes the rules - not the candidates. If you want to put the blame somewhere blame the rules not the candidates.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

“You know I'm going to start thanking the woman who cleans the rest room in the building that I work in. You know, maybe that sounds kind of stupid, but on the other hand I want to start seeing her as a human being.” In a speech just weeks before she had the White House Travel Office employees fired (New York Times Magazine, 05/23/93). Apparently, it didn’t occur to Hillary before this epiphany that most people already see maids, janitors, and other blue-collar workers as human beings.

Hillary in her own words:
http://tammybruce.com/2007/02/hillary_in_her_own.php

[Texas4Obama]

I love it!

Hillary just can't seem to stop LYING.

Someone needs to put up a LIE-O-METER so that we can watch the numbers go up everyday!

[Aleka]

Oh that is really a brilliant idea!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

She'd bust it in a week.

[PragmaticCynic]

As an undeclared citizen living in the southern area of America's "Heartland" (a/k/a "bible belt") my own views of Hillary have gone from supportive, to concerned, to reprehensive to....

... well, I'm really developing a strong dislike of this person.

I seems to me that she's more interested in obtaining power than serving my fellow coutrymen. As the position of Democratic frontrunner continues to slip slowly through her grasping fingers, she's becomming more and more snide, dishonest and, worst of all, vindictive.

I'd wager that if every state in the Union held a new Democratic primary (without Republican voter fraud) today, that Obama would win by well over 10%. All of these DNC superdelegates would be wise to at least consider that BEFORE the convention.

Last thing the DNC needs is to spend its convention squabbling amongst themselves while the GOP convention pull off another organized, cooperative attack on the "incompetent" Democrats.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Clinton's recent meteoric wise in wealth:
http://www.thememlingindex.com/hillary_clinton_net_worth-wealth.html

[nohat]

I agree with what you say. I never liked her from the time I saw her with Bill in that tv interview during the Monica thing. I never saw anyone enable like she did that day, and there ws something really hard about her, too. Of course, this is all just on a personal level, don't like her personally. I don't think I like her politics either.
Right now she is cleverly using the most basic principles of democracy to stay in the race. That is,
she is making anyone who wants her to get out, look undemocratic. Depriving people of their vote, and all that. It is rich, coming from the most undemocratic democrat I've ever seen. But also very clever. Obama didn't have any choice but to say she should fight on.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

She's not so clever. She flunked the bar exam in DC in the 70's. However she is surrounded by others who make her look smarter than she is. If she was smart, she wouldn't fabricate a story and keep telling it on camera, when the evidence is to the contrary.

[Gordon]

Hillary Clinton won the Cold War.

[McSurgent]

Obama, the 2nd Coming of Jesus - that's the best one so far!!