WSJ: Clinton Needs Double-Digit Win In Pennsylvania To Hold Off Obama

With Sen. Hillary Clinton widely expected to win Pennsylvania's Democratic primary on Tuesday, most of the focus is on the margin. Anything less than a double-digit victory could solidify the perception that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the inevitable Democratic nominee, sparking a flow of superdelegates to his side.

But even if Sen. Clinton wins strongly, she still will remain behind in delegates, so her goal must be to change the dynamic of the race, raising doubts about Sen. Obama's ability to carry states like Pennsylvania and lifting her chances of replicating the win in Indiana on May 6.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

I`m the Fat Lady..............................TRLALALALALA

[TheShadow]

It's all over but the shouting.

Big win, small win, no win at all: It's over for team Clinton, and it's time for us to go after McCain, and crush him, and his party.

Clinton supporters: Get over it, and "move on".

[Nonamnesiac]

The Clinton camp must be pretty confident they're going to win by double digits in PA. I remember before the Texas and Ohio primaries you suddenly had Bill and Chelsea saying she must win both in order to moveon (pun intended). So if you've got Bill and Corzine and many others of the Hillary top tier saying she must have a big win in PA in order to remain a credible candidate, her internal polling must show she has that lead. Otherwise they woud limit expectations.

[Thatcher]

If your state has already voted - tell your superdelegates to "Sh*t or get off the pot"! We don't care who you endorse - just do it! http://tinyurl.com/6njr7e

[Thatcher]

Complete rundown of delegate predictions for the next 10 Democratic Primary contests ... Clinton wins more delegates in the 10 - but is it enough?

http://thedeadguy.com/2008/about-the-delegates

[Seattlelite]

Hillary needs more than a BIG win in PA, this is what so pisses me off about the media these days, in an effort to boost their rating they continue this false impression that Hillary can actually win this race -- the fact is she not only has to win PA with 60% of the vote she would have to win by 60% in all remaining contests and STILL she wouldn't have a lead over Obama perhaps enough to prove she a viable candidate but NOT THE LEAD. And I'll bet the supers are not going to overrule what the voters have decided. I'll break it down even more....in every remaining contest 2 out of every 3 voters would have to vote for Hillary, that is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. And while Hillary and her supporters refuse to face this fact McCain continues to get a free ride and play commander and chief. Do you realize how many opportunities have been missed to pounce on McCain? He's been making GW look smart and no one is focused on it thanks to this democratic soap opera. Just hope everyone felt it was worth it when the show ends and you see McCrazy get sworn in come January 09.

[CalGoldenBear]

ljsfolly and Seattlelite:

I suggest that both of you (not to mention senior party officials) are being overly pessimistic.
First, Sen. Obama is a newbie to the Beltway, bringing a fresh perspective.  He has had a consistent message of "change," so derided by the Clintonistas and many of the pundits who haven't bothered to check his Website or read his two books.
Second, his optimism has energized millions of people, especially the young who have been written off in 2000 and 2004 as "apathetic."  This is perhaps comparable to JFK's inaugural speech that inspired a man named Jeremiah Wright to drop out of college and to serve six years in the Marines and Navy.

Third, he has made good use of technology and run what political scientists will probably use as a 'textbook case" of a 21st century campaign.  It has been little short of awesome or phenomenal, with very few stumbles.
Fourth, he has used his community activist background to run a grassroots campaign with some 1.4 MILLION small contributors in all 50 states.  He has attracted far more donations than HRC OR JSM combined (probably by a factor of 3 or 4 times).

Fifth, with those funds, he can afford to use DNC chair Dean's 50-state strategy that will stretch JSM's far smaller war chest, not to mention McCain's perhaps tenuous health.
There is nothing better to be underestimated and then beat all expectations!
So be of good cheer -- Yes, he can!

[Fabienne]

Yes, Cal, I, too, am optimistic about the general election for the reasons you've stated. Also, I think the constant hammering of the media and the Clinton campaign on the nonissues will neutralize them after a while, if it hasn't already.

[ljsfolly]

Hillary has to be stopped soon or we won't have time to fight John McCain. Although this might be the real reason for Hillary to have this run out the clock! She has given the republicans sound bites. She has endorsed John McCain and still she runs on like she os a real democrat? If the superdelegates were truly interested in save the elction for the democrat candidate they would step up and stop Hillary. As long as they let her go on and do damages to the party then I have to think she is being supported by these same super delegates. For them to support her to a pontential win also means they are willing to support her stealing the nomination full well knowing she cannot win with the delegate and public vote Barack has now. She will not win PA in such numbers to support her continuing but she will not quit either. We all know it and the superdelegates should be ashamed of their fear or desire to help her rob the democrat vote.

[halyscomet]

Corzine is right. Clinton needs a win well beyond +10%. Really needs to be beyond +15%.

Even if the latter occurs, a loss at a similar margin in NC and a close race in Indy should move the SDs to Obama enmass.

[PioneerKing]

a win is a win Clinton will win by 23% in PA; 18% in IN and 17% in NC

[MiddleRoad1]

well, if u r dreaming, why not go all the way? Say "she will win by 100% in NC". Go ahead say it and see if it helps

[PioneerKing]

don't be fooled by the phoney polls she will win big
even if she only wins by 1% it's still a win and it will encourage her to stay in until Puerto Rico

[iPolitics]

Obama takes big national lead over Clinton in Newsweek poll

Barack Obama 54 percent

Hillary Rodham Clinton 35 percent

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D904GSVO1&show_article=1

[IRIE]

I think HRC will win by double digets easily.

[TinaFreeman]

About as likely as Pennsylvania getting 2 feet of snow that day...

[gditty]

PA governor has REdefined "landslide" as 1 to 3% win for Hillary.

[filo]

It's called moving the goal posts.

[mesuki]

that was a good one!

[solar4u]

How"s this for a scary thought.
Knowing they don"t have the numbers to win in 2008, the Clinton"s strategy could be to run against a republican in 2012. She is too old to wait 8 years for Obama so by destroying him now and allowing MC Cain to win she can start campaigning now for 2012.
I don"t believe her smoke screen when she says she will support the Democratic Party. SHE WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT AT ANY COST!

[mesuki]

The Clintons didn't support Gore when he was running for president( and he was Vice president to Bill)so I can't imagine Hillary supporting Obama. Obama better watch his back with Hillary...I don't trust her...she's devious! Obam a,if she ever offers you a drink or food don't take it,or take it but throw it away,don't even give it to your dog.

[CalGoldenBear]

solar4u:

Agree that Hil wants to be Prez at any cost, but in light of her conduct this time around and her strategy to subvert Sen. Obama, would YOU support her in 2012?

Also, if that is her post-February 5 Plan B calculation, she's again showing lousy judgment.

There are quite a few, very capable (and younger) female Dem senators (Klobuchar, Stabenow, Murray, Landrieu, Lincoln, McCaskill) and governors (Sebelius, Napolitano, Gregoire) who would have top-drawer resumes in 2012 that would put her inflated resume to shame.

So 2008 may have been HIl's best chance and she blew it big-time!

[LaFilleEnRose]

Her supporters wouldn't be saying she needs a big win unless their internal tracking/polling didn't indicate that she's going to get it. Too bad, as I'm for Obama but if they are pushing that, she's bound to get it and more -- or at least that's what she and her team expects.

[08timefortruth]

No way are you for Obama. The polls show there is no way she is going to get a double digit win and guess what her supporters will say anything to make her look better then she is.

[MiddleRoad1]

Actually, Corzine has been hedging his bets. He said earlier that he reserves he right to change his mind about backing Hillary

[Fabienne]

Why would their internal tracking polls be any more accurate than the other polls, especially since the Clinton campaign has been wrong on so much else?

[riverhouse]

Let's remember that Hillary began this PA race over 20 points ahead of Obama. Polls had her with a 22 to 26 point lead.

[txgal44]

Clinton will win PA. It was said all along. I know a few things have happened since then, but look, the people in PA were always for Clinton no matter her lies and negative campaigning. This is who they want to win regardless of what kind of person she is. Now the polls keep going up and down and around. I never listen to the polls. Remember what happened in NH, I think it was. He was way ahead of her in the polls, then on the day, he lost big!!! So lets not get to ahead of ourselves on this. Obama will loose PA probably by double digits and again it's going to give that witch the momentum she thinks she needs to humiliate herself further. The media is in on this also. The longer this goes on, the better for them. They report how Obama is closing the gap in PA and when it doesn't actually happen then it's all, why can't he just knock her out? Hillary is still in the game!! All that crap. It's just a game. Don't play it with them. The Obama camp knows he's not winning in PA. He does not need to. They know he's our next POTUS.

[08timefortruth]

I agree Clinton will probably take PA but not by double digits.