Is Clinton Looking For An "I Told You So" Moment?

Mother Jones:

Why is Hillary Clinton still in the race?

Ever since she failed to cream Barack Obama in Indiana, pundits and analysts have been chewing this over--and now that the West Virginia primary is done, even though she won by a massive two-to-one margin, the question still hovers. After all, Obama has racked up an insurmountable lead in pledged delegates and has pulled ahead in the superdelegate count, meaning the race is essentially complete. Clinton and her campaign advisers have argued that she can still win the nomination if she does well in the last few primaries and then persuades superdelegates she is the better candidate to do battle with John McCain. But the superdelegates don't seem receptive to her case. And the fact that she has throttled back on the anti-Obama rhetoric in recent days--she barely she criticized her in her not-so-jubilant West Virginia victory speech--is a signal that she may not believe her own spin and is merely halfheartedly trudging toward the last primaries (Montana and South Dakota) on June 3.

Yet there she is--an active and hard-working candidate. And the commentators have come up with several obvious explanations:

* She wants to remain in the hunt just in case something happens. (A video appears of Wright calling for armed revolution? Fox News produces Obama's Secret Muslim Membership card?)

* She is staying in for one last round of fundraising. (Her campaign is $20 million in debt and owes her $11 million.)

* She wants to end her historic campaign with a string of victories: West Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico. (Puerto Rico? She is a senator from New York.)

* And the most obvious of them all: she's not yet ready to face the music.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[LeeinJax]

Why should she give up. Did Custer decide to give up?

.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

LOL I have more admiration for Custer... At least he took personal risks when he went into battle. Hillary Clinton is taking risks with the future of America and the Democratic party.

[jupitor]

And wasting the american peoples money!

[Oldtt]

Custer was trying to get his Civil War star back by killing innocent women and children. Clinton is campaigning against Obama. Somehow these don't seem equivalent.

[NetWeasel]

"Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

[LeeinJax]

And speaking of Germans? bombing Pearl Harbor...

Did Japanese army Lt. Hiroo Onoda, stationed on the Philippine island of Lubang, quit just because World War II ended 30 years before?

[kylie]

Maybe Custer should have given up!

Millions of us would like to see Hillary wave that "White Flag".

[LeeinJax]

RE: Custer giving up. It might have been kinder to the ones who stood with him...

[shelobo]

She wants to start a racial war ,thats why she is still running .She KNEW that three states were VERY VERY VERY racist states,Kentucky,West Virgina ,and Oregon !!!Research each states race data ,and surprise ,surprise ,guess WHO used RACISM to win? I'm disgusted with the Super delegates kissing her butt!!! After this scam of a nomination ,I may end up never voteing Democrat again!!

[preatorius]

Obama will win Oregon!

[kevenseven]

Handily.

[ChiGuy]

1.) The KY and OR primaries haven't happened yet. She hasn't won anything there.
2.) The Supers aren't kissing her butt. They're flocking to Obama daily.

If you abandon the Democratic Party, you'll only be helping McCain get closer to at least 4 more years of the same BS.

[DemocraticRN]

shelobo: You said, "Research each states race data ,and surprise ,surprise ,guess WHO used RACISM to win?."
You mean that the fact there is not a large African-American segment in WV for Obama to win by 92% is not fair. Why is this not reverse racism in all the other states he won? Hillary Clinton DID NOT start a racial war, you and your ilk did. This has been a racial war ever since Obama camp made it so by painting the Clintons as racists. Their record shows just the opposite to be true and just because you Obama supporters say so doesn't mean it is true. David Axelrod's plan from the start was to use the race card to destroy the opposition. That is how he make his reputation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
Read this for details.

[kevenseven]

Because it is not.

[jupitor]

Oh, man at least get it right! Bill Clinton used the first race card back at s. carolina!

[Aleka4]

You fool.

When you vote FOR something superficial, like blacks voting for Obama or those annoying feminists voting for Clinton, it is called identity voting.

When you vote -against- something for superficial reasons, like whites voting against a black or men voting against Clinton b/c shes a woman, THEN it is racist or sexist.

What is the matter with you people? you think voting racist is "justified" b/c the blacks are voting for Obama? Are you for real? I have news for you - racism is -not acceptable- at ANY time, and I will forever loathe Clinton for making it "ok" to people like you who are so desperate to steal an election that you don't care the means, even if you sell your soul.

What a pathetic example of humanity. You are the kind of people who probably thought slavery was OK.

[doonie]

Democratic RN: You really need to get your facts straight if your gonna blog here...you'll find these participants very savvy, very informed, and they do their research. They astound me. Hillary used the race card from the beginning. Not Obama. And he never claimed to have been under sniper fire in Bosnia. How does one forget that? Oh, that's right...they pander and LIE. Whose so desperate for the nomination that they've thrown the kitchen sink and everything in it at our candidate? That would be Hillary. Who has worked vigorously to avoid negative campaigning? That would be Obama. See...you can even learn the real facts here too. Aren't you glad your here?

[lowry99]

Yeah, vote Republican. They're a real melting pot.

or better yet go third party and make yourself completely irrelevant.

[kevenseven]

"better yet go third party and make yourself completely irrelevant."

Hehehehehhehe

[situationcritical]

I'm going with the republican secret muslim society membership card.

[EuroPreacher]

With 81% reporting in WV,Obama had more votes than McSame because most Hillary voters are GOP's voting for her only because she is the weakest dem candidate;Hillary cannot win come November just like she cannot win the nomination;the blue collar story is a fabricated story because Hillary voters,most of them will vote McClone come November and that no matter who is the Dem nominee!!!This is a historic election and no point comparing to century-old trends...

[Trinidad707]

I am always amazed at how negative Huffpo can paint Hillary even after she clobbers Obama 67%-26% so far in Wv Edwards got remaining 7%........I also find it incredible that 13 of obama's victories were caucuses where the entire population is disenfranchised and can't vote......and yet his total of 26 states minus 13 caucuses which are congressmen, officials and party insiders voting...so subtract his caucuses and count merely the primaries which means he actually won by population vote 13 states to Clintons 1 caucus and 16 states. His popular vote may be gone soon as well, which means with all the big states and swing states save for 1 that Clinton has won..the white blue collar vote as well as the Reagan democrats.......she is the candidate that will put McCain to rest.the gallup poll shows Clinton Beating McCain and Obama losing to him......not a pretty picture.....most democrats need to NOTconcentrate on I like my candidate better than yours, but who will beat McCain in Nov...... that is the most important......Obama isn't the guy who can do that!

[meltingpot101]

It's going to be a very difficult time for you when Obama is officially made the nominee. What are your plans for the transition??

Today's gallup poll has Obama beating McCain by 7 or 8 points and Hillary by 3 points. Please try to see this race logically, I know it's hard.

[jupitor]

Obama didn't even work w. virginia much. It was to allow her one good win, so she could get out gracefully. Now look what she's gone and done!

[kylie]

Oh well, the pundits said WV was perfect "Hillary Country".

Under-educated, racist, and filled with Rush Limbaugh revolving "voters".

[Thereandback]

Your mythical beliefs about caucuses "where the entire population is disenfranchised and can't vote" and "which are congressmen, officials, and party insiders voting" and therefore are "subtractable" is what people living in the world of reality might find truly "incredible".

[Aleka4]

Wow...are you ever ignorant. Your knowledge of caucuses is WRONG. I don't know who told you this crap, but if you took voting SERIOUSLY you would frakking -research- this kind of stuff instead of making a complete fool of yourself on blogs by repeating false information.

The woman is a proven chronic liar, and yet it never occurs to these people that she's not telling the truth. How gullible can you get?

[eej]

You really are ignorant. In my state anyone who would turn 18 before the general election could caucus, and they could register to vote at the caucus location just before participating.

What a load of lies you are telling.

[FlowerGirl]

Here's an "I told you so." With Hillary race baiting for votes, we naturally have racists acting up:

http://www.msnbc.com/id/24588813/

With the honored media helping her, she has legitimized their behavior. She hasw won West Virginia. But she has only one more hoorah to go in Kentucky. Obama will take Oregon, Montana and South Dakota.
Anyone who believes it OK to do the kind of pleading for "hard working WHITE voters" needs a good kick in the place where Hillary is big.

But there is good news for those who despise this sort of thing. In a previously strongly Republican district, Miss-01, the Democrat won in spite of money poured in by Republicans, visits by the party's big wigs, and anti-Obama links to the Democraatic candidate (like those unsuccessfully used in Louisiana.) The Republicaqn Party is in deep doodoo and --- by the way, so is their surrogate Hillary Clinton.

[ThatBKChick]

(((((CRICKETS)))))....NOW HRC tell us something we didn't know already! GEESH! Clinton won at least 16 of the 28 delegates at stake in West Virginia and Obama won at least seven, with five more to be allocated, which only gives her dumb behind a net of 4 more delegates than him?--"Jesus take the wheel"

[mrmemory]

Well, she doesn't need to do an I told you so, because I'll tell you so right now: If she is not asked to be VP and Obama goes down in the General, I will have no pity for a confused party who chose to nominate a candidate who cannot connect with large segments of the population, including white blue collar workers. A candidate who has no specifics, poor debate performances, and who consistently lost primaries in critical swing states like PA, OH, and FL. So if that happens, yea, I will say I told you so. Remember all those states Bill Clinton won...like WV and KY? Well, not this time. Let me explain something: relying on the theories of intellectuals will never produce a political victory.

[kevenseven]

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

HRC as the VP. Where do you dolts even get the notion that she would take the gig?

[Kally]

You can see what is going to happen in November if the DNC appoints obama. Here we have a candidate who shows she can win....she have a heck of lot more popular votes than obama. If you take the caucus away he low on the totem pole. And look at how the superdelegates are being pressured to switch to obama. After all the popular vote Hillary has.

The blacks in this country have voted for obama from the beginning in the southern states where they outnumber the whites. BUT the states he won are republican states and the registered republican voters outnumber the democrats 3 to 1 in those states, and they haven't voted for a democrat in over 60 years and you don't think they are going to vote for obama do you.....He hasn't won one predominate democratic state. We know he can dance and wave and chant and outdo bush in smirking, but what else can he do...Most whites in these states WON'T VOTE for him. And the MSM and the "types" who support obama call them racist. WE DIDN'T HEAR THAT THO WHEN ALL THOSE BLACKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MISSISSIPPI VOTED FOR obama.

[rzan]

Have you put your money where your mouth is? Have you been contributing to your favorite candidate's campaign? She needs to pay off a 20,000,000 dollar debt. Evidently her supporters do not support her all that much. Obama has a very devoted group of supporters from all ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds. I am a white 60 year old woman who is voting for him. I work as a typist which is hardly the job of an elitist. I also have contributed to his campaign - that is how much I believe in his candidacy.

[eej]

She does not have more popular votes than Obama.

And that is true even without counting the caucuses. Hillary does not count the caucuses.

[Aleka4]

Good lord.

Who is telling you this crap:? Does it occur to you to go see if what you are posting is even correct?

What a stunning display of ignorance.

[EvoMan]

Hmm. You fit Senator Clinton's demographic to a tee.

[kdublya]

mrmemory,

Wait a few minutes and the sugar high will disappear. Why?
Congratulations, you've accomplished nothing.
That is, other than crediting yourself for projecting your fear of failure onto others.

Go suck on a lemon, you energy sucking, Carpathian dingbat.

[preatorius]

Obama doesn't need Hillary, he can win with Edwards, Webb (VA) or Richardson.
She is not needed. Hillary's so-called supporters would love to have the first two candidates.

[paganmist]

The only thing that keeps Democrats from winning are inflated egos.

"The candidate that *I* wanted wasn't chosen and Obama supporters were MEAN to me, so I'm going to vote for Nader/Hillary as a write-in/Barr/McCain/stay home."

No Democratic nominee will EVER be electable, if idiotic democrats don't stop whining and vote for the Democratic nominee.

Capiche?

Stop blaming everyone but yourself. If you don't vote for the democratic nominee, then you have no RIGHT to complain about the democrats no putting forth an "electable candidate".

[harriscrl3]

She can stay in as long as she wants I think Obama is right in ignoring her and focusing on the general. I question her sanity to throw that much money at a losing effort with fewer contest left well it seems like a waste to me but hey its her money as long Obama does NOT foot the bill or even help fundraise. Obama is suppose to release his money for April and its huge this guy raises money like a juggernut but somehow HIlary thinks that we should throw all that away for her and her bankrupt campaign.

Carol

[rosal]

She needs donations to pay her debts.

[disgustedbyitall]

all three reasons only make sense if you believe clinton to be an appallingly cynical individual.

[kevenseven]

I could be persuaded................

[ann1]

It would be wonderful to see "breaking news" flash across MSNBC tomorrow, saying HILLARY CLINTON IS DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE...

[robXdion]

I thought she was gonna do it tonight. But that would be too much like "class".

[Aleka4]

Yea no kidding. I was hoping she'd take the hint and go out on a high note. But I knew she wouldn't when it became clear she was campaigning here on his alleged "weakness" rather than HER strengths, which would have been the graceful thing to do.

[iPolitics]

Hillary Clinton/Pat Buklanan 2012

[nellie]

I'm saying this as an Obama supporter.

I don't know why people are jumping all over Hillary for staying in the race. First, she's not slamming Obama any more, so she has brought her kitchen sink slash and burn campaign to a close. Second, I'd rather see Obama lose in states where he has an opponent, like West Virginia and Kentucky, than lose in a state where he has none. Third, she can't win even if she "counts" Michigan and Florida "the way she counts." So it's over. Obama has moved on. Hillary will give her concession speech. And if she gets to bow out gracefully, she's more likely to campaign in earnest for Obama in the general.

[08timefortruth]

I agree with most of your comment but not the first point....she did not stop her slash and burn until she'd played the race card in WV.......when she knew that was going to work then she finally shut up.........now if she doesn't burn him again I might be more charitable but I am not counting on her good behavior.

[Aleka4]

You don't think "He can't get the white vote" while campaigning in a racist state, where some spin will make that "look" reasonable, isn't undermining him?

She has not given up the kitchen sink. She should not be contrasting or saying a damn word about him. She should be campaigning on HER strengths noy HIS alleged weaknesses that she makes up.

[Aleka4]

woop sorry for the double, I thought this one was poofed.

[mhaven]

Her presence undermines him. She is saying "I don't respect you."

[situationcritical]

Then, by your very own reasoning Obama is saying to her "I don't respect you" because he's staying in the race too.

[Oldtt]

This is the core argument made by Obama supporters: simply contesting against Obama for the nomination is inherently racist. What will you do if he is elected and the Congress rejects one of his policy initiatives - riot? Will the media be permitted to criticize him, or will he be the American Kim Jung Il? Will we be obliged to venerate him like the Dalai Lama? How much space is still available on Mount Rushmore? Will his face fit on a dollar bill? Get a grip.

[Aleka4]

I don't think she HAS stopped.

Stating over and over that he can't get the "white vote" is undermining him, epsecially since she is trying to hold up a racist state as representing all of America.

She should have been campaigning on HER strengths, not HIS alleged "weakeness" that she and Bill manufacture. The two of them, esp hoim, dissed Obama all week.

NOT the actions of someone with a shred of decency or respect in her body.

[ebm]

You are 100% correct!

[butterworth]

I agree 100%

[rzan]

I am also an Obama supporter. I am happy for her win in West Virginia although I think she pandered to the lowest in human values. I think it is fine that she continues to campaign if she thinks that is wise. I do believe everyone should be able to cast a vote, but even then, I don't think this will be finished for her. She is just too invested in being president, too desperate for it. The whole Michigan and Florida mess needs to be resolved, but it would be terribly wrong to be bullied by Hillary into giving her all the votes, particularly from Michigan which was an uncontested race. I also think it is unfortunate that a lot of Obama supporters in Florida wil not get to have their votes counted to support his nomination.

[whizkid]

We had a lock on the White House in December.
Thanks to Obama/Axelrod 08 its questionable.

[madkey]

Hillary Clinton has made a mockery of her self. I don't think most of the people who are Obamas supporters would have thought they would be supporting anybody other than Hillary Clinton. It was Clintons character, lies, pandering for votes, and the mis management of her campaignl that hurts her. I think the media is trying to keep her legacy alive when they compliment her for being a fighter and a hard worker. The truth is Hillary Clinton has pulled every card to blow Obama out of this race that she could besides good old fashion honesty ang thats were she failed. Negative ads, failed, Slandering Obama, failed, cheap shots, failed, working with republicans, failed. what she didn't try was to patch up the damage she caused when she lied about Bosnia, or her vote for the war. She never tried to talk out her mistakes inwhich lead people to support Obama. The problem is today she doesn't even know that straight talk and honesty whether people like it or not is respectable. Hillary Clinton never did that.

[DanniD]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, madkey! I was a serious Clinton supporter! I cheered when she decided to run for the Senate. I knew it was just a stepping stone to her running for President and I cheered that as well! However, once she started running for President, I saw in her what I'd never been able to see before and the only person that could show that to me was Hillary herself. What I saw, I did not like! As a woman, I would have loved for there to have been the first female President but as a woman, Hillary didn't show me the qualities that make me proud of being a woman!

[ebm]

Why do so many follow her with all the lies? and her tacticks?

[AliHajiSheik]

You keep using this word "we", I don't think it means what you think it means.

[disgustedbyitall]

clinton was a "lock"? i think you've slobbered on your crystal ball. talk about questionable...

[kevenseven]

Who is "we"?

You are a reactionary troll, a rethug. You had sh*t.

[StillIRise]

We? Who are you? Chelsea or Bill?