Clinton says tide is turning

PHILADELPHIA — Hillary Rodham Clinton said her Pennsylvania primary victory is for everyone who's been counted out.

Still the underdog, the New York senator told a spirited rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night that the "tide is turning" in her Democratic presidential nomination contest against Barack Obama. He would have all but knocked her from the race if he'd been able to pull off a win in Pennsylvania.

Instead, Clinton savored another big-state victory and prepared to pivot to Indiana and North Carolina for the next round. Former President Bill Clinton joined his wife on the primary night stage for the first time since Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, and the two shared a long embrace.

"You know, some people counted me out and said to drop out," she told supporters, who roared their disapproval of that idea. "But the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit, either."

Clinton still faces a daunting road, thanks to Obama's earlier string of victories, and a diminished field of contests still ahead. She was hoping that party leaders known as super-delegates would see her Pennsylvania victory as validation of her claim that she's the one with the experience and judgment to take on the issues Americans care about.

"For six weeks, Senator Obama and I crisscrossed the state ... being judged side by side, making our best case," she said. "You listened and today you chose. With two wars abroad and an economic crisis here at home, you know the stakes are high and the challenges are great. But you also know the possibilities ... are endless with a president who's ready to lead on Day One."

She prevailed in a particularly bitter contest that threatened to polarize Democrats as Republican John McCain cruises on in preparation for the fall campaign. Clinton was the longtime leader in Pennsylvania opinion polls and saw that advantage shrink closer to the primary.

"We were up against a formidable opponent," she said. "He broke every spending record in this state, trying to knock us out of this race. Well, the people of Pennsylvania had other ideas."

Comments

[Tomlastliberalleft]

This is about one thing. Money. She has to stay in this campaign to continue the process of bilking money from people too stupid to do math and who think Fox News is "fair and balanced." I'd say she is doing us all a fabor by exposing her true self to the electorate. My guess is she'll suddenly find God soon and climb up Oral Roberts tower, hey it works for him. About May 15th or so she'll climb up there and threaten to stay there until she gets another $10 million or so. The thing the supers better understand is after this insanity the party will have to drop this silliness once and for all and decide the partys nominee according to what the voters want.

[Housewife]

The tide is turning and it has the smell of rotting fish. I'm disgusted with her willingness to steal this election no matter what the cost.

[midtown]

What? The Tide is Turning is the 2008 equivalent of the 1992 Comeback Kid remark in NH?

Somebody get Hillary a laptop. Let her see what we are able to know in 2008 that we couldn't in the races she's familiar with.

No one is buying this clapping seal crap from her. She can't close the deal. She's incapable of beating Obama in delegates, votes, or states won.

As for the Super Dels? End this goddam thing.

[k8eeyore]

I know my stomach's turning. . .

If this doesn't get wrapped up soon, I'm going to shoot myself. PLEASE make this insanity end! Pick Obama, pick Clinton, I don't care anymore - just MAKE IT STOP!!

[KPinSEA]

Time for the sports analogy:

Hillary is racing Obama at the Daytona 500 ... she's on the lead lap, but 20 seconds behind race leader Obama. As they take the white flag, there's realistically no way for her to take the lead unless Obama crashes or his car breaks, but she did take 2 seconds off his lead on the last lap.

Eh, but nobody ever got to hold up the trophy and spray champagne around for taking 2 seconds off the winner's lead late in the race, sorry.

[whatsmyname]

KP N SEA....A GREAAAT ANALOGY....AND I HAD TO LAUGH AT THE HEADLINE: TIDE IS TURNING? SHE ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO THE WATER....... SHE IS BONNIE AND HE IS CLYDE, AND TO WATCH HIM LAST NIGHT --YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS HIS "RACE" HE IS A VERY VERY SICK (DELUSIONAL) CREATURE WHO CAN'T WAIT TO BECOME....... THE NEXT DEFACTO PRESIDENT. HE HOGGED THAT STAGE LIKE A THIRSTY BIKER GOES AFTER A COLD KEG OF BEER. HE IS THEE GROSSEST. THEY ARE WHITE TRASH WITH TONS OF (OUR) MONEY.

[springsm]

Hillary's win is generally called "racism".

[FrankBlackFrancis]

la la land.

[deeliz]

The tide is turning??? The Clinton's have been Mr. and Mrs. Democrat Party over the last several years so it may be difficult to wipe them out completely. However, Obama has managed to raise more money, organize a better campaign, obtain more votes and delegates and gain more superdelegates as the race goes foward. Come on now Hillary!!! Please, FOR THE LOVE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, drop out.

Peace

[emsique]

The tide is not turning, it's more like the sewer backed up.

[richcpl]

The tide may be turning, but the superdelegates aren't. As of 4 p.m. EST, she hasn't announced a single new super since her big win in Pa. Some tide. More like a dribble. But enough about Bill.

[NotWaldo]

Hee! Haaaw! The tide is turning !!! Yessiree ! At the beginning of the year, Hillary Clinton had a 20 points lead on Obama in Pennsylvania and yesterday she won the state by ... 10 points ????

Hmmm! Let me see, that's probably a mistake. No, no, that's about right. Hillary Clinton actually lost ground in Pennsylvania.

That's the Clintons for you : a lot of sound but not much sense.

[bryan0218]

No latest numbers show she won by 9.2%. Sorry Hillary NO double digits after all.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

I guess you could call her the comeback kid.

[Oldbuck]

Hillary is right about one thing the tide turned about a month ago and she is so far behind she will be unable to catch up. it's still time to turn out the lights on her champagne and heal up the party. I don't think she going to be able to steal the nomination. I wish i trusted the Clinton's more but it is what it is. If the pledge delegates will is blunted by super delegates the Democratic party might as well disband.

[jcwtts1]

If Obama hasn't lost a lead in any state where he was up big, and Hillary has been up big in every state at one time or another doesn't Oberman's trajectory argument actually hold water? He is climbing out a hole, she is falling from the heavens. Each state.

J

[jcwtts1]

Allow me to begin by saying congrats to all you Clintonistas out there. You guys ran a good race, a little more negative than I would have liked but hey this the big leagues so congrats. Now lets see if you guys can do what Obama did, take a 20 pt lead and make it ten. Lets see if you guys can close out Obama in NC... because that is basically what Hillary just did right, hold a state she was going to win no matter what? The demographics here in PA are tailor made for Hillary so lets pick a state that is tailor made for Obama... say NC where he is up a similar amount to what she was up in PA and lets see if she can close the gap. As far as I remember and correct me if I am wrong Hillary hasn't closed on Obama once this entire process. If she was up, as she has been in every single state including SC, Obama has been able to close on her... except perhaps NY her home state. But has Obama lost a 7-10 pts lead, has he even been close in any race where he was up 7-10 pts? He was up in NH but Hillary had been up in NH for months, I honestly can't remember if Obama has lost a ten pt lead.... help me out here, has he?

J

[GeneralJones]

Excellent point you have there, jcwtts--first time I've seen this angle on NC anywhere.

[SweetJudith]

I JUST WANT TO KNOW ONE THING!
Do I order an OBAMA SHIRT or a CLINTON SHIRT?
Hurry up already!!!!!
I may not make it to November!

[lvdragonlady]

She is just trying to brainwash everyone into believing some that is just not happening. OB did what he had to do he kept within the 10% range.

BRAVO!!

On to our next brushup....

[JRandomPoster]

I am reminded of the legend of King Canute. However, the difference is that Canute knew, despite what his flattering couriers told him, that the tide was inevitable, whereas Hillary is standing on the seashore, encouraged by her followers, commanding that the inevitable tide reverse.

The math is in. Hillary cannot get the required delegates. She can try to change the metrics used to compute the nomination, she can try break and change every rule of this contest in a manner worthy of Karl Rove, but the bottom line is that she has lost already, assuming that the rules of the contest are followed.

If, however, she does get the nomination, it will be because she did indeed succeed in changing the rules of the contest. And personally, I think that we have had enough of that sort of "leadership" approach during the last eight years. Putting anyone above the law, the rules, is not democracy.

[copesthetics]

it's lost. we lost. thanx hill. thanx bill. you i they we all lost.

[Schnitzel]

"The tide is turning"...what nonsense.

If the tide is turning it's only washing the wicked witch of the West Wing out to sea.

[gvidal]

Republicans like you should not be on this site - nor should they be voting in Democratic Primaries.

Most parties just PICK the nominee - like the Green Party or Libertarian -

Had we done that, Hillary woul already be the nominee....
instead - we let wingnuts and apolitical morons vote.....and this is what we may get -
a nominee who CANT win - Obama. "Yes , you can't"

[BBackSoon]

If the party picked the nominee??

Yea and if my Aunt had a pecker she would be my Uncle.

[ByersL]

Sorry GVIDAL, you are out of touch--Dems hate Hillary more than Republicans do! That tidal wave to whip Hillary back to Oz. And we wingnuts as you call us, will keep voting for the honorable candidate, and that is Obama.

[nibblybits]

I guess wingnuts and apolitical morons make up the majority of the Dem Party, because Obama is winning.

Buh-bye.

[labqi]

There is a the unknown factor of that section of the Republicans enrolling as Democrats to cast a tactical/racist vote against Obama in the primaries in favour of Hillary. Can this be the reason why she does not do well in the caususes where a physical presence is required of such tactical voters?!

[ByersL]

Yes, that is a fact. Many repubs asked to switch their affiliation back to repub when they were voting yesterday. Hillary would be much more fun for them.

[joeyp404]

And yet we from the exit polls we have tales of those who switched to vote for Obama. And let's not forget the schlub who changed affiliation, so he could make his daughter happy and vote for Barack....

[naschkatze]

The governor of OK, a superdelegate, came out for Obama today. This is what I predicted further down the thread: a steady trickle of superdelegates will be coming out for Obama because of Clinton's "win" in PA last night. BTW, HuffPo, Jane Hamsher has a good post on starting a little fire under the feet of the uncommitted. It would be nice in your left hand column.

[joeyp404]

It's ashame. OK voted for Hillary. Aren't those nice little super delegates supposed to follow the vote of the people? Guess if it helps Barack, it doesn't matter.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

Only Hillary supporters bring that up.

[funky1]

Isn't this a little like match play in golf? I mean, if Tiger is up by 5 with only 4 holes to play, the match ends. Why? Because there is NO WAY his opponent can win - even by winning the last 4 holes.... even by 'whuppin' him' on the last 4 holes ..... so Hillary can play her way into the clubhouse is she wants, but she has already lost. Pay up your bets Hillary and buy a round.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

It would have been nice had Obama won PA. but it was conventional wisdom, at least among polls and pundits, this ended exactly as predicted. Maybe even little better for Obama because it's under double digits and she won't net many delegates anyway.
The scenario for her to win has worsened. She gained slightly on Obama in delegates and popular vote tallies and got a shot in the arm of financial support. Big whoop. She has to win the remaining contests by some 70% to 30% and we all know that isn't going to happen. In the end the lead Obama has in pledged delegates would be the same or more than it was two months ago when a lot of us starting calling for her to drop out and became convinced he was the nominee. Now the only way either will win is to get in the gutter. While Obama and the party as a whole could be going after McCain and the Republican Party we're pissing money away on tearing down the other candidate.
This sux for the party and the country.

[2sleepy]

The problem is that the math does not work for Hillary, well unless you use the 'magical math' of saying that only big states count, or 'if' you include Fl and Mi she won the popular vote, or caucus states don't count (I guess I don't count, I live in one of those states) the other 'option' is that she will so bloody supers that they will see her as the only one who can win in Nov (highly improbable).

In my opinion she should have won PA, people there remember her husband's presidency and attribute their relative prosperity of that time to him. Personally I never liked him, or most of his policies, but that is probably because I never have been able to stomach radical free market economics (i.e. NAFTA)

I don't want to resort to name calling or hateful posts with Clinton supporters, but I do think that we have to be rational about this, and just do that math.

[shrimptonmcclams]

Hillary Clinton, I have some bad news. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this to you, I guess I'm just saying this to you as a public service:

YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST.

[Cooday]

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