Apr
24
Can Hillary Make a Comeback?
April 24, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
By Jojo
New York Senator Hillary Clinton, as widely expected, won the Pennsylvania Democratic primary Tuesday, denying Obama, the senator from Illinois, a chance to argue the race for his party’s presidential nomination is over.
“At the end of the day, people have to decide who they think would be not only the best president, which is the most important question, but who would be the better candidate against Senator McCain” Hillary said after winning Pennsylvania Primary. “And I think the coalition that I’ve put together, as demonstrated once again last night, is a very strong base for us.” She has said that the Democratic super-delegates, who could yet tip the balance her way, need to ask themselves why Mr Obama still “can’t close the deal”, despite spending so much money in Pennsylvania.
In her victory speech, Hillary Clinton declared that she is not going to quit. “Some people counted me out and said to drop out. But the American people don’t quit – and they deserve a president who doesn’t quit, either.” A Clinton campaign memo went further, suggesting that the negative tone adopted by both candidates in Pennsylvania had put them “under the microscope” for the first time.
“Hillary took more than a few punches and came out stronger while Senator Obama emerged weaker as voters learnt more about him.” Obama cannot pick up enough delegates in the contests remaining to secure the nomination. That means he’ll have to rely on getting enough of the 795 super delegates Meanwhile, Clinton’s strategy is to create enough doubt about Obama’s electability that she can persuade a strong majority of super delegates to back her, giving her the nomination.
John McCain, the presumptive Republican Nominee dissociated himself from the advertisement on 23rd. But his senior adviser Mark Salter expressed at the prospect of the Democratic race continuing for weeks to come, saying they should “take their time – don’t rush”.
Analysts say that Polls from Pennsylvania showed that Clinton was backed by whites – 62 per cent to 38 – by women, by working-class households and by people aged over 45. Obama was again supported by blacks, young voters and by the educated affluent.
