LYNDHURST, Ohio (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton smothered Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain with kindness on Friday, then declared her rivals wrong on the issues and vowed to beat both in her quest for the presidency.
She said Obama, her Democratic foe, has run an "extraordinary campaign," and called McCain, the likely Republican nominee, "a man of great heroism."
But she said McCain represents "more of the same" in Iraq, and she cast Obama as an obstacle to universal health care. She also unveiled a tough new ad against Obama, accusing him of dodging debates.
Her remarks came on a day when she characterized herself as the "candidate of, from and for the middle class of America" and endeavored to keep her Democratic coalition in Ohio intact against a hard-charging Obama.
Obama's brochures to voters, she said, "sound like they've been written by the health insurance industry and the Republicans, talking about how we can't possibly get to universal health care."
"My opponent has given up the fight before we've ever started," she told a gathering of Democrats at a party fundraiser outside Akron.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Hillary: The Candidate of, From, and For the Middle Class
Hillary Vows to Take On Corporate America
WARREN, Ohio, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Democratic U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said Thursday she will clamp down on tax breaks for big business if elected.
The Politico reported among those in the New York senator's cross hairs: oil, insurance, pharmaceutical, investment, and student loan firms, she told employees and an executives at the General Motors plant in Warren, Ohio, ahead of the state's March 4 primary.
"Today, I'm announcing an agenda to rein in the special interests and save the American people at least $55 billion a year," Clinton said. "Money that can go back into your pockets. Money we can use to create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, make college affordable and so much more."
Clinton said oil companies are not paying their fair share of taxes.
"I'll end their special tax breaks and give them a choice: Invest some of your profits in alternative energy, or we'll do it for you," she said. "People have been paying through the roof at the pump, and it's time the companies paid their fair share."
As for Wall Street, Clinton said investors too are getting off easy.
"We'll take on Wall Street and tell them: you're going to finally pay your fair share in taxes," she said. "It's outrageous that a teacher making $50,000 pays a higher tax rate than some Wall Street investment managers making $50 million."
Bill Clinton: Obama's ignoring my White House legacy
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (AP) — Former President Clinton on Friday accused Sen. Barack Obama, his wife's rival for the Democratic nomination, of trying to ignore any accomplishments they achieved during their years in the White House.
"You have one candidate who's made the explicit argument that the only way we can change America is to move into a post-partisan future and therefore we have to eliminate from consideration for the presidency anybody who made good things happen in the '90s or stopped bad things from happening in this decade," said Clinton, who was winding up a day of East Texas campaign appearances for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Hillary Holds Strong Lead Over Obama In Ohio, Pennsylvania Polls
Holds a 21-point lead in Ohio, 16-point lead in Pennsylvania
In a new Quinnipiac Poll released today, Senator Hillary Clinton holds a substantial lead over Senator Barack Obama in the key primary states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
In Ohio, Clinton leads Obama by a margin of 55-34. According to the poll, Clinton holds a 26 point advantage among women and a 10 point advantage among men.
In Pennsylvania, Clinton leads 52-36. She holds a 20 point lead among women and a 10 point lead with women.
Also in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton beats John McCain by six points in a head-to-head matchup. McCain is tied, however, with Barack Obama in the state. Clinton also attracts more support than Obama against McCain in both Ohio and Florida.
For more information on the poll, click
Hillary Issues Statement on Her Victory in New Mexico
"I am so proud to have earned the support of New Mexicans from across the state.
"From strengthening the economy to providing health care for every American to jumpstarting a clean energy future, New Mexicans want real solutions to our nation's challenges.
"As president, I will continue to stand up for New Mexico and will hit the ground running on day one to bring about real change."
ABC News: Edwards Leaning Towards Hillary
John Edwards is "as split as the party he once hoped to lead -- and is seriously considering supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, despite the sharp criticism he leveled at her on the campaign trail, according to former aides and advisers." ABC News
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Obama "Misleading" About His Health Care Proposal
FactCheck.org: Obama is being misleading when he says his proposal would "cover everyone." It would make coverage available to all, but experts we consulted estimate that 15 million to 26 million wouldn't take it up unless required to do so.
Hillary Wins New Mexico!!!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton finally won the popular vote in New Mexico's Democratic caucus and picked up one extra delegate Thursday, nine days after Super Tuesday voting ended.
State Democratic Chairman Brian Colon made the announcement after a marathon hand count of 17,000 provisional ballots that had to be given to voters on Feb. 5 because of long lines and a shortage of ballots. The final statewide count gave her a 1,709-vote edge over rival Sen. Barack Obama, 73,105 or 48.8 percent of the total vote to 71,396 or 47.6 percent.
The former first lady's victory in the popular vote swung the final unallocated New Mexico delegate into her column, which gave Clinton 14 delegates in the state to 12 for Obama.
Hillary Wins New MExico!!!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton finally won the popular vote in New Mexico's Democratic caucus and picked up one extra delegate Thursday, nine days after Super Tuesday voting ended.
State Democratic Chairman Brian Colon made the announcement after a marathon hand count of 17,000 provisional ballots that had to be given to voters on Feb. 5 because of long lines and a shortage of ballots. The final statewide count gave her a 1,709-vote edge over rival Sen. Barack Obama, 73,105 or 48.8 percent of the total vote to 71,396 or 47.6 percent.
The former first lady's victory in the popular vote swung the final unallocated New Mexico delegate into her column, which gave Clinton 14 delegates in the state to 12 for Obama.
Bill: It's about the power of solutions
Former president Bill Clinton is urging voters to consider the respective records of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and her opponent in the Democratic primaries, Sen. Barack Obama, before casting their ballots.
Mr. Clinton cited his wife's 35 years working on behalf of the least among us and contrasted it against Sen. Obama's much more modest background. In Wisconsin, Mr. Clinton told attendees at an Italian-American Center there, "It's about whether you should choose the power of speeches over the power of solutions."
Aloha: Chelsea to campaign in Hawaii
(CNN) — As part of the Clinton campaign's declared effort to fight for every delegate in every state, Chelsea Clinton is heading to Hawaii, Barack Obama's home turf, according to a Clinton campaign source. She'll spend three days, including this weekend, campaigning there.
The Clinton campaign has been criticized for not competing in the smaller states and caucuses, but is now trying to adjust their strategy. A campaign source says they are not focused only on Texas and Ohio.
Hillary's New Ad: Why Won't Obama Debate in Wisconsin???
Hillary Clinton's campaign launched a new ad in Wisconsin. "Debate" asks Sen. Obama why he has not agreed to debate Hillary in Wisconsin. Watch.
Obama's Economic Plan is Unworkable
I would love to tell everyone that this is possible; that the US has the money to spend and that we can use major federal initiatives to minimize the impact to the housing mess.
But we don't. --Hale "Bonddad" Stewart
Hillary Optimistic About March 4 Tests
ROBSTOWN, Texas — Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton labored to revitalize her restructured political operation Wednesday, testing a new line of criticism against presidential rival Sen. Barack Obama and voicing confidence in the face of challenging weeks ahead.
"I am in the solutions business," she told more than 4,000 supporters in a packed fairgrounds here. "My opponent is in the promises business."
A day after suffering lopsided losses in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, Clinton acknowledged Obama's victories, but offered a taunt as well.
"I want to congratulate Senator Obama on his recent victories and tell him to meet me in Texas," she told reporters in McAllen. "We're ready."
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
FactCheck.org: Obama's Distortions
In separate, 30-minute question-and-answer sessions sponsored by The Politico and a Washington, D.C., television station, Obama and Clinton for the most part stuck to the facts – or, often, to statements that were matters of judgment and thus out of our bailiwick.
But, our mission being to point out the diminutive distortions as well as the big, fat slabs of baloney, we bring you flubs we found in last night's non-debate:
* Obama boasted of his Latino support in Illinois and Iowa – not mentioning that he won a much smaller share of the Illinois Latino vote in this year's presidential primary than in his 2004 Senate primary, or that there are exceedingly few Latinos in Iowa.
* Obama overstated the number of Iraqis displaced inside the country's borders.
* Obama made it appear that his "most liberal" ranking by the nonpartisan National Journal was awarded because he voted to create an outside ethics office for the Senate. Actually, there were 99 votes that formed the basis of the magazine's analysis.
Clinton works to make stands against Obama in Texas, Ohio
(CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton Wednesday worked to shore up her support in the face of the momentum Sen. Barack Obama has built up after winning eight Democratic presidential contests in a row, while Sen. John McCain continued in his efforts to unify Republicans.
Clinton was scheduled to campaign in Texas, which she hopes will serve as a bulwark against Obama's growing wave of political support.
Texas holds its primaries on March 4, along with Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. The New York Democrat has events scheduled in McAllen, Robstown and San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to Texas with its large Latino population -- a group she has done well with this primary season -- Clinton is also banking on winning Ohio and its blue-collars voters, another group that has backed her in previous primaries and caucuses. Clinton was scheduled to campaign in Ohio on Thursday.
Sen. Obama Radio Ad Falsely Claims His Health Care Plan Provides "Universal Coverage"
2/11/2008 5:59:27 PM
Sen. Obama is blanketing the airwaves in the Maryland/Virginia/DC area with a radio ad falsely claiming that his health care plan provides "universal coverage":
NARRATOR: Barack Obama. An economic plan that jumpstarts the economy, with tax cuts for middle class families and seniors. A health plan that lowers costs by $2500 for a typical family and provides universal coverage.
Top independent health care experts have concluded that Sen. Obama's plan is not universal and would leave at least 15 million people without coverage. Leaving so many people out will drive up costs for everyone.
Listen to the ad HERE.
UPDATE: Sen. Obama repeated his false claim at a rally in Baltimore today:
"That's why I put forward a plan that says everybody will get health care that's as good as I have as a member of Congress." [Sen. Obama rally in Baltimore, MD, 2/11/08]
Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch Endorses Hillary
She hopes to become the first woman to win a major-party presidential nomination. While her husband was president, she was one of the most politically involved first ladies in U.S. history. Her activism on a variety of issues earned her the kind of loyalty and opposition usually reserved for presidents.
In the Senate, Clinton serves on the Armed Services, Environmental and Public Works, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees as well as the Senate's Special Committee on Aging.
Her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, has mounted an impressive campaign for the nomination, but Obama, who was an Illinois state senator before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, lacks his rival's experience.
Clinton Assembles Troops For Lone Star Showdown
"Bill Clinton has certainly got his problems, but that's no reason not to vote for the senator," Sheila Jackson Lee says to the young woman expressing some reservations about the senator's husband. At the Harris County, Texas Democratic Party Rally in Houston Saturday, Ms. Lee has just delivered some eloquent oratory -- the kind she's been providing, as a national co-chair of the Clinton Campaign, on the stump around the country. Now, however, in her role as congresswoman, she's mingling with her Houston constituents. This particular constituent --originally from either Russia or Ukraine by her accent -- is an inquirer and thinks that Obama is an impressive candidate, too; she can't make up her mind. Neither can the husband at her side. The couple has just heard the Ms. Lee speak in passing about her endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Now they want to know the reasons for her support. But Congresswoman Lee can't let go of the spouse issue. He's had his "disappointments," he's had his "troubles," she says, in mitigation of Bill Clinton's behavior. What exactly does she mean? This is unclear, for Ms. Lee, perhaps channeling a nineteenth-century novelist, is characterizing more of a mad spouse from Bronte than a politician from Trollope.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Hillary hits Obama on transparency, rhetoric
"...when she hears Obama’s oratory about a more civil politics, she wonder what fights he would avoid. “You never hear the specifics,” Clinton said. “It’s all this kind of abstract, general talk about how we all need to get along. I want to get along, and I have gotten along, in the Senate. I will work with Republicans to find common cause whenever I can. But I will also stand my ground because there are fights worth having.”
SurveyUSA: Clinton Maintains Double-Digit Lead in Ohio
A new SurveyUSA poll in Ohio shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leading Sen. Barack Obama, 56% to 39%, in one of her "must-win" firewall states that votes on March 4.
Key finding: Clinton's lead comes entirely from women, where she leads by 29 points. Clinton and Obama are tied among men.
In the GOP race, Sen. John McCain leads Mike Huckabee, 50% to 36%.
American Hero John Glenn to Endorse Hillary Clinton
By Joe Hallett
The former Ohio senator will endorse Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Westin Hotel Downtown. Glenn will be joined by Gov. Ted Strickland, who already has endorsed Clinton.
Glenn, 86, served in the U.S. Senate from 1974-98. On Feb. 20, 1962, he became the first American to orbit Earth. On Oct. 29, 1998, Glenn returned to space, at 77, the oldest person to orbit Earth, as a senator joining six astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery.
Strickland said today that he considers two key March 4 voting states — Ohio and Texas — firewalls for Clinton against the juggernaut by her Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. If Clinton fails to carry Ohio, Strickland said, it will be difficult for her to win the nomination.
Glenn will join Strickland, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Cleveland as the most prominent supporters of Clinton. So far, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has not endorsed in the race.
WSJ: Hillary Touts Battle Scars
Amy Chozick reports on the presidential race from Washington, D.C.
Hillary Clinton has endured decades of Republican attacks. That may not sound like a good thing, but the Clinton campaign says “oh yes it is.”
A new poll suggests that Barack Obama may be the stronger Democrat to beat Republican John McCain. But don’t tell Clinton that. She argues that years of withstanding criticism from Republicans makes her the strongest candidate.
“I am battle scarred and I’m proud of those scars,” Clinton told reporters today after touring a General Motors plant outside Baltimore. “I believe I can make the most convincing argument that I am the person best able to be president from day one and best able to beat Sen. McCain.”
Clinton is arguing that because her past — both personal and professional — has been so thoroughly vetted by Republican opponents, she’ll be better prepared to withstand anything the GOP may throw at her in a general election.
Obama, she says, hasn’t gone through that same process. And this, she says, could make him more vulnerable to a smear campaign like the Swift Boat issue that hurt Sen. John Kerry’s bid for the presidency in 2004.
“My track record at being able to take on Republicans is really a proven one. Someone told me today that Sen. Obama has never had a negative ad run against him. Well, get ready because if he’s going to be the nominee that’s going to happen,” she said in an interview with a local ABC network in Washington, D.C.
Hillary Looks to March 4
By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is counting on the almost-Super Tuesday primaries March 4 for another comeback, as she and rival Sen. Barack Obama both begin ads in Texas and Ohio, the day's biggest prizes.
Barring an upset win for Clinton in the next five Democratic contests, she could well have suffered 10 straight defeats by the time Democrats begin voting March 4 in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont — the biggest single day left on the Democratic nominating calendar.
The New York senator bounced back earlier in New Hampshire after Obama defeated her in Iowa. Now she says "I am very confident" of doing much better when 370 delegates are allocated March 4.
Brown Univ. Poll: Hillary Holds Strong Lead Over Obama in RI
A new Brown University poll of 474 likely Democratic primary voters in Rhode Island (2/9-2/10 with a MoE of 5%) shows Hillary Clinton holds a lead over Barack Obama.
- Hillary Clinton - 36%
- Barack Obama - 28%
- Uncommitted - 27%
- Undecided - 9%
The poll also has Hillary beating McCain in the General Election in RI:
- Clinton-43% McCain-32% Undecided-25%
NY Times: Obama Finally Agrees to Debate Hillary
Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to debate Hillary Rodham Clinton in Austin, Tex., his campaign announced.
The event, co-sponsored by CNN, Univision and the Texas Democratic Party, is set for Feb. 21, ahead of the state’s March 4 hybrid caucus/primary.
“We are pleased that Sen. Obama will have the opportunity to debate in Texas, and that it will air on Univision, ensuring a wide and diverse audience,” said Adrian Saenz, Mr. Obama’s Texas state director, in a statement.
The debate also will come a few days before the pair goes head-to-head at a Cleveland event on Feb. 26. Ohio holds its primary March 4, too.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Paul Krugman: Obama Casting "Venom" at Clinton
Supporters of each candidate should have no trouble rallying behind the other if he or she gets the nod.
Why, then, is there so much venom out there?
I won’t try for fake evenhandedness here: most of the venom I see is coming from supporters of Mr. Obama, who want their hero or nobody. I’m not the first to point out that the Obama campaign seems dangerously close to becoming a cult of personality. We’ve already had that from the Bush administration — remember Operation Flight Suit? We really don’t want to go there again.
What’s particularly saddening is the way many Obama supporters seem happy with the application of “Clinton rules” — the term a number of observers use for the way pundits and some news organizations treat any action or statement by the Clintons, no matter how innocuous, as proof of evil intent.
Recent News from the Clinton Campaign
February 11, 2008
Yesterday on the Trail: "Fans packed the overflowing gymnasium and gave Clinton a rousing welcome," in Manassas, Virginia... "Thousands of enthusiastic supporters" greeted Hillary in Bowie, Maryland, "a larger crowd than was expected. Those who didn't make it into the gym crowded hallways and the school lobby, craning their necks for a glimpse of the candidate."... President Bill Clinton attended church services in Washington, D.C. and Bowie, Maryland and held "Solutions for America" events in Catonsville, Dundalk and Silver Spring, Maryland... Chelsea attended church services in Washington, D.C., met with students at the University of Maryland in College Park and toured Belvedere Square Market in Baltimore, Maryland. "The crowd erupted in cheers and applause when [Chelsea] mentioned affordable higher education" in College Park.
Today on the Trail: Hillary attends a "Coffee and Conversation" with supporters in Washington, D.C., tours the GM Allison Transmission Plant in White Marsh, Maryland and delivers a guest lecture at Dr. Larry Sabato’s class at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville... President Bill Clinton holds "Solutions for America" events in Fredericksburg, Roanoke and Fairfax, Virginia... Chelsea attends "Our Voice, Our Future" events at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, near Marquette University and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
If You Watch One Thing Today: Tonight from 7-7:30 p.m. EST, Hillary will appear live on TV on ABC7 and News Channel 8 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Voters nationwide can see Hillary live on Politico.com. The appearance was initially intended to be a debate sponsored by The Politico and ABC7, but Sen. Obama refused to debate Hillary.
DELEGATE DISPUTE
By MAGGIE HABERMAN-NY Post
February 11, 2008 -- The latest battle royale among Democrats is over whether or not two big states that went for Hillary Rodham Clinton have a say at the convention.
With Clinton running neck and neck with Sen. Barack Obama in delegates, the race could be affected by whether party officials allow any delegates to be seated from Florida and Michigan.
Both states were stripped of their delegates by the Democratic National Committee because, defying its orders, they scheduled their primaries early.
Clinton won both January contests and thinks the states should be represented at the convention.
Ezra Klein - Frank Rich Unfair to Hillary
I have to say, I find it a bit strange that Paul Krugman's attacks on Barack Obama's health care plan and consensus-based theory of change have elicited so much more attention than Frank Rich's far less substantial, and far more unhinged, rants against Hillary Clinton. Hillary bashing has become so normalized that, save in the most extreme and offensive instances (like Shuster accusing her of "pimping out her daughter), it barely registers as more than background noise. On the one hand, this is a real advantage for the Obama campaign. On the other, it's tremendously unfair, and a prime example of the media using the power of pack narratives and group beliefs to influence elections, and it's a power that progressives hould call out and oppose. Whatever their respective merits as politicians, what's happening to Hillary is little different than what happened to Gore.
Clinton Will Call on Edwards as President
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., speaking in Lewiston, Maine, said that she would call on former No. Carolina Sen. John Edwards if she becomes president.
“There is a lot John and I have in common. I will be a fighter, and I intend to ask John Edwards to be a part of anything I do in the White House.” Clinton was prompted to speak about Edwards after a woman stood up and sad she was a former supporter of his -– but has not switched allegiances to Clinton. The woman commended Edwards for being a fighter –- and thought Clinton was a fighter, as well.
Clinton mentioned earlier in the speech that Edwards was the only other candidate running who offered a universal health care plan. “I was proud Sen. Edwards and I decided to put ourselves on the line politically,” she said.
Edwards has not endorsed any candidate, and it would be a helpful endorsement for Clinton or Obama to have in this tight race. Clinton asked voters in Lewiston to stand up for her tomorrow during the caucuses in Maine.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Clinton replaces campaign manager
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton has replaced her campaign manager with a longtime adviser, Maggie Williams, the campaign announced Sunday.
Patti Solis Doyle has been reassigned to a senior adviser's job, the Clinton campaign announced in a memo to its staff.The move came a day after Sen. Barack Obama swept three Democratic contests, giving him considerable momentum heading into Sunday's Maine caucuses and three primaries Tuesday.
And CNN was projecting Sunday evening that Obama would win Sunday's Democratic caucuses in Maine.
With Obama's wins Saturday in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington and the Virgin Islands, the Illinois senator took the pledged-delegate lead over Clinton -- 971-915, according to CNN calculations.
But Clinton has a 224-135 edge among superdelegates, which leaves her leading the Democratic race 1,139-1,106, according to CNN's calculations.
Tuesday, Clinton and Obama will compete for 15 pledged delegates in the District of Columbia, 70 in Maryland and 83 in Virginia.
Clinton's new campaign manager, Maggie Williams, served as her chief of staff when the New York senator was first lady.
Williams joined Clinton's campaign after her third-place showing in the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3. At the time, Solis Doyle was urged to remain on board as campaign manager.
McCain Seeking to Join Forces with Karl Rove
McCain Embraces Rove
Karl Rove last week announced that he had given $2300 to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.
Asked over the weekend about the donation, McCain said he has "always respected Karl Rove as one of the smart great political minds I think in American politics," and specifically refused to condemn Rove's hyper-partisan campaign tactics (including his smears against McCain in the 2000 South Carolina race).
Clinton Has Lead With Party Insiders
STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and JIM KUHNHENN | February 10, 2008 07:50 PM EST | 
Of the 796 lawmakers, governors and party officials who are Democratic superdelegates, Clinton had 243 and Obama had 156. That edge was responsible for Clinton's overall advantage in the pursuit of delegates to secure the party's nomination for president. According to the AP's latest tally, Clinton has 1,135 total delegates and Obama has 1,106, with three delegates still to be awarded from Sunday's Democratic caucuses in Maine. A candidate must get 2,025 delegates to capture the nomination.
Breaking News...Obama Ducking Debates
Hillary Clinton has accepted an invitation to debate in Wisconsin before the state's February 19th primary.
Sen. Obama has refused to debate in the next two weeks.
Women Could Give Clinton the Edge In Maine's Caucuses
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, February 10, 2008; Page A13
BANGOR, Maine, Feb. 9 -- It is women like Linda Sinclair who have turned New England into a potentially tough playing field for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).
Sinclair listened with rapt attention as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) spoke at a rally in Orono on Saturday morning, on the eve of Sunday's Maine caucuses. She committed to Clinton three months ago, and while she planned to attend an afternoon Obama event in nearby Bangor, she did not expect to change her mind.
"She's really in touch with the common person, even though she's not one," Sinclair, 58, said of Clinton. "I think they're both very bright. But she's more solid. I think he's fluffy."
Times: Clinton Blasts NBC Over Chelsea Comment
Senator Hillary Clinton sent a blistering letter today to the head of NBC, which suspended one of its reporters Friday for comments he made about Chelsea Clinton.
The reporter, David Shuster, had said Thursday that Ms. Clinton had been “pimped out” to make calls to superdelegates on behalf of her mother.
Mrs. Clinton said in her letter, to Steve Capus, the head of NBC, that she wanted to write personally to convey the “depth of my feeling” about Mr. Shuster’s comments.
“Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient,” she wrote.
She also said that Mr. Capus should look at “the pattern of behavior on your network that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language.”
The reference was to comments last month by Chris Matthews, an MSNBC anchor, who had suggested Mrs. Clinton had succeeded politically because of sympathy toward her resulting from her husband’s infidelity.
Mr. Shuster apologized on air yesterday and he and network executives apologized to the Clinton family and the campaign.
But those apologies apparently did not assuageNY Times: Neck and Neck, Democrats Woo Superdelegates
WASHINGTON — Seeing a good possibility that the Democratic presidential nomination will not be settled in the primaries and caucuses, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are lavishing attention on a group that might hold the balance of power: elected officials and party leaders who could decide the outcome at the convention in August.
Obama sweeps; Huckabee is strong
By Susan Milligan Globe Staff / February 10, 2008
WASHINGTON - Senator Barack Obama scored a clean sweep last night in Democratic nominating contests from the West Coast to the Caribbean, giving him a burst of momentum in a Democratic campaign where every delegate has become crucial to capturing the nomination.
On the Republican side, a defiant Mike Huckabee easily won yesterday's GOP caucuses in Kansas and narrowly won the Louisiana primary over his party's front-runner, Senator John McCain, giving a breath of life to the former Arkansas governor's uphill campaign. Early today, the Republican Party chairman in Washington state declared John McCain the narrow winner of the state's caucuses, the Associated Press reported.
Obama won the Nebraska and Washington caucuses by greater than two-to-one margins against Senator Hillary Clinton and easily captured the Louisiana primary by a double-digit margin with heavy support among African-American voters. Obama also swamped Clinton in the US Virgin Islands caucuses. But because of the proportional awarding of delegates in the Democratic contests, the two contenders remain locked in a close battle for the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the party's nomination.
"We won north, we won south, we won in between," a jubilant Obama told a Democratic Party dinner last night in Virginia. "And I believe we can win Virginia," he added to cheers and shouts of "Yes, we can!", his cam paign mantra.