Posted on 02/17/2008 12:08:44 PM PST by bshomoic
MILWAUKEE -- At this stage in the campaign, all eyes are fixed on Wisconsin on Tuesday, followed by Texas and Ohio on Mar. 4. But behind the scenes, the Hillary Clinton campaign is gearing up for what could be a nasty fight over the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August.
The current delegate count shows Clinton and Barack Obama in a relative dead heat, with Obama slightly ahead. But what the Clinton campaign hopes will happen is that delegates from Florida and Michigan - two states she won but whose delegates are not counted because these states moved up their primary dates without the blessing of the DNC - will actually get seated.
A source close to the Clinton campaign tells CBS News “Ultimately, it comes down to these last remaining states, superdelegates and what happens in Florida and Michigan,” the source added, “I think that is still the untold story.”
Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe countered the Clinton campaign's delegate strategy, saying, "The Clinton campaign should focus on winning pledged delegates as a result of elections, not these say or do anything to win tactics that could undermine Democrats’ ability to win the general election.”
During a conference call with reporters on Saturday, Harold Ickes a longtime advisor to the Clintons said, “Both of those states are critically important…over 1.6 million voted (in Florida).”
Ickes recognized the importance of Ohio and Texas but said “This nominating process is long from over ... We’re going to win this nomination.” When asked if that meant they were prepared to go all the way to the convention, Ickes said “the answer is yes, we’re going to the convention.”
The Clinton campaign feels that if they hold on throughout the primaries until the convention, odds are that the Democratic Party will choose to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates.
“We are the party that constantly fights voter disenfranchisement. We are also the party that is hungry for a win and we understand how important these two states are in the general election," the Clinton campaign source said.
“An empty Florida and Michigan section at the convention would hurt our chances in the general election,” the source added.
And the Clinton source argues if that happens, and Obama is the nominee, "it would be pretty devastating to his chances in the general election without Florida and Michigan.”
Wonder if Mrs Bill Clinton regrets all the garbage she said during the Al Gore 2000 fiasco about how the popular vote should decide elections?
It would be a nuclear war in the D party, I mean, this could be devastating and not just now, but for the next decade.
Statements are only operative as long as they benefit the Clintons. Her previous statements are no longer valid, as they do not enhance her chances of being elected. Stay in touch with her campaign for the new daily truths.
I wonder if she is practising her crying?
More like praticing her MARKSMANSHIP!
What fun it would be watching the Dim Convention! And listening to all those gasbags speak! Maybe there would be a couple of good fistfights!
ML/NJ (Dreamin' of Glorious Schadenfreude)
So much for the moronic idea of crossing over to vote for Shrillery in the upcoming primary.
Before the recent comments by her people, I was inclined to think that Hillary would give up unless she sweeps Ohio and Texas. Now it looks like she will fight it out to the bitter end, counting on Obama to be more gracious than her and give up for the good of the party. What a complete slimeball she is. Obama should not give up for any reason other than losing in pledged delegates, ever.
The perfect storm is brewing.
Hillary: 1) like all the other Dem candidates, pledged not to campaign in Florida or Michigan, then unlike any of the others, campaigned hard in each state; 2) agreed publicly that the primaries in those states were not to be recognized then was the only Dem candidate to get her name on the ballot in Mich.;, and 3) now has the gall to argue that the two states’ formerly illicit primary votes must be counted or their voters are disenfranchised.
This whole situation's rich in irony, isn't it? The Clinton's bastardize the entire primary process to insure the nomination of Her Heinous, and now that it's gone against them, they're going to try to get Hillary "selected, not elected".
Ooooooooh. Does anyone have that on tape of her saying that?
We are the (part of the) party that throws the rules out the window when they no longer fit our preconceived notion of who should win”.
All this tough talk - yet each delegate is going to have to decide whether they want to be pressured by the old school Clinton regime, or change the game.
Get the popcorn out, but stay the hell out of Denver. Tear gas can sting the eyes.
There is ALWAYS violence with the Dems. Especially towards women. Althought Hillary is known to be violent... towards Bill, lol. Could be good.
Don’t have it on tape but here is a See-BS “news” story from 2000 about her saying it
Might I suggest you use your night sticks officers?
They may need the national guard to break up THIS Convention.
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