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Clinton, Obama spin war follows Pa. primary
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Wed. Apr. 23 2008 9:20 PM ET
A day after Hillary Clinton's win over Barack Obama in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, both sides are in full spin mode about what her narrow victory means.
On Wednesday, Clinton claimed her win -- by just under ten percentage points -- would turn the tide of the campaign.
"I won that double-digit victory that everybody on TV said I had to win, and the voters of Pennsylvania clearly made their views known, that they think I would be the best president and the better candidate to go against Senator McCain," she said Wednesday.
But Obama, who is leading in delegates, the popular vote, and states won, said his loss yesterday was an aberration -- and he remains the stronger candidate.
"We have won the white, blue collar vote in a whole bunch of states ... and if we had a demographic problem in Pennsylvania, it was that it's an older state than a lot of states, and it is true that Senator Clinton has some strong support among voters over 60," he said on a radio talk show.
Analysts say that Clinton remains the underdog in the Democratic presidential candidate race despite the Pennsylvania win.
Clinton took about 55 per cent of the vote Tuesday, while Obama, the rookie senator from Illinois, received about 45 per cent.
Under Democratic Party rules whichever candidate gets 2,025 delegates by the party's August convention will get the nomination.
By some media counts, Obama leads by about 150 delegates, even with yesterday's loss. It is nearly impossible for Clinton to catch Obama in the remaining contests, without the help of about 800 superdelegates. Superdelegates are party insiders, who can vote for either candidate and may be swayed by arguments from the two camps.
"I think in the long run, (Clinton) has to appeal to those superdelegates because it's quite clear that she will not finish the primaries with a delegate total ahead of Obama," George Washington University political scientist Christopher Arterton told CTV Newsnet on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Scotty Greenwood, a Democratic strategist who has reportedly made the maximum allowable contribution of $2,300 to the Clinton campaign, told Newsnet both candidates are "running a fantastic campaign."
"It's really a great time to be a Democrat in the United States," said Greenwood, who was Bill Clinton's chief of staff of the U.S. embassy in Canada.
The Clinton campaign claims Tuesday's victory resulted in US$10 million in new campaign contributions in the past 24 hours.
But Obama is still seen as having a huge funding advantage. Some estimates suggest he raised at least $40 million just last month.
Before Tuesday's results, Obama had 1,645 delegates and Clinton had 1,507, according to The Associated Press. Because of proportional representation, it will be extremely difficult for either candidate to change the pledged delegate difference in the remaining primary contests.
Along with North Carolina and Indiana, the remaining Democratic primaries are in Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, Montana, South Dakota and Puerto Rico. There will also be caucuses in Guam.
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The chance of the destruction of our planet is very very small with this collider, but who are these people to decide what risks are acceptable for all of mankind? It puts me at unease and adds to my anxiety. CERN acknowledges that there are miniscule risks -- they admit to it so please spare the convoluted retorts.

Comments are now closed for this story
Wharfeaire
said
Les
said
John
said
Aline Belec
said
Les
said
Og
said
Looks like McCain vs Obamarama
said
Jim
said
Utsav S.
said
JOHN MCCAIN '08.
Republicans will take another term because they will get the troops home responsibly without letting the terrorists recoup and destroy the hard work put forward by the U.S. forces.
Denny in Sask
said
Jacqueline
said
Kevin Aubie
said
Roch
said
Tony Oseivhi
said
Wayne R
said
Manny
said
I'm worried that her road to the whitehouse, is something she wants more than anyhting else, and her "team" has something up their sleeve. She will stop at nothing.
Good luck Obama.
Veronique
said
You have John McCain just sitting there doing nothing, knowing that there is no chance in hell, he'll win. Basically they are having the actual elections now by determining if Obama or Clinton will win.... and then they have to do it all over again.
Bob
said
Mike
said
The difference with America is the projection of an image of perfection and continued attempts to hide the truth or ignore it.
Many worry about what takes place in the "Black Church" but forget that past segregation is the reason why there is even a "Black Church."
Robert
said
Bernadette Wood
said
Robin the Hood
said
There is one sure thing here... if Clinton wins she WILL lose to McCain in the Fall and all those "bitter", pro-Clinton, blue collar workers in PA will continue to lose their jobs to Asia (and not to Nafta, fyi). This because the black vote - which represents 10-15% of the total vote, 90% of which votes democratic - will resent Obama being beat and will not come out to vote. Without that 10% or boost the Democrat's chances will simply evaporate. If Obama wins its probably about 50-50 since the core Democrats, despite favouring Clinton, will still come out to vote for Obama in order to try to prevent another Republican victory. McCain has little to show in substance but is a white and male which puts him at an advantage because there is no denying the USA, both Democrat and Republican, is now showing its true colours (excuse the pun) as its voters are very much divided along typical racial lines. Shameful but figures!
Joanne
said
I agree, H. Clinton might do nothing better than previous presidents because she is full of corporations and precedents. Obama, younger and creative to some extend. It exists natural closer connection of one with the group he/she was born therefrom.
Vancouver Girl
said
Thinking its going to be McCain
said
Linda
said
Obama will not beat McCain in the fall.She knows that,and is doing her best to make sure a Democrat wins the Whitehouse.
Sadly,just like in Canada,it looks like Americans will have to choose the person they dislike the least.As opposed to someone they really have faith in.I doubt,however,they will choose a very left wing guy like Obama.
Lorne
said
Forget the mudslinging, as this is a fact in any US election.
The fact is that all three potential candidates, Clinton, Obama and McCain, are not the people capable to lead the US out of it's current problems, which are many.
Edwards would have been the best candidate for President.
The problem was that he could not raise the monies required, as he did not have backers like Oprah, or the monies that the Clintons' themselves have or their donors.