Hillary Clinton basks (but her airtime is limited)

Hillary Clinton and her campaign, understandably, sought to give her win in Florida's Democratic presidential primary tonight the trappings of a meaningful victory.

True, there was no actual campaign waged in the state because she and her rivals adhered to the request from national party officials that they steer clear after Florida broke rules established for the primary season and it moved its contest ahead of others. As a result -- and as the Barack Obama campaign was eager to stress -- no delegates were awarded.

Still, after a rough few days during she was routed by Obama in South Carolina and watched party icon Ted Kennedy gravitate to his side, why not celebrate? And so she did, traveling to Florida for a traditional victory rally.

Her showing did have meaning -- mainly as another warning to Barack Obama that his campaign has to work hard to neutralize her built-in advantage among white and Latino votes.

It wasn't important enough, however, for the cable news networks to stick with the victory speech she delivered shortly after the polls closed.

CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all aired the start of her remarks. But each cut away at various points to focus on the evening's more compelling story -- the Republican presidential primary.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Indus]

Mrs Clinton Won - She also did not campaign like Obama and John.
She will win by over 350 K votes

So it is a big deal. If Obama had won, he would have made it a big deal

Now for the Feb 5th primaries

CA, NY, NJ, MA , IL- the big states

Still undecided in CA

[Chris]

I wonder how much Clinton would care about seating the Florida delegates if Obama had somehow pulled an upset.

[Hillary for REAL Change]

Hillary believes Florida voters matter! Lobby the Florida and National DNC and let them know you want your votes to count and Florida's delegates to be seated at the DNC Convention in August! This election is the most important election of your lives! Florida MUST be a part of this historic vote. If they won't count these votes and seat these delegates, lobby the DNC and demand they set a new caucus or primary date for Florida to vote again, that will do it! NOW is a good time to raise your voices and make sure they are heard and your votes count Florida. Contact the DNC! Vote for Hillary for REAL change, Hillary all the way!!

[Mark Kraft]

This is a test of the Florida Democratic primary.

The party leaders in your area, in violation of Democratic national authorities, have developed this unofficial primary to try to cut ahead of other states, in the event of an actual election.

For the next sixty seconds, you will hear a high-pitched whining tone that will let you know that your fellow Floridians just threw their votes away, followed by a collective yawn from the rest of America.

Remember, this is only a test.

*WHHI-I-I-I-I-NNNE!*

*yawn*

This has been a test of the Florida Democratic primary. If this had been an actual primary, you would have been instructed to vote one week later at one of the polling stations in your area.

This concludes this test of the Florida Democratic Primary.

[Dean Ryan]

Tonight's coverage of Senator Hillary Clinton's victory in Florida is a clear indication of how the media has shown its bias. The media should realize that
the people have spoken and that is something not to be ignored.

[Bill]

I am a Democrat - I'm very excited to see that we seem to have a big edge in enthusiasm overall, and I hope that translates into big wins next November (ie, president & congress).

But why, oh why, does Hillary Clinton continue to treat us voters like we're stupid? The tone, ethos, approach, mentality - whatever you wanna call it - of her campaign is so low, it makes me feel all gritty& gross just watching it.

We are supposed to be the party of ideas, the inclusive party, the party of the future, the higher-minded people ... Why, oh why, won't people like the the Clintons just *go away*?

ps, I've notice that friends of mine why grew up in solidly Democratic families in Democratic-dominated area are more sympathetic to the Clintons. Myself, and other liberal friends of mine who grew up in mixed or Republican families are solidly, if not fanatically, behind Obama. I think this is because we (the latter group) know the simplistic & tribal mentality of many Republicans - and we know that they will absolutely feast on the opportunity to destroy the Clintons again. (Which they will be able to do again, since the Clintons are such compromised people.)

[FJ Stratford]

Go Hillary! You can bring about the necessary improvements that this country sorely needs!

You won Florida EVEN WHEN OBAMA BROKE HIS PROMISE BY AND ADVERTISING IN FLORIDA!

Best of all Hillary won the late deciders! The tide has turned! Hillary is on the ascendant!

Hillary Hillary Hillary!

[Washington]

Go Obama 08'

[Sarah]

According to the DNC the delegates of FL will count once they go through an appeals process and decide how the delegates will be divided. Hillary routed both Obama and Edwards that combined votes didn't come close to Hillarys alone of almost 300,000 votes more than both of them. Even after obama deliberately ran national ads to influence the Fl. vote.

It is disturbing that Obama discounted the Florida Democratic Primary as meaningless calling it a "beauty contest" is he so arrogant and divisive that he would try and deny 1.5 million people their right to count in a presidential election? Democratic voters had nothing to do with the rules but they were INSPIRED by the masses to vote and the HUGE majority were inspired to vote for Hillary, I guess obama didn't like the fact that he isn't the only one who can inspire people to come out and vote, I guess Fl. didn't like his ads running their when Hillary kept her promise by not campaigning as he did, or they are simply more intelligent in the knowing that we need a well qualified and experienced person who knows what she is doing on day one to be our President this time in our history.

HILLARY ROUTED THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND THAT MATTERS!

VOTE TO WIN, VOTE FOR HILLARY 08!!

[Samantha]

The only ads shown by the Obama campaign in Florida were NATIONAL ads. Meaning they appeared on all over the US, you can't block one particular state from national advertisement. His campaign did nothing to violate the agreement that all Edwards, Clinton, and Obama signed. For Hillary to suddenly care about Florida and Michigan only after her loss in South Carolina shows how calculating and cold she really is. She didn't even stick around in South Carolina to thank her supporters for their hard work. She was already off in Tennessee campaigning for Florida's delegates to be seated.

[Jangles]

Before the Democratic party elites decide to write off Florida Democratic voters just as you want to write off Hillary Clinton, remember where the last presidential election was decided! I notice that the media is willfully ignoring a much bigger story than the Ted/Caroline endorsements. The bigger story is the division among these Democratic families. Notice that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other RFK family have endorsed Clinton. Note that Jesse Jackson's wife endorsed Clinton, he endorsed Obama and one of his sons endorsed Edwards. Before you get too enraptured of the Kennedy endorsement, note that this endorsement drives to the heart of a huge and powerful Dem party power struggle. The Kennedys never really liked the Clintons---their endorsement of BO is not about some magical moment in history, it is about raw political power. The great question of the day is whether Democrats will return to the center or will try to return to the definite left. Ted Kennedy also endorsed and campaigned vigorously for John Kerry. Jangles

[Mo]

Obama is a candidate for all Americans regardless of a race, ethnicity, or religion - regardless of whether your family has been here for 2 years or 200 years. This is important not only because it embodies American Values ("E Pluribus Unum - Out of Many, We are One.") but because it is very important that the next president be able to win the votes in Congress to govern by consensus across party lines. In order to successfully pass a health care plan that makes health care affordable and covers all Americans, the president will need to get republicans and independents in Congress to vote for it. This is crucial to getting our country moving in the right direction. Sen. Clinton, while talented, cannot do that. She is too strongly disliked by so many conservatives and even many within her own party. In the eyes of many Americans, she and her husband stand for bitter partisan division. More division will means more of the same from Washington.

[charles laffiteau]

Huge landslide win for Billary with a 49.7% MINORITY of Democratic voters choosing to support her in a beauty contest based on name recognition (since no candidates actively campaigned in Florida) Only a MAJORITY of 50.3% of Democratic voters thought someone else was a better choice. Yeah, Billary also looks to be the inevitable choice of a MINORITY of Democrats in the Super Tuesday caucuses and primaries as well. Break out the champagne and celebrate because Billary is INEVITABLE as the top candidate of the vast MINORITY of Democrats in the rest of the USA. Cheers.

[Raul Gonzalez]

I think the fact that people went to the polls in Florida to vote for Hillary says a lot for me. I would say that they are also convinced that rhetoric is not the best medicine for the country. We need action and good ideas rather than nice speeches.