Your chance to vote: Should Hillary Clinton quit now or stay the course?

A growing number of people, mostly her opponents, are publicly calling for Sen. Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the Democratic presidential contest and cede victory to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. He leads in both total delegates and the popular votes of past primaries but has yet to gain the number required to win nomination.

This would, of course, essentially render meaningless the votes of Democrats in a bundle of upcoming primary states including Indiana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Clinton has vowed to continue her struggle, which is her right but could produce a long-term damaging stalemate with accumulating bitterness among Obama supporters, even if she did somehow ultimately win. She's recently talked about taking the fight over disallowed primaries and their delegates in Florida and Michigan to a credentials committee fight in Denver at the national convention.

This strategy effectively consumes valuable general election preparation time and financial resources from whichever Democrat ultimately wins, as the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, is already campaigning to unify his party, raise money (he's way behind) and set the scope of his personal campaign narrative.

Or put it this way: If the New York Giants had given up well before the....

end of regulation time in this year's Super Bowl, the overwhelmingly-favored New England Patriots would have gone undefeated. Instead, they're playing off-season golf these days and muttering unprintable things to themselves.

What's your opinion? Should Clinton give up now?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Mary]

I'm an independent. I'm apalled at the grandiose embellishment of Clinton's resume, then again, historically I have felt for years that Clintons took credit for things that occured while they were in office that they did not influence. The creation of jobs, most of all. They did not create tech jobs developing SUN, Oracle, Windows, etc. systems...or the (.)com market. There was a boon in the economy and they were able to redistribute wealth. George Sr. had already started reducing defense spending - closing big bases. The Clintons gutted our intel budget and Al-Qaeda attacked us four times on their watch, before 9/11. Four times? She is more experienced to answer the phone at 3am?

[john]

I heard it's Obama's camp that is spreading the lies suggesting the heavyweights are telling Hillary to step down and getting the media to suggest, no demand that Hillary should quit. This is all hype people, just like Obama's lies about Nafta were, just like Obama's lies about his pastor were. How gullable is everyone??? All the media, these attacks are coming from the Obama camp at a time when Hillary was at her strongest and Obama was at his lowest after his racism was exposed and his pastor was found otu....by the way, isn't everyone wondering why the good pastor is quiet about Obama all of a sudden? Aren't you wondering how much Obama's people had to pay the pastor to keep him quiet. Ahh many people like sheep to the slaughter buy into all his lies, over and over again. It seems people don't learn from their mistakes.

[Obama is not blocking MI and FL re-votes. The ACLU, joe-citizen and the federal court blocked it.]

I don't know where this idea is coming from that Obama blocked re-votes in Michigan and Florida, but it's not Obama. Separate groups have gone in front of Federal judges in both states. Since Michigan was an open primary, voters did not have to vote with their registered party. Some democrats voted on a republican ballot, because their candidate (Edwards or Obama) were not on the ballot. For a re-vote, the Michigan had to be certain that anyone participating in a re-vote had not previously voted in a republican ballot. They wanted the list of voters and registration party affiliation The ACLU argued releasing that info to only DEMS and REPUBS was unfair to other party groups. It's also illegal. The state democratic chair said without the list they cannot assure the re-vote would bar anyone that had voted on a republican ballot.

Florida federal judge threw out a lawsuit from a voter - claiming the DNC disenfranchised his vote. The judge argued the DNC did not do so and were within their right to sanction the state for violting party rules. State legislators and governors were warned repeatedly and well in advance of the sanctions and moved the date up anyway. Federal judged that the DNC has the right to make those rules and that the state legislators disenfranchised his vote, not the DNC.

This isn't Obama that is blocking votes - these rogue legislators in Florida and Michigan jumped the deadline to protest and have a say in the nomination of candidates and for it, they may have had the opposite effect.

[Mary DeVaul]

Hillary Clinton is the best qualified candidate of all three running. Why is she being held to higher standard than McCain -- remember the the S&L Keating Five scandal-- or Obama, who has very little track record legislatively or administratively? She has been active in public life for longer than Obama has been an adult, and what she has stood for and worked on has been positive and admirable. Not all of her efforts have been successful, but if you don't foul on occasion you aren't playing. Most of us would be quite proud of such a record: support for positive but realistic international relations, veterans affairs, economic self-sufficiency through eco-friendly development, education, responsible government oversight, etc.
So why is she vilified? Is it because she is a moderate, hard-working senator who has done much for her constituency, or a First Lady who tried to reform health care and speak out for women and children around the world, or a lawyer who often labored for organizations like the Children's Defense League in addition to working hard in her profession, or is it because she frightens people who see her, a women, as a real threat to their entrenched status? She is accused of being a pragmatist, a fighter, too focused and over achieving, unemotional (or overly emotional, depending), and savvy about stuff inside the beltway -- all of which would be tremendous assets in a president. Think about it, if she were male, these traits would be considered great pluses in a presidential candidate.

[ekwii]

Let me just state upfront, I am an Obama support. That said, only Hillary can decide when it's time for Hillary to get out. Mathematically, it's improbable, not impossible, that she will clinch the nomination. The question is, at what cost? It seems to me Hillary is putting the prospect of becoming the first female president ahead of the nation's interest. The negative campaigning is what gets to me; it speaks to her character and the character of her supporters. If she continues down the negative path and eventually loses the nomination, she is going to have a tough time revamping her image. So, I do not think she should exit, but how she plays it from this point on will be critical to how history will judge her (and her family).

[Paul M. J. Suchecki]

The Michigan and Florida pirmaries were held in defiance of the Democratic National Committee. I didn't hear Hillary Clinton complaining about them being disqualified until after she fell behind. She expected to be coronated on Super Tuesda. Instead it's time for her to concede and put her skills behind Obama. John McCain should be attacked early and often for his Neaderthal like perspective on national security. Instead the Democrats are doing their best to throw away an election that should be easy to win.

[shirlin]

Hillary will not quit. But Pennsylvania can turn the page and save our beloved republic. The Clinton dynasty machine will do anything, throw the kitchen sink, kneecap, lie, slime, smear, destroy the Democratic Party, to return Bill and Hill to the WH for an unconstitutional 8 more years. We are on the brink of transformation, into a banana republic owned by a few super-rich, by lobbyists and by Middle Eastern and Eastern European despotic donors to the Clinton Presidential Library. Hillary has not been vetted, else why not release her tax returns, why the thousands of blacked out pages on her WH record, why the emergence of her outrageous lies of coming under sniper fire? There is a ton of corruption held in that pantsuit beside the history of Bill lying under oath that is captured on camera. Turn the page for all of US.

[vote4thebest]

Obama is the one who should withdraw from the race since we cannot afford to have a president who is anti-white and anti-american.

[Kenya Ruiz]

Let the Senator Clinton run, who the hell are you idiots to tell her what to do? give her fair chance? McCain is gonna win at the end anyways

[Jim]

The longer Hillary stays in, the better the chance she'll be so reviled she'll never have any future as a presidential candidate. Not in 2016, not in 2020, not ever.

Keep on fightin' to the bitter end until your name is forever mud, Billary!!

[Figgins]

Stick with it Hillary. The only poll that counts is the one on Election Day.

Then again, I'm not voting for you even if you pay me.

[kk]

Not going inside into what all CLINTONS SPINNED so long on Obama, She has no chances even considering next round of Kitchen sinks, race sinks etc. She might pick up couple of states and long shot get some more Supers but every step she is making from now on is ruining CLINTONS FAME and DYNASTY built over decades. I suggest her to drop that 2012 PLAN "ATLEAST".

[Eric Taylor]

It doesn't matter what the voters think, Hillary isn't going to give up, no matter how damaging her decision would be.

It would be lovely if Obama would just offer her the VP spot now, proving himself the better human again.

Hillary would make a good VP, doing the detail / negotiation work on issues she cares about like health care.

She would also be a small check on Obama. And this may help ensure we don't get a repeat of Kennedy's mistake of having advisers that are too eager to agree with their charismatic president (leading to some bad decisions).

It seems the best route out of this conflict. I'm sure Obama was not planning to name a VP so early and may not consider Hillary his first choice. But she would be a fine choice and offering the VP spot is often the way to get party members "out of the way" in a campaign.

[anna5]

all these people who call the clintons liars should get a close look at Obama. what about his "positioning" with nafta.
supposedly never knew what his pastor really was about by sitting over 20 years in the church. giving over 30000$ to the church in 2006 and probably a lot more in 2007 (taxes not published). taking him the pastor into the campaign to distance himself now after you tube caught on, does not look like honesty to me.
and his strategy of the 50 states which has now turned into the strategy of 48 states, getting his lawyers to work against a re-vote in michigan and florida. that shows what his thinking about democracy is and what his compassion is. he claims how he can bring young people into the democratic party, and then no interest in talking to people in michigan and florida. they like to have a say and see the candidates. obama complains that there are some people who voted republican and could not vote in a re-vote. so since these few are disenfranchised have all the democratic voters in michigan disenfranchised according to obama. we know he is afraid that hillary could pick up some delegates there. better not have them voteit could hurt obama. and his supporters call for hillary to quit (obama does not stop them), it could hurt obama.
now anybody tell me how this is honest and reflects all the noble traits obama likes to associate with himself.

[Jester of the Apocalypse]

It's tragic and funny to see the Democratic party destroy itself during a grand moment of weakness in their rivals.

Let me taste the sweet sweet salty tears off of your cheeks when you lose the election to a geriatric, jingoistic relic of a politician!

Suckers!

[Jerry Mander]

As a Republican friend of mine laughs,
"HillBillary is The Greatest Show on Earth."
Hillary went to my high school, she was
always a little prima donna, even then.
Study her roots. Study the all white
Republican suburb she grew up in.
Some of the greatest financial con
artists came out of Park Ridge, IL,
and she is no different. You can see
the greed on their bloated red faces.
She will bring out 100% of the Republican
Army ... even 10% of those who are dead.

[Summer]

Boys will be boys. Their fear of women is unbelievable. It's a pity so many women do not realize this.

[Erik]

Mindy Kaputnik says “"To get a truer picture of public opinion you should remove all the votes coming in from moove on dot org...that vile and spiritual pestilence spreading G. Soros 5 Th column.

Yeah, because members of MoveOn.org are not really Americans. Their opinions don’t count.

Greg says "Obama is not playing fair by refusing a revote in MI and FL. He knows he is vulnerable there. How is this behaviour unifying? How is this behaviour hopeful? His campaign cries of change, unity, hope are hypocritical."

The legislatures in Michigan and Florida each turned down another primary. What does that have to do with Obama?

tom davis says “"I voted for Obama in the Callifornia primary, but now that I've learned more about him I wish I could take back my vote. Senator Obama publicly decries anti-Semitism, yet at the same he gives tacit approval with a wink and a nod by continuing to belong to an organization that gave a lifetime achievement award to a man (Louis Farrakhan) who openly and publicly refers to Jews as "bloodsuckers."

By “organization” you mean Trinity United Church of Christ? Do you expect Obama to agree with everything Reverend Wright said or agree with everything the Church has done? I think it says something about Obama that he didn't simply throw Wright under the bus because of this episode. If you attend a church do you want to be held responsible for everything your church has done?

California democrat says "To say that she can't win is disingenous. She's about 130 delegates behind with all the states left to go plus the uncommitted superdelegates. Let's let her have a chance and if she loses, then her supporters will feel that she was given an equal chance."

Yes, all the states left to go, which is about 10. There have been 40+ contests already. Even Clinton campaign officials put her chance of winning the nomination at 10%, so yes, it is possible, but let's be serious now...

Lois says "Not God damn America…God Bless America!"

Well, Obama never said these words, so it's a non-issue, right?

Jim Angone says " If the Democrats keep pressuring hillary or if Barack Obama is the nominee, then I will be voting Republican and for john McCain. For those pundits that say that voters like me will come around for Obama, I just say watch me and my family. We are switching parties."

Voting out of spite! What better way to show you care about the future of your country! I doubt you are a big Hillary supporter because it would mean you share many of her positions, and if that's the case you would not be supporting McCain... ok, except the Iraq War. If that’s the only issue that matters to you, McCain won’t let you down when he aims for Iran.

I guarantee you this Obama supporter will be voting for Clinton if she is the Democratic nominee because that’s what true Democrats do.

JST says "Let the people vote!!! First Obama blocks the voters in Florida and Michigan from having their votes counted through a re-vote. "

How did Obama "block the voters in Florida and Michigan"? Explain this to me.

mona says “The majority of Obama supporters are under 30 and are internet savy. Hillary supporters are over 60 and I'm sure not as internet savy."

Evidently, Hillary supports over 60 also have trouble finding facts on the internet.

Demento Maximus says " The guy also promisses to tax you into poverty if,God forbid,you are earning the scandalous amount of 75k or more . I dont aspire to martyrdom and want a chance to vote for a first class lady who is admired universally and is ready to take your guy under supervision as her VP and possibly lift him enough to be a credible successor. "

What is the difference between Clinton on Obama when it comes to taxes? Not much. Regarding experience, it’s true Obama did not negotiate peace treaties in Ireland or avoid sniper fire in Bosnia. I understand Hillary Clinton also single-handedly ended the Cold War. I believe it. She won WWII too.

[tokonoma]

Andrew Malcolm wrote:
your analogy of Obama vs Hillary and "What if the NY Giants called it quits before Superbowl against the NE Patriots" is misleading. You should know better than to be sleep-deprived and typing your analogies at 3 a.m.

UMM you must be oxygen deprived- March Madness refers to the NCAA Basketball tournament, not the Superbowl. Also, I never mentioned teams in my post. The analogy simply suggests that you play until the end of the game, especially when the game is close. A lead of 130 delegates with no possibility of securing the nomination with remaining primaries means Hillary stays in the game and fights.

You need to wake up, both physically and metaphorically.

[SimpleRep]

I for one would love Hillary to continue. Not that I even like her or what she brings to the table, but so she finally understands that she can't have everything her way.

To prolong her course that will end in eventual defeat is much more satifying then an early exit. Limp on Hillary but pretend to believe you still have to fight for what is right. You know, like your husband not inhaling, that he "really" didn't have sex with Monica, or your battle scars in Bosnia. Oooops, you've been there and done that haven't you?

[Mitchg]

Before the Pa primary vote, which Clinton is expected to win, the popular vote is now 13,355,239 49.5% for Obama, and 12,637,963 46.9% for Clinton.

Hey, that's hardly a runaway for Obama. It would be like suggesting that a baseball team that is losing by a 13 to 12 score should quit in the 7th inning.

The fans of the team that's ahead can, understandably, come up with all kinds of logic for the opposition to quit.

[Dolly]

If Hillary chooses to weaken and divide the Democrats by remaining in the race, then she is only hurting herself and her party. Her support of McCain says that she puts her need for power over the needs of the party. Threatening super delegates and changing the rules are not hallmarks of a decent leader. I've lost all respect for the Clintons but still pray they do the honorable thing and bow out. I know I know, Fat chance.

[joeysky]

We don't care about this online poll. We don't care what the pundit says. We will take this race all the way to the finish line. Saddle up and stick with the fight. If you can't stand the heat, go quit yourself.

[jeqal]

The lines are already drawn. We have an overqualified white woman over 40 and an underqualified black man close to 50 Add to that MSNBC-Obama Headquarters and the Obamagate things going on. Obama's grandma was censured for stating some fear over a black panhandler who approached her when she rode the bus home one day, which caused her to stop riding that bus OVER an NOI minister, who we get to hear damning america over and over and over again. Here is a clue for those of you not familar with the KKK, if you know someone who has gone to the church, its a bit extreme and scary but you can chalk it up to curiousity...if they have their children baptized there you can say they are Klansman. NObama 08 ..... If you can't do it for Hillary do it for your grandma

[Jenna]

Asking Hillary to bow out is premature given how many races are left. Obama does not have a mandate yet. She should not give up just because Obama did well in caucus states. Last I checked the general election is a secret ballot and the obamatons won't be able to pressure people in the voting booth.