Hillary Clinton thanks Pennsylvania and looks beyond

With Sen. Barack Obama reading the tea leaves and traveling to Indiana before results were known, an ebullient Sen. Hillary Clinton stayed in Pennsylvania tonight to thank its citizens for her convincing Democratic primary victory and to take advantage of a national TV audience to lay out the themes for the next several weeks.

In her remarks, Clinton said, "The stakes are high. The challenges are great. The possibilities endless." She said she would be ready as president from day one and promised to fight for the middle class that provided her approximate 10 point victory in the Keystone State.

With yet another convincing win in a major heartland state after next-door Ohio, Clinton indicated she was not even considering ending her uphill battle to catch Obama in delegates. To boos from her supporters in the downtown Philadelphia hotel, Clinton said some people had suggested she drop out of the race. "Some people counted me out," she said, "and told me to drop out. But Americans don't quit. And they deserve a president who doesn't quit either."

As one indication of her desperate need for funds to match Obama's flush campaign effort, she even slipped in mention of her website. "The future of this campaign is in your hands," she said. "You know you can count on me."

Intelligently, she left the numerous required thank-yous to local politicians and dignitaries until near the end of her remarks, just in case, as before, Obama started to speak during her speech and the networks broke away to cover him. But this time she got everything in.

And she lead the crowd in a chant, "Yes, we will."

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us," Clinton told the receptive crowd. "I might stumble and I might get knocked down. But as long as you are with me, I'll get right back up."

Which, come to think of it, she did with this win. (See video below.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo: Hillary Rodham Clinton (Mike Mergen/Bloomberg News)

Comments

[Tina]

Barack Obama remains the strongest candidate to face John McCain. Here’s a good summary of some reasons to consider supporting Obama:
http://acropolisreview.com/2008/04/top-reasons-to-give-barack-obama-your.html

Share the summary with undecided friends in North Carolina and Indiana.

[Sunita]

Hillary Clinton has the experience, she understands policy and she can get things done. More importantly she CARES about working people, children, elders, and understands how Washington policies affect us. We need her in the White House. Sure Obama makes great speeches but that is about it.

[Richard]

Today's result in Pennsylvania is extremely disappointing. As a registered Democrat, I am so upset and saddened by Hillary's campaign. I would expect the personal attacks and dishonesty from a Republican, but not from someone within our party. In the 21st century I had actually thought our country was moving beyond race. Hillary has pandered to our lowest and most base fears and injected race into this election. Congratulations Mrs. Clinton on your win. The country and the Republican party thank you for this regression.

[Gregory]

GO HILLARY! You deserve to win and glad to see people waking up.

[NK]

"Mr. Obama is spending 75 cents for every dollar he is taking in; Mrs. Clinton is spending $1.10." And meanwhile McCain is hurting for money.

I guess I want a President who can at least run a solvent campaign, as an indication of how he will run a solvent country.

[Jennifer H]

YES! What a glorious day for the Democratic Party! GO Hillary! YOU are the best candidate and are our only chance of winning the election. You don't have the financial backing for campaigning that "Yada Yada Yada Obama" has garnered from HIS special interest groups. Pack your bags; you are coming back to the White House, and thank you for the courage to take the blows of the misogyny in this country

[Jason]

What a letdown it would be if Clinton ultimately wins the Democratic nomination. Her behavior in this campaign has been self-serving and ruthless. I've been much more impressed with Obama's willingness to be forthright and transparent in his perspective and principles.

[Michael Henry]

If a a self admitted Liar can win an election, heaven help this country fro the trouble it is bringing on itself.When ex- senior military officers can endorse a liar and campaign for them it is easy to understand why the military was sent into the war in Iraq. When a candidate for President of This great country can Gobble down liquor in a public bar to demonstrate that she is like one of the boys, it is easy for us to understand why bingh drinking on college campuses have become more and more common place. If that is the type of President that this election produces, then hell would be smiling at the size of furnace it needs to prepare.