Clinton puts a word in Obama's mouth

Barack Obama already had come to rue the comment he made, while campaigning in Indiana in April, about the potential importance of the state's primary. And he probably rues it a bit more after Hillary Clinton and her crew threw it in his face tonight, conveniently skewing for their own purposes one key word.

In the days before the April 22 primary in Pennsylvania, Obama conceded that Clinton had the edge in that state, made himself the favorite in North Carolina (which joined Indiana in conducting a primary today) and said the Hoosier state "may end up being the tiebreaker."

Clinton, taking the stage in Indianapolis a few moments ago to claim what may end up a narrow win for her in Indiana (a key county expected to tilt toward Obama remained to be counted), immediately spotlighted his comment -- except she ignored his use of the conditional, saying he had predicted Indiana "would" be the tiebreaker.

Around the same time, her staff issued a memo that similarly tried to use the "tiebreaker" comment as a way to put the best possible spin on a day that was less than stellar for Clinton, given that her dual hopes of winning ...

in Indiana and at least making it close in North Carolina were dashed when she got thumped in the latter state.

Again, note how that pesky little "may" gets rolled over (all the more remarkable, given that the memo includes the Obama quote). Here's the release's opening paragraph:

In April, Barack Obama called Indiana a 'tie-breaker' for the Democratic nominating process: "You know, Sen. Clinton is more favored in Pennsylvania and I'm right now a little more favored in North Carolina, so Indiana right now may end up being the tiebreaker. So we want to work very hard in Indiana."

The rest of it, which seeks to make the case why Clinton should have been viewed as the underdog in Indiana (despite what most polls showed) can be read here.

Clinton's main message in her remarks was that she would continue to soldier on in her bid to overtake Obama -- and that part of that strategy was to keep fighting for recognition of the disputed, and so far disallowed, primary results in Michigan and Florida.

"It would be a little strange to have a nominee chosen by 48 states," she said.

As she did when she celebrated her win in Pennsylvania -- an occasion much more worthy of celebration for her -- she used her national television exposure to make a pitch for the contributions she needs to keep soldiering on.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Franky]

Clinton - It's way past your time to drop out. Your snipers failed.

Obama - Who's your VP? (At least I know it won't be Clinton!)

[Gorefan]

The Drudge Report and CNN are saying that tomorrow, Senator Clinton is meeting with a group of super delegates to discuss what happens next. I'm guessing, they will tell her that they are not going to overturn the popular vote or pledged delegates, and that Florida and Michigan will be seated but not in the way that she is insisting on.

I think they will split Michiagn 50/50 and not count the popular vote (a concession by Clinton) and basically seat Florida as is (a concession by Obama). But even doing that Clinton would still be behind in pledged delegates and popular vote, so the race is essentially over.

I hope Clinton stays in the race through June 3rd but spends the rest of the campaign focusing on McCain and basically never mentioning Obama.

[gr8fun4me]

What I don't understand is why Hillary keeps on trying to get Michigan and Florida. Both states and both contestants agreed to a set of rules that Florida and Michigan broke. Barack pulls his name from both ballots but Hillary does not and of course the people wanted to vote democratic and gave her the votes. But it certainly wasn't fair or even ethical. Give it up Hillary. You tried but in reality we want someone that doesn't get lobbied by big business. Bill definitely didn't help your cause by doing all the things behind your back and countering what you were saying in your speeches. (NAFTA for Columbia, etc)

[gloria]

If Obama gets the nomination me and millions of other die hard Democrats will be vothing for McCaine.

We have had enough of inexperience in GW. The last thing our country needs is some guy who has only been in the US Senate for 2 TWO Years.

He's a putz and a egotistical faker. How can he fool so many? Oprah, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, all those Hollywood idiots.

What a shallow country we live in where glossy rhetoric
coming from a so called black man, who incidently sold his own grandmother, who raised him, down the river. Calling her a "typical white person."
Good God what does it take to prove to people this guy is a racist mess! Oh yeah and then there is the Rev. Wright fiasco.
GET A CLUE PEOPLE THE GUY IS SCARY........

[Steve Rhodes]

The popular vote doesn't count, only the delegates do.

Though I hope with Clinton's focus on the popular vote, she'll make one of her priorities in the Senate next year abolishing the electoral college.

[Jim Caron]

Several weeks ago I climbed down from the fence I was sitting on and chose Obama as the one who should be the next president. As the campaign for Pennsylvania unfolded, I saw and heard many things to confirm my choice, and tonight with NC and IND, I felt the same. Clinton will clearly pander in anyway possible (e.g. holiday for gas taxes) to win votes, and her sad spinmeisters will say anything in hopes that the chattering classes will repeat it often enough to seem true. Quoting but not really quoting Obama about IND as the "tiebreak" is pathetic. Is that supposed to convince him to quit...or convince voters that somehow Hillary can win the nomination?

The numbers indicated long ago that she had to be decisively the winner EVERYWHERE, and she has not come close, despite Ohio.

The superdelegates will now move noticeably to Obama. Those of us who loathe the W and see McCain as his reincarnation can only hope that the Clintons have not soured the process so much that the Democrats manage the near-impossible: lose in November.

[Michael F.]

Dear Gloria - I heard Senator "McCaine" on the radio today, vowing to put more upstanding jurists like Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court. If you're willing to vote for him over Obama because of the "Rev. Wright fiasco" and the other half-baked reasons you list, then I wouldn't be throwing around words like "idiot" so freely.

[ted tyson]

Gloria,
I think you are over-stating Obama's weaknesses, and to say he "sold his grandmother down the river" is more than a little silly. You do realize that, don't you? You are not representative of any Democrats I've ever met. I voted for Hillary, and I'm glad I was loyal to the Clintons. But Obama will do fine, far better than John McCain and a group of men unwilling to be truthful about the awful war we are fighting.

Sincerely,

Ted Tyson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[gloria]

Dear Ted,
You're an idiot...anyone who is not loyal to family sure as hell won't be loyal to the American public....especially white guys like you....Oh yeah....do you talk smack about your gramdma?

[Tony]

Gloria,

Counting Senator Obama's time in the Illinois legislature, he has MORE experience as an elected official than Hillary Clinton. Didn't you know that?

[Mark]

Gloria, the people have spoken, and Hillary's time is up. It's time for her (and you) to move on.

[Franky]

To gloria -

Instead of asking why everyone else is "fooled" in to voting for Obama - why not ask yourself what you're failing to see?

The clue is waiting for you...

[Sally]

@ Gloria:

Hopefully all the other "McCaine" supporters are as smart as you are!

Obama 08!

[Seni]

Gloria, You are not alone. I'm a longtime democrat, but I will surely vote for McCain if Obama is nominated. I will not jump on the band-wagon with these cult followers who refuse to see Obama's total lack of knowledge and his unfitness to be president. There are many of others who feel this way.

[Franky]

To Seni:

Funny you speak about "total lack of knowledge" after saying you will vote for McCain!

Are you really that shallow?

I suggest doing a little research on what that would mean to you and your children....I think you would learn a lot from it, and be much happier the next 4 years with Obama.

[Seni]

The Obama's don't belong in the white house. Listen to Michell Obama speak. Her words dosen't inspire people they devide us. She make me feel oppressed, held down and can;t do for myself without help from a government that she said is mean and make us not proud of this country. A lot of her talk is negative thoughts about america. This is not good for our young children.