Hillary Clinton 'Close to Conceding' (May Go Out in Blaze of Glory After WV)

Hillary Clinton close to conceding by David Nason | May 12, 2008
NOT so long ago, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination was dominated by talk of Hillary Clinton's mental toughness and fighting qualities.

But at a Mother's Day function in New York, Senator Clinton's hardball approach was suddenly missing, raising speculation she is ready to abandon her campaign and cede Barack Obama the victory that everyone else knows he's won.

The shift in Senator Clinton's demeanour came on a day when Senator Obama finally took the lead in the super delegate count, leaving his rival without a single valid statistic to justify her continued candidacy.

With just a handful of primaries to go, Senator Obama leads in the four key measuring sticks - total votes cast, pledged delegates, super delegates and the number of states won.

"He (Senator Obama) leads in every important metric in this race right now," former Bill Clinton press svengali George Stephanopoulos said on Good Morning America.

"He is consolidating this victory, moving toward unifying the party, and not looking back."

The reality of this seemed to weigh on Senator Clinton at New York's Sheraton Midtown hotel where her stump speech, delivered to an audience that included many of her closest supporters, had the feel of a farewell.

Lines like "stay with me, this is a great adventure" were still there but lacked the conviction of the recent past.

Instead, Senator Clinton spoke at length on the need for healing in the Democratic Party and avoided her past references to Senator Obama's lack of political judgment and unsuitability for the White House.

"I want you to know how grateful I am for your support and how much you have sustained me throughout this campaign. It has been a joy," Senator Clinton said.

"We will have a unified Democratic Party and we will stand together and we will defeat John McCain in November and we will go on to the White House."

Officially Senator Clinton is still on the campaign trail and, despite her campaign's huge money worries, she is expected to score a handsome victory in this week's West Virginia primary.

But there is mounting speculation she could use the West Virginia result to leave the campaign in a blaze of glory.

While this would allow Senator Obama to focus his energies on beating presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in November, the issue of the vice-presidency could still prove divisive.

The Democratic Party machine is anxious to see a Obama-Clinton ticket because it would maximise the Democrat voter turnout in November, when congressional elections will be held alongside the presidential runoff.

With the Democrat's primary-season turnout outstripping the Republicans three to one in many states, an Obama-Clinton ticket could deliver the Democrats congressional majorities of historic proportions.

But it's unclear whether Senator Obama would have Senator Clinton as a running-mate and equally unclear whether Senator Clinton would accept if she were offered the post.

According to veteran Washington insider Robert Novak, the issue is already settled because Senator Obama's wife has all but vetoed an invitation to Senator Clinton.

Writing on RealClearPolitics.com at the weekend, Novak said "close-in supporters" of Senator Obama's were convinced that Michelle Obama would stop her husband offering Senator Clinton the job.

"The Democratic frontrunner's wife did not comment on other rival candidates for the party's nomination, but she has been sniping at Clinton since last summer," Novak wrote.

Among those believed to be under consideration is popular Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, a Clinton supporter who would have been a hot favourite for the post had she won the nomination.

Not only is Ohio an important swing state, Mr Strickland is a former Methodist pastor whose religious credentials would help blunt the expected Republican attacks on Senator Obama's relationship with radical former Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright.

As a psychologist active in children's education, Francis Strickland, the Governor's wife, is also politically saleable.

Senator Obama's super delegate total had reached 274 yesterday, three ahead of Senator Clinton who led by more than 60 on Super Tuesday on February 5.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23681113-2703,00.html

I don't think I am, however.

She is staying in until MI and FL is resolved and all the primaries are done with.

THIS will be the concession speech.. only to see confetti and "WE'RE ON TO THE WH !!"

I give up on a gracious concession from her.

I think she'll stay in as long as she possibly can, hoping for a major misstep or scandal from Obama.

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An' if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know

Should I stay or should I go?

The Clash

I would be surprised if she didn't press on, especially considering the campaign jingoism I saw coming out of Terry McAuliffe on Press the Meat this morning. But maybe she will prove us wrong. If her goal in staying in through WV was to spare Senator Obama some of the embarrassment in losing an unopposed race, then that was quite noble of her.

I don't care what kind of blaze the m$$$fm says she goes out in ..we'll see.

...then I think she sounds a bit deflated.

Let's see what she does tomorrow.

primaries are done...but I think she also needs to be careful on how she campaigns until then.

To pull it away from us yet again.

Till I hear the words from her mouth I won't believe it. Than I'll have to watch it again to actually really believe it.

Novak is the MAN as far as insider Dem stories are concerned...

Strickland or Gov. Sebelius?

She'll be a fool not to. And while I have issues with her I don't believe she's a fool.

that SNL sketch was another nail in the coffin this weekend

Just to do as much damage as possible.

there are many signals that she is under incredible pressure to throw in the towel

"The Democratic frontrunner's wife did not comment on other rival candidates for the party's nomination, but she has been sniping at Clinton since last summer," Novak wrote.

Where was Michelle Obama during and after the Kosovo War?

The Snipers were in Bosnia.

I do hope I'm wrong and she discovers some graciousness.

As long as the Hillary folks will stop with the race baiting, the insinuations, the negative tactics.

If they can prove in the last few races in the last few states, that they understand how to play fair, I might even want them to claim Florida, but never Michigan, which Hillary, HERSELF, said did not count!!!

Now, move forward, fight fair, be nice to black people, and white people who voted for Obama, and have your little voting party........see if you can get Hillary to look more respectable than she does now.

gonna have to see it to believe it.

make lemonade out of lemons, which I don't think grow in MT.....but he's a wise man! If Montana can elect THAT man, they can vote for Obama in 2 weeks, and in Nov.

Lots of life long republicans are saying they will not vote for McCain and endure more of bush's policies. They hate Hillary and have lots of good things to say about Obama.

And our gov ROCKS!

And it would help recover some of her host credibility

she comes back pushing harder. So, I'll believe it when I see the youtube videoclip. And does Bill know? Cuz he's still spouting nonsense ("people who need a President"...sheesh!).

That gives me something else to watch. There's usual very few good TV programs over here in Korea.

nub. She has been running top speed for many months, trying to be our president to get our country on a new footing. I am sure that she thinks she is the best person for the job. It is appropriate for her to continue now, if she wants, until after the last primary, which gives her supporters the chance to back her. Then she can withdraw. In the meantime leave her alone. You are only hurting Obama by these tirades. Hill supporters are a must if the dems are to win.

the press. And perhaps the problem. At this point, if Hillary isn't going to continue to say outrageous things, nobody will cover her any more.

So yeah, I have no problem if she stays in with sort of a Huckabee mindset. Go for it, Hillary! Take a winners lap or two if you do! My issue is if she stays in using a scorched earth approach.

We should not be wasting money and time on a primary that is over. Three weeks is a long time in politics. While Hillary may not be as critical as before, her surrogates are going all out-we don't need anymore of this primary-it will weaken the Democratic nominee.

Just kidding. :)

that's been her pattern

I ain't lookin' for jackshit in the way of appropriate behavior from Camp Clinton

So this is the third time I heard the story.

Someone posted it today.

She can go out in a positive note
and then start campaigning for the Democratic nominee immediately

It would really help heal the party and her career.

I don't hold my breath a lot these days
cause of my health and the infamy of the last
7 years.

I'm an American optimist but a pessimistic realist.

And good fucking riddance.

--but only if her campaign stops using those fucking REPUKE FRAMES!!!!