March 30, 2008
Posted: March 30th, 2008 09:30 AM ET
Sen. Clinton has show no signs of ending her presidential bid despite suggestions that shenconsider doing so by prominent supporters of Sen. Obama.
Sen. Clinton has show no signs of ending her presidential bid despite suggestions that shenconsider doing so by prominent supporters of Sen. Obama.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) - Sen. Hillary Clinton on Saturday rejected calls by supporters of rival candidate Barack Obama to quit the Democratic presidential race, and Obama said Clinton should remain in race "as long as she wants."

"The more people get a chance to vote, the better it is for our democracy," the New York senator and former first lady told supporters at a rally in Indiana, which holds a May 6 primary.

"There are some folks saying we ought to stop these elections," she said.

"I didn't think we believed that in America. I thought we of all people knew how important it was to give everyone a chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted."

Clinton has won primaries in the biggest states so far, but Obama has won more total contests and leads her in the race for delegates to the party's August convention in Denver - where the Democratic nominee will be formally ratified.

Two of Obama's leading supporters, Sens. Christopher Dodd and Patrick Leahy, said Friday that Clinton should rethink her chances of overcoming that deficit and consider folding her campaign.

Full story

Filed under: Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton


Tim   March 30th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

I think Obama should get out of the race. He will never win a national election. All he needs is proof that he heard the Rev Wright's remarks and waited till it came out publicity to quit the church. Obama should get out now!

aware   March 30th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

Go Hillary! :)

Obama may have potential for 2012?

Obama is letting his ego defeat him. He is shooting too high too soon! He will lose in the general if he is the Dem. nominee and take the Democratic Party's hopes with him. McCain would beat Obama!

Hillary or McCain 08! :)

Michael, North Carolina   March 30th, 2008 2:25 pm ET

Sen. Clinton should have quit this race a long time ago. She does not have a chance of catching up to Sen. Obama in pledged delegates, popular vote, and states won. So what is the point of her staying in the race, it does not make any sense. With her contiuning to stay in the race it is only going to split the party, and make it easier for Sen. McCain to launch his attacks against Sen. Obama. Sen. Clinton is a liar, and will cheat, steal, and destroy the Democratic party to get the nomination. SHAME ON YOU SEN. CLINTON, SHAME ON YOU.

Ken   March 30th, 2008 2:23 pm ET

Hillary Clinton need not, nor should not quit the race. Neither Obama nor Clinton has the 2,024 needed to become the chosen one!

Hillary should stay in until one or the other has the 2,024! Why does anyone want to stop the race or contest, midstream?

The only ones that want Hillary to quit or the Obama supporters and the reason is quite clear. The Obama supporters are afraid (and should be) that Hillary can pull it off and become the chosen one.

WAKE UP AMERICA! Let us ALL get behind Hillary and push her over the finish line, so that she can beat McCain in November and become our next President, starting one day one.

Vig   March 30th, 2008 2:23 pm ET

Now here's a peek into the future. Hillary Clinton can stand up to these party bullies, not fold under pressure and keep her eye on the goal of nomination – that's how she will handle the rough neck nations of the world. Obama will go bowling or shoot basketballs to get his mind centered and then make some speech that everyone will think is brillant, but have little effect for change.

John   March 30th, 2008 2:22 pm ET

I believe that Mr and Mrs Clinton are courting republicans to help get her over the hump. It is unfortunate that now that the republicans have chosen their nominee, that the rest of the republican voters can now help to change the lyrics of the democratic song. The Clintons have been blasting Obama, while complementing McCain. Their obvious strategy is to join with the major adversary to help bring down the immediate adversary. But lets be clear with the fact that when it all comes down to the general election wire, all Mr John "Foreign Policy" McCain has to do is ask the question, "If Hillary doesn't even know what is going on in the other room of her own house, how can she know what is going on on the other side of the world?'

Austrian   March 30th, 2008 2:18 pm ET

a die hard she is. But its all clear according to the pledged delegates she has lost it. PA wont save her. The damage was done when Obama won 13 concecutive states.... ''small" states.

Ken Out West   March 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Hillary......what is the plan?

Wait to the convention and sway enough delegates? Hey, if you can't win the nomination through the majority vote of the American people, you and your husband can always "steal" the nomination from Obama at Midnight behind closed doors.

Wow.....what a concept. Like we all can't see that coming.

Mr Bigger   March 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

As Obama's past is uncovered, voters will go to Clinton by the end of the primaries.

Mike - Ventura, CA   March 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

If the shoe was on the other foot, I guarantee she would NOT be saying this. Everyone, including her supporters know this is true. She and they would be calling for party unity and I'm sure it would be much more forceful than what she is hearing!

Jane   March 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

She doesn't have to quit the race, but there is no viable reason why she should continue.....If she bowed out now, she might have some dignity left.....

Steve   March 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

Funny how she criticizes Nader for spoiling the 2000 election, and now she is in the position to spoil the 2008 election... and she IS spoiling the 2008 election.

Dan   March 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

What is she going to do when all of the rest of the heavy hitting super delegates walk on her! Hillary leave now so we have a chance in November!

Will   March 30th, 2008 1:22 pm ET

Yes, she rather get less delegates and popular vote and steal the nomination then give in to democracy, we know.

Annette Bryant   March 30th, 2008 10:24 am ET

I'm from North Carolina and have never felt like I had a part in choosing my Democrat candidate. This year I just might, but there is a call for Hillary to quit the race! What's the matter with the talking heads and certain senators? The country is energized, record numbers are turning out for the primaries, we feel like we are actually a part of the process...and they want it to stop.

Bottom line: I'm a Democrat, I like both candidates and am thrilled that I may get to actually cast a vote that counts...but when the time comes I will support the Democrat Candidate...whom ever that is!

Mad Texan   March 30th, 2008 10:21 am ET

NO way should you quit. Wait until this cauces mess is cleared up in Texas you will find 67 more delegates belonging to you. Obama's crowd is going to see what, "Don't Mess with Texas is All About." We call for Obama to step down now. After trying to strong arm and keep Clinton supporters from being counted he is a crook. HILLARY 08

Walt, Belton,TX   March 30th, 2008 10:20 am ET

I think Hillary should stay in until the very last minute. She hasn't entirely destroyed the Democratic Party yet. Another month or so should do it!

Mike in CA   March 30th, 2008 10:20 am ET

Hmm...so once again, she is now touting how important it is for EVERYONE to cast their votes. Wasn't it less than a month ago when she very clearly implied that winning only the "big states" was the important strategy? I guess it's now convenient for her to make sure that the rest of those tiny, unimportant states vote...just in case they help her out. She doesn't want to disenfranchise any voters, even though the ONLY way she could win the nomination now is to, ironically, disenfranchise voters with the superdelegates' power.

I used to respect Senator Clinton, and I was torn between voting for her and Obama for the longest time. Her behavior during the past two months has soured me to her leadership style and it's clear who I prefer to support for the nomination.

Peter   March 30th, 2008 10:18 am ET

I think it's great that she wants to get all the voices heard. I'm just curious why, after hearing all the voices, she want them to be ignored.

D. Campbell   March 30th, 2008 10:15 am ET

Is this Hillary's new strategy? She is word for word what Obama has been saying for months! If she is going to mimic him, and use his ideas, we should just vote for him. She needs to step aside. Romney did for McCain. I can't believe McCain has gained anything in the polls. It has to be a result of a divided democratic party.

GBB   March 30th, 2008 10:12 am ET

Very sexist comment that Leahy made saysing she'll have a great career as a senator, made it sound like women just aren't supposed to aspire to anything higher, guess we know where his mindset is. How insulting, to women and to voters.

teresa c   March 30th, 2008 10:10 am ET

Shame on anyone who thinks Hillary should quit.. We the PEOPLE will decide who becomes president.. not the media, not these silly polls that the media collects. Boy wont you be surprised!!! when all this media attention to quit, turns around and nips you in the bud???

Illinois   March 30th, 2008 10:09 am ET

He only leads her in the delegate count because his supporters run illegal and unethical caucases....and they are now being able to prove that in Texas....but it's something that's been complained about for a long time. Had he not gotten away with it this long, there's no way he would be this far ahead. In Texas, he's lost 12 delegates so far because problems were found in at least one area where he "won". There will be more.....

Randy   March 30th, 2008 10:07 am ET

He'll have lots of time to practice at the bowling alley that Nixon put in the White House basement.

Another example that he is at his heart just a regular guy with some extraordinary skills, but someone who is not afraid to be normal in public.

bluedem63   March 30th, 2008 10:05 am ET

why should she quit with FL and MI included she has 1686 delegate Obama has 1685 she is not going any where she'll be there in DENVER

jp/michigan   March 30th, 2008 10:05 am ET

Why should Clinton quit? All Americans have not voted. Is the democratic party so afraid ? DNC has tried so hard to push Clinton aside, they want Obama to be the nominee, are they that afraid, he can't finish the race , people will actually see the real Obama. There is a lot more out there and in time it will all come out!

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