April 7, 2008
Posted: April 7th, 2008 03:30 PM ET

From
The economy once again may be the dominant campaign theme.
The economy once again may be the dominant campaign theme.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – In recent days, Hillary Clinton supporters have been pushing this notion that the Democratic presidential candidate who has won the states with the most Electoral College votes should get the party’s super delegates and the party’s eventual nomination. We’ve heard it from Democratic Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Democratic Governor Ed Rendell - among many others.

They make this argument because Barack Obama remains the leader so far in pledged delegates, the popular vote and the most states won.

Clinton’s supporters note that Obama may have won more states - 27 to 14, excluding both Michigan and Florida whose delegates so far are not being counted because those states moved up their primaries against Democratic party rules. But they argue that her 14 states have a total of 219 Electoral College votes and his 27 states have 202 - and insist that makes her more likely to win the general election in November.

Among the big states she has won are New York and California.

Obama supporters argue that any Democrat likely will capture those states if recent presidential elections are a model. That may be true but John McCain and his supporters are arguing that he might actually have a chance in California given his supposed “maverick” reputation and the strong support of the state’s popular Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Clinton supporters also argue that she has a better chance of beating McCain in swing states like Florida and Ohio - which they say Democrats would need to win in November. They say it’s all about the Electoral College - not the popular vote - as was made clear in 2000, when Al Gore won hundreds of thousands of more votes than winner George Bush.

It’s a controversial point that the Clinton camp makes.

Filed under: Wolf Blitzer


Shawn   April 7th, 2008 5:12 pm ET

This is all getting old...Everyone's trying to find a way to keep Barack out...Hillary is sadistic...she's a liar...she's flip flopped so many times during her campaign...but if they don't follow the popular vote and the super delegates give her the nod...it will truly show...just how much we're still in the times of old...and I know you guys know what I mean...I'm just saying it in a nice way...

boom   April 7th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

Obama is unelectable in November.

TYhat's a fact – no matter how many states, pledged CAUCUS delegates, votes or promises of "change" he invokes – the fact remains, he stands virtually no chance in November.

And it's unfortunate that neither his supporters nor superdelegates who are siding with him can see that.

Zoltan   April 7th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

What's your point Wolf? It's very easy to make numbers work for you if you can spin it the right way. You show a few numbers that favored Clinton and suggest that those numbers show she's winning in what really matters?!? Too bad for her, the numbers that REALLY count strongly favor Obama. Those numbers are the number of delegates, and i don't think you are going to convince the DNC to change their selection process at this point in the game, so just cut it out with your stupid biased commentary.

Steve from New Jersey   April 7th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

I am a Clinton supporter, despite my young age, which makes many think I like Obama, which I do, but my support lies more with her. While I despise the Electoral College system and think it should be based on the popular vote, the President will be decided by the EC. Be that as it may, I think Hillary has a strong case. She needs to be careful though not to sound as if she wants to drown out the cries of the popular vote. If Democrats want to win in November, they need to win the big states such as Ohio, Texas, Florida, California, New York, New Jersey, etc. She can definitely carry those states, with the exception of Texas. Obama will have more of a struggle in Texas, California, Ohio, and Florida. I think we need to be smart about this without disenfranchising people. I will support whatever candidate wins the Democratic nomination, but we do need to be smart about this.

TRACY   April 7th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

I came to this country during Peter Jennings on television and I miss those day everyday!

Lucas Dahlin   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Then by that reasoning why have the smaller states vote at all? I'm pretty sure it's the Clinton campaign that advocates every vote counting so that nobody is disenfranchised.

l. hawks   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Not controversial, just common sense.

Denville   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

No! How dos Hillary say every vote should count and in the same breath say that the “pledged delegated” can do whatever they want and small people/state don’t matter and not one reporter have call her on it?

Kevin   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

What's wrong Wolf? All the negative news about Hillary this weekend wasn't to your liking, so you decided to comment on THIS non-issue?

You are so transparent.

NW Independent   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

I have to admit, the arguement holds some merits. Especially in light of the FL & MI votes. Both of these are key swings for the Dems. and not looking very good for Obama in the general.

KLM   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

No and please quit trying to make it look close, Wolfe. If Clinton was ahead in pledged delegates, popular vote and most states won then all of you would've written him off.

glhf   April 7th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

No because it's a democrat race. When you include republicans and independants...many of those blue states go red if Clinton is the nominee. Obama, on the other hand, turns many red states blue. It should be obvious who the nominee should be.

Towhappy   April 7th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

Just more spin but I am glad to know that America is not buying that one.

Jeff Radun   April 7th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

It is an argument.
I do not know if it will hold up, but add in Florida and Michigan and she has even more than 219 Electoral College votes

There is another problem, and a strong argument. It seems that more of Hillary's supporters will vote for McCain or not vote at all if Obama gets the nomination.

Then there is the states Obama won that many republicans were allowed to vote in and they voted only for Obama to stop Hillary. These republicans will vote for McCain in the general

COUSINVINNIE   April 7th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

I used to love the Clinton's, but if they can't win according to the rules, then Hillary is not worthy to be President or VP, so that leaves McCain't. C'mon Billary, you guys are destroying yourselves with your own narcissism. It's not at all becoming. Win the right way or lose gracefully and be the VP we need.

TR   April 7th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

It's a desperate point and said that you BUY into it.

CG   April 7th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

The argument is illogical; winning a primary is no indication of winning a general election.

A democrat will win in every state that holds a democrat primary because democrats are voting for democrats.

However, a democrat will not win in every state in a general election because democrats, republicans, and independents are voting for either the democrat candidate or the republican candidate.

For instance, a democrat will absolutely win in the democrat primary in Texas. And in fact, a democrat won in the Texas primary. However, the democrat who won in Texas is not guaranteed to win in Texas in a general election. Indeed, it is highly likely the democrat will lose in Texas during a general election because Texas voters overwhelmingly vote for the republican candidates on the state and national level.

Joyce in Florida   April 7th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

Yes, Senator Clinton has won the big states. So what if Obama won more states? I really don't care. What is important is that Senator Clinton is the stronger candidate by far. Obama is all words but haven't seen much action. I think he has listened too long to tapes of famous people. He will NEVER measure up to them. Senator Hillary Clinton should be our nominee, period. GO HILLARY 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Letha, Sioux Falls, SD   April 7th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

The argument maybe unusual but it would be correct. If the Electoral College makes the final choice of the president, they will do so again in the general election. Right now, I support Hillary but will vote McCain before I ever vote for Obama. Obama's record in the senate is weak and has no real showing of leadership. All I see is a good cheerleader at the game but no real offer of how he will fix the mess Bush got us into. McCain and Clinton do have strong records to back them up. The Electoral College in the end chooses the president based on each states votes.

Leon   April 7th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

Wolf,

Do your numbers give the state of Texas to Hillary? It seems to me that giving her Texas would be a matter of debate because Obama actually ended up with more delegates coming out of Texas. Would that make a difference to your conclusion?

Leon
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

adam   April 7th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

I am sick and tired of hearing these type of comments from the Clinton campaign. When Florida and Michigan held their primaries early, bot her and Obama said they wouldn't campaign in the state and their delegates would not count. Now that Hillary is loosing and unable to catch Obama she is trying to get that reversed. The RULES ARE THE RULES! it Michigan and Florida wanted their votes to count they shouldn't have moved up their primaries!

Suzan   April 7th, 2008 5:07 pm ET

Obama needs to prove (NOT BRAG!!!!) that he is able to win the states which he has lost to Mrs. Clinton as well as swing states, otherwise, be a MAN, for the sake of the Party, and step aside.

Sean   April 7th, 2008 5:07 pm ET

So there you go America. Clinton doesn't care about your vote. The popular vote doesn't count. They only thing that counts is whatever will get the Clintons back into office. Wake up America! You don't matter to them. In any given day, Hillary says she's not dropping out because she feels that every vote counts, while her campaign is making the argument that the popular vote doesn't count. And if the popular vote doesn't count, then your vote doesn't count. And once again we find Hillary lying to the American people.

rd dallas   April 7th, 2008 5:07 pm ET

This argument incorrectly presupposes that Obama won't carry those states where Clinton won the primary – often by a small margin. It also presupposes that She will win in the general election in those states. I thought this strawman argument had lost steam a couple of week's ago because everyone knows the primary is not an indicator of the general election. Why has'nt BLitzer blogged on Penn? 109million? I think CNN is trying to hard to keep the Clintons' chances alive.

Amanda   April 7th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

The Clinton campaign will do anything to win, even if it means writing their own rule book. Amazing!

Alston   April 7th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

..and thats all the Clinton camp could come up with?

Its not like she won some of the states with a thumping majority..

Talk about clutching at straws.

Xavier of Saint Louis, MO   April 7th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

Oh please! The Clinton's have tried to change this game whenever it’s convenient for them. They are loosing in every category, with the exception of super delegates and Obama is slowly overtaking Hillary in that category also. I’m just surprise people is still supporting this lying person who obviously would stop at nothing to win this election. She’s basically doing the same thing Bush did to Gore. . . no matter what, win at all cost. Even if you have to cheat, lie and deceive the American people. People wake up!

Shelley in NC   April 7th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

2000 is the reason we should have gotten rid of the Electoral College and go solely by popular vote.

Sarah L, Fayetteville, AR   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

This is silly math. Recent polls show that Obama has a better chance of beating McCain in California than Hillary. I wish Clinton would stop perpetuating the idea that Obama will lose in November.

Fonzi   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Addition to comment above;
Polls in the "small"states Obama won show him leading McCain while Hillary lags behind McCain. If Hillary can not win these republican leading states in the primary how can she win them against McCain come November?

Richard   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Does not matter Dems will win in 2008. Bush has wrecked the republican party. sadly I am a republican

Matt from Oregon   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Wolf,

Everytime I hear this argument from the Clinton camp I cringe. Just another example of the Clinton camp attempting to move the goal posts.

Matt

The truth   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Words of the deperate. Times running and and they are pulling on twigs not to be sucked in by the quick sand. Hopefully this latest evil move will not gain any ground.

Bob, DC   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

It's a stupid and moot point as well. The nominee is chosen based on delegates. Period.

chris kurland   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

If this happens I'll switch to the republican party. Hillary better no try to STEAL this election from Barack Obama. How would it look if the democratic party took the nomination of a black man away because they don't think he is electable> Hillary should be ashamed for even proposing this absurd idea.

Will in Virginia   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Just another spin on things from Clinton supporters. They are trying desperately to make the public see things their way. I think we the public are smarter than they think!

Venus   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Hillary is behind no matter how CNN or Hillary try to move the post!
If Hillary was ahead – I am sure that would be the news!

stranger   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Blitzer, I can't believe ypu can bring this as an issue- it is extremely funny. Just a joke for the media.

Every vote counts! Sometimes clinton's and supporters claim, we shouldn't supress people's vote and then they come around and say, small states don't count. The game is all about delegate lead. Otherwise Obama didn't need to compaign in 50 states. Unfortunately her compaign focused on big states. That doesn't mean the rules change by her compaign. The sad thing is the media picks nonsens and talk about
it.

I am sorry she is finished. First they lowere the bar to popular vote and now to this.

Michael   April 7th, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Well I know for a simple fact, that if it's Clinton and McCain – I no longer have to worry about voting for either of those 2 factions. A woman voted the most corrupt politician of 2007, and a Man who has sold his integrity for a chance at the big chair. No Thanks to both. I pray for this nation that neither Clinton or McCain win. I have little hope for Obama, But little is better then despair.

its a controversial point her camp makes because she is desperate to win, Nothing more, nothing less.

Kay   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

Why is CNN afaid to post my comments? I thought your news platform was fair and unbaised.

rachel   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

it's also more of the "will do anything to win" strategy that americans can see right through. she is done. period.

hello   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

That is very true.
white voter of states which Obama won will never vote for him.
and his pastor controversy will hurt him in general election then Hillary's Bosnia's story.
also don't forget about rezko deal which will be going on at the time of general election.

Patrick   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

Well, if that is the way Senator Clinton and her supporters feel then they should try to revise the Democratic primary rules for 2012 accordingly.

LucieLee   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

Gee, why don't we just make up the rules as we go along~~!! And just what would the "magic" number be if this were to happen??

Ross   April 7th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

Preposterous! She'd still lose the general election with this strategy!

gerry   April 7th, 2008 5:03 pm ET

Pathetic journalism

With all the negative news out of the Clinton campaign over the weekend, this is a serious "reach" at trying to make her look better.

Come on Wolf, be a real journalist and quite playing the Clinton tune.

Eileen from Portland, Maine   April 7th, 2008 5:03 pm ET

Yes, I agree with the Clinton Camp. The rules need to be changed now and in a way that favors her. I like that stategy, if you can't win with the existing rules, fight to get them changed. Who cares if it is unfair. As she said at one of her rallies "winning, winning, winning, that is my measurement of success, winning." There are some who measure their worth and success in other ways, but I don't think those particular values will occur to her.

Tim K   April 7th, 2008 5:03 pm ET

The main issue here isn't that she is ahead in electoral college count, it is that we still have an Electoral College. The only reason we have such an institution is, when our country was founded the founding fahters were afraid that not all citizens could be informed properly of the candidates for the presidency. In the digital era in which we live, people of the other side of the globe are informed on our candidates. Its an outdated system, and I think that there should be an amedment drafted to fix the problem. What type of system says, "Sorry will of the people, this might be your choice, but because of number allotments to states in the Electoral College, you really elected the other guy, (or girl?" It defeats the entire point of voting for the candidate who could best do the job, be they white, black, brown, purple or male or female!

KG   April 7th, 2008 5:03 pm ET

Wolf, you are so pro-Hillary it makes me think they have paid you good money to support her on CNN. I can't watch CNN anymore because you are so biased!

Chuck   April 7th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

There difference between the Clinton strategy and the Obama strategy is that Obama already has real solid numbers behind him in pledged delegates, popular vote and most states won, whereas Hillary is claiming she will have numbers that are non-existent and that cannot be validated until a general election actually takes place. Hillary forgets some other numbers that like Obamas are real and already validated – Hillary's negatives.

A report on this issue Mr. Blitzer (what might be) is a waste of your time and our time, and is obviously pro- Hillary , or at least a pro-keep this race going for the media's interest. The sky may fall in tomorrow too.

FormerHillarySupporter   April 7th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Even though she won those "large" states. If obama makes it to november, he will not only get the votes of all his original supporters but will also receive the votes of many of her former supporters as well. Even if 25% of her supporters stay at home that day (in protest cuz they are mad she didn't win) but the other %75 of her former supporters vote for obama for the sake of the democratic party, then he will not only have the votes of all his original supporters but many of hers as well! So I would argue that he WOULD be able in the general election to win even the "big" states that hillary has won in the primaries. Plus, as you know Rush Limbaugh's "Operaration Chaos" has caused many republicans to falsely vote for Hillary in an attempt to keep the tension within the democratic party raging. Obama would be better in the general election because the republicans that crossed over to vote for hillary and participate in "operation chaos" will cross back over in november!!! Hillary is a great woman and I supported her at first, but now I am 100% behind Obama. I'm an african american young adult and am not for obama just because of that. I WAS for Hillary at first until I heard some of her husbands remarks and even a statement she made to church on Martin Luther King day comparing the Republicans in the White House running the country to a PLANTATION. She said this to a black crowd and it seemed a bit insensitive. Yes, she was just trying to relate and meant no harm in the comments, but I think she could have used a better/different example. She then followed with a comment to the degree of "you know what i'm saying". It seemed like she was trying too hard. I was a hillary supporter at first, but it seems like she is more concerned about gaining the presidency than helping America now.

OBAMA 08!!!!

OBAMA 08!!!

Back56   April 7th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

This guy has lost credibility!

Christian, Tampa FL   April 7th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Except that recent polling shows that Barack Obama does way better in California against John McCain than Hillary Clinton does.

J. McCaskill, MS   April 7th, 2008 5:01 pm ET

Great point. It's ashamed that too many have been persuaded by Obama. She has won the states that Democrats carry and she can win Florida. Obama has won states that Democrats would have to pray and fast to win. States like Montana, Idaho, Mississippi, Alabama, and even Geogia. They are all Republican states in the general election.

Hillary/McCain '08'

Frank   April 7th, 2008 5:01 pm ET

Here's another question or two. If, (and it's a Big IF) Sen. Obama wins in PA will Mrs. Clinton finally get out? My guess is no, she'll just say it's only PA and it's only one state. What do you think?

How many of you think that if the Super Delegates go to Obama giving him the 2025 votes that Mrs. Clinton will sue the DNC?

David from Canada   April 7th, 2008 5:01 pm ET

Do the math; it is too late for Clinton. If she was to win the nomination the only reasonable explanation as to why is RACE and the superdeligates playing it safe rather than listening to the voice of the people. This would have a long term and very negative impact on the Democratic Party and race relations in general.

Also, somebody please get an explanation as to what exactly was entailed in the $15million (Dubai) business arrangement Bill had. As well as how many speaking engagements were performed by Bill, payment per, etc., etc. How many favors are the Clintons going to owe and will these favors also are owed to interests outside of the US?

Debbie   April 7th, 2008 5:01 pm ET

So the people who think this is a good approach are saying Democrats in these states are on their own. It's likely Obama will win 30+ states.

Since those 30+ states do not matter to matter to the Democrats, for arguments sake, let's give all Senate, Representative, and Governor seats in those states to the Republicans.

If you care at all for the Democratic party, you really don't want to see the Republicans control 60+% of the Senate, and Governors, and over half the Representatives.

clb-NY   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Uh Oh....the Clinton News Network (CNN) is at it again. After trying the pledged delegate count & losing; and the polular vote count & losing; soon to be the loss in Super Delegates; 28 to 14 in STATES ...it is CNN to the rescue of the ever popular loser, HRC. It is over ... get used to it, Wolf.

Kristin from New York   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

I think this argument is ludicrous. The level of support a candidate receives in an intra-party matchup in which half the electorate may vote is fully different than the level of support that candidate would garner in an inter-party election with all eligible to vote. Logic simply does not support this kind of approach.

Todd   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

I fully believe Clinton can win the "big" states. I do believe it will be a struggle for Obama. I, for one, will vote for McCain if Obama is opposing him. And yes...I live in CA!

Jacob T-Los Angeles   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Winning those states in a democratic primary means nothing in terms of the general election. Most of the people voting in the dem primary will vote for either candidate versus a republican. The real trick will be to beat the republican in those states by collecting the independent vote and the unhappy republicans.

Cathryn   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Wolf, I am tired of Hillary trying to "do the math." If she's so great with numbers, why is she behind in paying her bills? HRC will say and do whatever necessary to skew the stats in her favor. I am weary of her deceit and nastiness. Cathryn, Petoskey, Michigan.

Terry   April 7th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Sounds like something Billary would cobble together....

Devon, Ft Myers Fl   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

LOl nope because the states she is winning Barack will win in the general election, but the states he is winning she cant win.

Obama 08

MS Gal   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

A bunch of crock. Will these people ever accept the reality that Hillary is out of this???? Man, talk about trying to get blood out of a turnip! Come on...many of Hillary's supporters WILL get out and vote for Barack in the general election...they will!!!!!!! So, just because she may have "slightly" won a state over Barack in a primary CANNOT be a predictor for the general election! You are comparing apples and oranges! Come on people! The Democrats will be in the White House...and we will be thankful for the next President, Barack Obama!

Obama 08!!!!!!!!!!!

Jordan Fitzpatrick   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

It's not a compelling argument by any standard– it's yet another attempt by the Clinton camp to change the metric in her favor, (and they are running out of options on this score). If she were truly the stronger candidate, Obama would not be ahead by so many measures. I am a fan of the rules, and I believe that they should be argued before a contest begins, or adhered to– not changed the moment your candidacy stops being an inevitability.

Saleem Banatwala   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

One way to fix all of this is to do away with the electoral college. Base all elections on the popular vote.

Abbey   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Are you serious?

Let's follow the rules people-this is a primary-we follow the proportional allocation of delegates, not the electoral college map. This is yet another example of the Clintons changing the rules as they go. Is this the type of president you want running the country? I want someone who plays by the rules and understands that the ends don't justify the means.

omar   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

I think Hillary is trying all the tricks in the book. It doesn´t matter how you rationalize it or twist it any other way, the fact still remains that Obama has one more states and is ahead in terms of the popular vote.

Just because Hillary has won certain key states does not exclude the fact that Obama can also win it in the general election. After all, we all "hope" that the democratic party will reunite against the nominee in a general election and if this is the case it should not matter whether one or the other won certain states in the primaries.

Chris   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

This is just one more "creative" way to try to rewrite the rules during the game since Mrs. Clinton is losing based on traditional metrics. If the current standings were reversed, the Clinton camp would dismiss this argument with a swift and forceful rebuttal. Additionally, the Clinton seems to infer that somehow she is the only Democrat that can win a traditionally Democratic state like NY or a battleground state like Ohio. Talk about the hubris. Obama might have an even better chance to prevail in California.

Tim Fort Lauderdale, Florida   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

I REALLY know that Hillary had a much better chance than Obama does. She knows what she is doing!!!!

Bryan from Michigan   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

It's starting to make Clinton look really, really bad now...it's not a pretty site to see her grasping at straws and trying to bend only the rules that sway in her favor. I think the majority of Americans are starting to see this side of Hillary....and it's not pleasant.

Ryan   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Will the big states like CA and NY suddenly go Republican if Hillary isn't the nominee? Where's the logic here?

Pollyann   April 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

And that's how it should be. No fuss about it! Hello!!!!

Tim from Buffalo   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Wolf,

Didn't you hear? This isn't a contest about delegates anymore. The only metrics that matter are the ones that Hillary is leading in.

Who's the idiot who came up with the fantasy idea that electoral votes determine the primary? One thing and one thing only determines who wins primaries, whoever gets 2025 delegates first wins. It's not the popular vote nor the number of states won. It's not even whatever Bill Clinton suggests.

The superdelegates can base their decision on possible electoral performance, but who's stupid enough to believe that the polls right now are representative of what will happen in November enough to try to overturn the will of the people? Oh yeah, Ed Rendel is.

No   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

This is the dumbest argument ever. Even if she's ahead in the "states that count", that doesn't take into account the fact that when you compare McCain v. her in those states. She will lose miserably if that's the match up in those states.

Jeremy in Colorado   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

I've got to admit to being a bit confused. I really can't understand why news outlets haven't been calling the Clinton camp on how one minute, they're talking about going all the way to let the people have their say in the primaries and how it's a tragedy if the voters in FL and MI aren't represented at the convention, while the next they're putting forward the argument that, despite not having the votes, they should still be the ones nominated. (Don't even get me started on the "we're not advocating it, but did you know that elected delegates don't really have to support the candidate they were elected to vote for" hypocrisy.)
Can someone explain?

Mike   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Wolf... just ask Gore that question... he won the popular vote but lost the election because of the electoral college...

The media and Obama keep talking about the delegates and popular vote... Neither candidate is going to get enough votes... it should not count since MI and FL do not count... the talk over the weekend was that MI and FL will be seated but in a way that it will not decide the winner... How is that fair???

You award each candidate delegates and the popular vote does not count... if you were to add in the popular vote I believe Clinton would win the popular vote... Obama would win the delegate count... Which one would determine the "will of the people" ???

I would throw the whole thing out and use the electoral college to determine the stronger candidate... I know that both have won several states that usually go Republican... seems the ony fair way to me!!!

Obamamama   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

If all she is winning are states that typically vote democratic anyway, what is the big deal. If I were a Superdelegate I would want the nominee to be someone that can win over republican's and independents. That sounds like Barack Obama would be the better choice....

Anonymous   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

it is funny. They alwasy want to change the bar. They want to come up with a new rule that serves them. This is a delegate race. It ends there.

Impartial Jury   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

So I take it that they cannot use their influence to swing those key states if Hillary isn't the nominee? Sorry, but this sounds like "fuzzy" electoral college math to me and didn't Bayn and Hillary say the electoral college was an outdated system back in 2000 when it didn't favor the Dems? Now its the keys to the kingdom that it favors her campaign. Just another in a long list of double-speak moments for a doomed campaign.

Danman   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

What a bunch of crap. How are the primary and the general even close to the same thing. Obama leads popular vote, pledged delegates and number of states won. And somehow he is supposed to be losing?

Leroy Janecek   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

The Supreme Court handed Bush his victory, not the electoral college. Let the voters decide who they want as president. It should go to the person who has received the majority of the popular vote.

Robert Randall   April 7th, 2008 4:58 pm ET

This comment is silly but typical. The result this year should be decided by the rules now in effect. Obama is currently leading in delegates and if he remains ahead he should be the Democratic nominee. If there are flaws in the rules and procedures, we should start working after the election to improve things for 2012. We should not change the 2008 rules now just because Hillary is losing.

No Obama   April 7th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Clinton Can beat McCain. If Obama is the nominee Democrats will loose for McCain. In reality clinton is ahead in popular if FI and MI are counted. They need to be counted.

Matthew   April 7th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Honestly, we all know that If Clinton was up in popular vote and not electoral college, her campaign and base would say THAT's the only vote that matters. I can see the reasoning, but it's apparent they will say anything to get the nomination.

joe   April 7th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

this pretty much proves that the people paying for this government are not being represented but are just being robbed. Our Reps" are making millions on the war.... but that doesn't affect their vote!? remember the bastille day!!

Tyler J.B.   April 7th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

The last great pillar of the aristocrats: The Electoral College. It needs to be abolished. It gave us Bush. Do we really need more of an argument against it?

Bob Johnson   April 7th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

This is just pitiful. She is trying to bend every single rule just to win. If Obama was in he LOSING position, she would be calling him out every day for him to drop out. The primaries/caucuses are NOT about Electoral College votes, so stop trying to turn it into that just so she can be ahead in something. She is losing, and will lose, so deal with it.

Aidan   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

All the hate and underhanded tactics the Obama supporters have given towards Hillary will just lead a lot of her supporters to vote for McCain. If his supporters just promoted his policies instead of just constantly attacking Hillary then there would be a more united party.

I have not heard any details of his policies but only criticism of Clinton.

If Obama is the Democratic nominee then McCain will be the next president.

Bob, Phoenix   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

Demonstrates how poorly managed the DNC and Democratic Party are. In something as important as a Presidential primary, the candidates, voters, and party power players are all trying to figure out the rules when the game is nearly over. And they should be running the most powerful, complex organization in the world? Scary

Bill Ferris   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

That argument does not hold up.Regardless of who won those larger states in the primaries,THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE will still win those large states in the general election.Blitz,your logic is about as flawed as Hillary`s.

Charles   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

It seems like the Clintons are looking for an area that Obama has not won and are trying to make that the standard for superdelegates to make there choice. Once again trying to change the rules in the middle of the game because to play but the rules would not get them the nomination.

Belv   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

Absolutely not.

Popular vote is popular vote and there's no way to change that, no matter how much Clinton supporters or the media afraid of speaking the facts (Fox and CNN) try to spin it.

Seth   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

Not only is it controversial, it isn't how the system is set up.

The Democratic nominee is nominated via, wait for it, wait for it... a democratic system!

Delegates are awarded based directly on the popular vote. Only in the case that neither candidate wins are the super-delegates "activated."

And by all accounts the super-delegates will not over-turn the delegate votes. Who would they rather upset – the majority that voted for Obama, or the minority that voted for Clinton?

Also, it is a spurious argument that since Clinton beat Obama in Ohio, that means Obama can't beat McCain there. That isn't necessarily logical.

wanda   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

This is nonsense! Just pure spin! Electoral votes only count in the general against an opponent of the opposite party. There is nothing that says she will win the states in the general that she has in the primaries. If the super-delegates are stupid enough to fall for this line of horse-pucky than we are surely doomed as a party.

Phyllis   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

Is that so? No she is not.....Is it a low news day? Clinton's Tax Returns, Mark Penn, more HRC lies) is not enough?

Cheer   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

Clinton can say anything she wants; it is only to further demonstrate her stupidity and ruleless opportunisim. No data supports that the primary election result represents the general election result – that is why we have a two-tier election system. The meaner she is, the sooner her supporters will abandon her – a path ahead. Just see how many her supporters have said so on your web site for her calling "boycott" the Olympic opening.

Terry Williams   April 7th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

It may be a contraversal point but Obama is hinging on the idea that he can change the electoral map. He may have been able to do that if this was 6 or 7 months ago. But as the campaign as gone on, he has gone froma candidate who transcended race to a candidate who submerges himself in race. He has become a man who is outside of the old politics, who stays out of mainstream politics to a politician who does exactly what any other old politician does. His original mesage is slipping away and he's no longer a man who can change the electoral map. I don't really know if Hillary can win at this point with that argument, but I don't think it looks that great for Obama, who thinks he doesn't need Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan in NOvember by flipping some red states. It seems like something he's arrogantly thinking he can do and in November, fail.

Patrick   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

Um, no, Wolf. No it isn't.

The system is set up for delegates for a reason. History shows that winning a state in a primary bears little to no reflection on how that state votes in November.

It's only a "controversial" point if people like you continue to give it credence in effort to make a story out of a primary race that is all but decided.

Oh, and in terms of star power in the Golden State, I'll take Obama over McCain anyday. Give me a break.

Jason Carter   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

It's not really a bad argument, except that it's hard to prove and it would amount to superdelegates overthrowing the popular vote. Florida will likely go to McCain in any event due to the mess with the Democratic primary there. Ohio seems to lean more strongly towards Hillary than towards Obama, but McCain has to prove to Ohio that he can handle the economy before he can win there against either of the two. And who knows how California will go in the general election? Hillary is the favorite, but Obama has gained a lot of support there recently, and so has McCain.

Jawahar Chirimar   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

"keep slicing it till you find one tiny angle where you are CURRENTLY winning" – That is a loosing strategy.

Hillary leads in ONE vote that matters. That is the vote asking her to quit and stop humiliating herself publicly.

Tom Huntington,NY   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

At this point Hillary will say or do anythimg to get the nomination. She won New York for obvious reasons. Does any one think that New York or other so called "big states" are suddenly going to go to McCain? Hillary has lied too much in this campaign and I think most people are seeing right through it. She has no one to blame but herself. She was arrogant to the point of thinking that the nomination was hers for the asking and it would all be decided by Super Tuesday. That is why her campaign was broke and she had tgo loan it 5 million.

yogi   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

109 million guess she feels she can buy what she wants. and now she wants to buy the presidency. I use to have a lot6 of respect for hillary but now her true colors are shinning through and i do not see red white and blue.

KheperaMayet   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

This is more misdirection from the Clinton campaign.

It's like saying that if Obama is the nominee, there will somehow magickally be more Republicans than Democrats in California, but if Clinton wins the nomination there will magickally be more Democratic voters than Republican in the general election.

Only a fool would fall for this.

Joe B.   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

Team Clinton has as many theories about why she should eventually win while currently losing as President Bush had for going into Iraq. Wait....I think she should be the nominee because she has won the most Thursday primaries on odd numbered days.

Lin   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

Of cource it is more about electoral college, please be aware that there is no caucuses in general election at all, and in the general election, Obama will lose all the black states he won in the primary. Don't be kidding to think he even has a chance in Ohio or Florida.

Matt   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

We got a president the popular vote didn't want in 2000; why should we get a nominee that the popular vote doesn't want in 2008? That's directly analogous to George Bush's win, and a strong argument for electoral reform.

Chris Gromek   April 7th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

The Democrats might as well throw in the towel if their superdelegates elect the candidate who did not win the popular vote.

CognitoErgoSum   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Ah, the Clinton campaign is moving the goalposts yet again.

HSNP   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Exactly correct, Wolf. It's the November general election that really counts. Florida and Michigan will count then and Hillary Clinton is the only candidate who has stood up for their primary election concerns. There could be a backlash against the Obama campaign come November because of his attempts to suppress the primary votes in those 2 large states.

apple   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

and......

Karen   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Did I hear the governor of Peurto rico is being investigated for whatever crime? what a coincidence?

Lee WV   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Just because Hilary won those so-called big states against Obama I don't see what that has so much to do with the General election.After all the primaries put democrat against democrat.In the general election it's democrat against republican.I think that most voters that say that they will cross to the other party if their candidate is not the nominee are just blowing smoke to make a cases for their favorite.In this case popular votes and pledged delegates have to make the decision.

Fay (the Texan who voted for Obama)   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

No, its not controversial at all. She's behind and desperate and honestly, leaving a foul taste in my mouth. I just wish she would lose Pennsylvania just to see what excuse she'd come up with then!

Lori from Battle Creek, MI   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

No Way! The Electoral College doesn't matter because once she is out the majority of democrats will be behind Obama. I'd like to know one thing, Wolf, why are you going so easy on Hillary? She has had so many missteps lately and you are not hammering her like you did Obama on the Rev. Wright issue. Come on, she is totally screwing up and the media is afraid to acknowledge it.

m   April 7th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Wolf listen to the voters and the DNC. The only vote that matters is basically that of the electorate. It seems you are listening to the Clintons- which you are free to do.

Maria   April 7th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Hillary has a good point and should be considered. Everyone has to remember one thing, neither Obama or Hillary will have enough pledged deleagtes to win the nomination, you can't get around that. It then becomes of question of who is better at beating McCain in the general election and there is a lot of data to look when considering that.

I personally don't consider the popular vote or pledged delegates so much because both Obama and Clintion (at this time) are within 1-5% difference of each other.

I think there are a lot of traditional democrats like myself who would rather vote for McCaion the voye for Obama. It becomes a choice of protecting this country against a fraid such as Obama.

SA   April 7th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Wolf, can you ask the Obama campaign why they want to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants who are here unlawfully? They seem to be talking a lot about Florida and Michigan breaking the party rules. Was Sen. Obama for breaking the law before he was against it?

Carmen Cameron   April 7th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Clinton is behind in the only vote that matters: trust. Half of the electorate distrusts her. She cannot win in November. It's just that simple.

jack   April 7th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

This election is clear. Obama is leading and will continue to lead, stop this spin it is not helping!

Ed   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

I wonder if this were the other way around for Clinton and her supporters and how Hillary would react if she was ahead. There is no doubt if it were Obama making this argument she would be calling it absurd. As always it's whatever suits Hillary.

Kelce   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

People tend to forget that these are the primaries. The states won and lost are going to change drastically when it comes to the general election.

Rex in MA   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

Dear Wolf,

The whole argument of the elctoral college primary is specious. In a general election, primaries have already been held, the candidates have fully debated and the nation has voted. You do not speculate on electoral votes in the general election; either you have them or you do not. You cannot speculate that one candidate will win electoral votes in the future, when more than one party is present, because they won a primary in the past when only one party was in play.

It is also objectionable to categorize MI an FL as "wins" because there were no debates, campaign stump speeches, rallies or kissed babies in MI or FL. This was not a victory by forfeit; the game was called on account of rain. Many Obama supporters thought the vote would not count and the candidates agreed it would not count. If democracy dictates MI and FL be seated, then seat them 50/50 or at half strength like the Republicans did. The point is that MI and FL not be permitted to seat based on votes that did not have an engaged electorate in the first place nor be granted the reward of determining a winner after violating the rules. If this bad behavior is rewarded then every state is going to put the whole system in chaos by doing it too.

Camp Clinton has made a mockery of this election.

bakersfield   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

i have lived in california my whole life and i'm telling you if it is obama/mccain mccain will win. the only way the dems win california is with hillary. even with richardson as obamas vp he won't win.

BigdaddyJ Wilmington, DE   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

I swear. Only CNN (The Clinton News Network) actually believes Ms. Clinton still has a chance. Bet you all believe sniper stories and non factual medical insurance stories as well.

It's over. ENOUGH already! I guess she won't stop until she tears apart the entire Democratic party!

Wang LI   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

This is all non-sense...

Tim R in Golden, Colorado   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

I think Clinton's high negative ratings, nearly 1/2 the people in the country, are a more important barometer of how things would go in the general election.

Obama has been taking the high road and not doing negative campaigning (unlike Hillary), but that will not be the case in a general election. All the Clinton laundry will come out again and she wouldn't stand a chance.

Obama has a very real chance of beating McCain and is likely to capture the large blue states in a general election.

Gregory X. Townsend   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

Raising the bar again is Clinton, After ever bad golf shot I like to be like Clinton's camp and get a do over not matter where my ball ends up.., that way I can keep hitting it without penalities until it ends up where I need it to be to win.

Cat, Costa Mesa, CA   April 7th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

Silly democrats, always trying to change the rules.

In 2000 everyone screamed for the popular vote to be counted, and now the clintons are lobbying for it to the electoral vote. How about we keep the rules the same, everyone abides by them, and the person with the most electoral votes wins...just like always!!

Reality check #1   April 7th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

Clinton is the better nominee and the only candidate that will be able to beat McCain. Obama is basically unelectable, he has been caught in too many untruths, alot of which are in print in his book, even going so far as to not tell the truth about his own parents. Also, there is the problem with his pastor that is not going to go away. And then the words of Michelle Obama , both out of her month and in college papers. That will never go away. The Clintons have been accussed of many things but not being patriotic is not one of them, the Clintons dearly love this country. The Obama's feelings for this country have been in question during the entire nomination procedure. That is not the makings of a President. Democrats will vote for McCain in record numbers if Obama gets the nomination, I am one of them.

m   April 7th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

Wolf please don't be tarnishing you the good reputation you had built up over the years with this sort of norrow unobjective article of question. Wolff your views are too narrow and out of place.

Mike   April 7th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

I can say this being neutral because I am voting for McCain. Who ever has the most should be the nominee. Just because if the one with the lesser wins, it will divide the party. However at the same time. Dems keep this up. I enjoy the side show watching you divide your party is a beautiful thing to me.

Jason   April 7th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

enough already. I can still win if I only count this, or that, or move the goal post, or what if I lie? Or, what if I fire my campaign manager for the 2nd time, another ridiculous 3am ad might help. I was under sniper fire though does that help? What if I said I was a normal everyday person, oh wait I maid 109million in five years, crap that won't work. Please just stop, I used to respect you.

Scott   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

clinton or mccain? its up to the dnc.
bowling green, mo

Law Chung   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

That is a ridiculous argument. You can't change the rules in the middle of the game and twist things around that are purely speculative (Clinton has a better chance of winning in very blue states like NY and CA). Any democrat is likely to take the "big states" that Clinton has won so far, and recent polls in CA indicate that Obama is ahead in CA of Clinton anyways. Her supporters will say anything to twist the story in their favor but the fact remains that Obama has MORE STATES WON, MORE PLEDGED DELEGATES, and MORE POPULAR VOTE. No denying that.

Rich Marmura, Pittsburgh PA   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

Only the Clinton News Network could actually put something like this out as an actual news story. Barack Obama is winning in terms of pledged delegates, states won and the popular vote. Additionally, he is quickly closing in on Superdelegates.

The Clinton campaign continually changes the win-condition and CNN seems to be more than happy to play along.

joeeeeeeeeeeeeeee   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

Most of these anchors are on Clintons payroll. Does anyone remember this guy Pushing Hillary down our throat last year, till people started calling CNN Clinton News Network? They are afraid of their carreers but change is coming to America. Give it up wolf!

Henry Miller, Cary, NC   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

It's become fairly apparent that Clinton doesn't want to be President so much as she wants to win the election, and she's apparently willing to do absolutely anything to win. Her motive is obviously ego rather than any desire to do good things for the country.

Bruce   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

I am 53 years old and have never voted for a Democrat in a presidential election. If Hillary is the nominee, that string will be intact. If Obama is nominated, sorry Mcain, I have to go the other way. Multiply that by a lot of other like minded voters and tell me what that does to "the only count that matters"

An Agnostic Democrat   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

What other D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-E argument are they going to try? This woman can't even run a decent campaign or manage her campaign finances and we're supposed to trust her in the general and potentially to run our country?! That is one big, fat NO!!! She's the most underqualified (and dishonest) candidate that just happens to be female.

Eric   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

This is ludicrous. The Clinton campaign changes its mind about what is “crucial” to being elected whenever it suits them. Pretty soon they will say that it's the number of primaries won on Thursdays that should decide the primaries.

ChicoSez   April 7th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

The left wing of the dem party has a hard time acknowledging that Obama, for all his virtues, is unelectable due to Rev Wright. Sad but true that this friendship that was so necessary for Obama to win over black support for his state senate bid should make him unelectable in a national election. Obama may get 50% of the dem primary vote and the nomination but he'll lose 35 to 40 states to McCain. I'll be ther to say I told you so too. Another dem for McCain or Hillary.

Renee /Expat Winterthur Switzerland   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

I am amazed daily by the new "count theories" the Clinton campaign comes up with! The Europeans are laughing at (us)her and scratching their heads asking themselves how can we possibly go around to other countries trying to force the very same democracy down their throats; that we ourselves cannot seem to follow!

She is behind in every count that matters! Including what "counts" to the American people in general.....honesty, integrity and loyalty within and to ones party!

Linda Flayton   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Clinton."s argument is a last ditch effort to influence those super delegates who have not as yet jumped on the Obama ship. Previously Democratic states, such as New York will vote Democratic no matter who the candidate is. Obama, however, has made inroads into those "Red States' and may., indeed, carry them in November. Thus, he will lead in the presumed Electoral votes, popular vote and pledged delegate vote. Hillary needs to brush up on her math skills!

Mike in PA   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

That's just ridiculous. Pledged delegates are what counts. Enough with the Clintons moving the goal posts.

sandy   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

George Bush won that election because he clearly stole it from Al Gore. Does McCain plan on doing the same to Obama? Or does Clinton think that she is a bigger crook than McCain. This may be why she is making this argument that only she can beat McCain. This year is going to be a revolution and I am hoping that America is ready for it. This dirty politics will no longer work.

Zac in Austin   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

It's speculation to say Obama can't win in Florida or Ohio....besides, if it is based on electoral the candidates wouldn't need to campaign around the nation, nor would we need to await the people's vote.

Simply have a 4 state runoff-New York, California, Florida, Texas...

I'm sure the Clinton supporters will cry that they won 3 of the 4...but ANY Democrat will win New York, and maverick moniker or not, I'd say Obama has the edge over McCain in California...

Yet more scrambling by the Clinton supporters...trying to find a way to squeeze into the white house...evenwhile not being the people's vote.

Why is Michigan lumped with Florida? Obama wasn't even on the ballot.

Shinons   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

There is no low those crooks won't sink to. And Blitzer is just as bad for so consistently being such a weasel to their talking points. Call it for what it is – they will make any claim they can to win the nomination, even if it means trying to steal delegates Obama already won.

Frank   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

In the General, it's the Electoral College votes that count. However, in the Primary (which we are in) it's the DELEGATES that count! How many times and how many ways is Mrs. Clinton going to try to change the rules of the party?

Now to FL and MI, Sen. Obama AND Mrs. Clinton "SIGNED" a Pledge that the FL and MI votes would Not count. I guess this shows how much it means when Mrs. Clinton puts her Signature on a Pledge, Nothing!

Dream Ticket No   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Wolf,

I suggest you go back to Civics 101. This is a primary election, and the only count that matters is the delegate count. Once again, Barack is following the rules and Clinton and her supporters, like you Wolf, are hedging.

And stop talking about a dream ticket. The only person a dream ticket helps is Hillary and why should we help her, she supported McCain. We want her out of our sight because she's bad news. Send her to China, she has more in common with their government than ours.

America & Barack 08

China & Hillary 0-Never

Matthew Lee   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

What is the next Clinton metric for electabilty? Who lies the most?

Keep moving the goal post Clintons!

Blitzer; you are not serious for bringging this nonsense up.

There are more newsworthy news.

Mandy, California   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Why are we changing the rules in teh middle of the game?

Why are we giving the Clinton campaign the authority to even suggests new rules in the middle fo the game?

Idaho Jjake   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

That's the stupidest argument yet. The Clinton campaign is dabling in prophecy now. Good luck with that.

Holly   April 7th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

She'll just try anything...lies, making up "rules" and excuses as the wind shifts. There was a time I felt sorry for her- now all I feel is disqust!

The O   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Hillary's rural city supporters hvae noone to blame but them selfs if John MCcain becomes the President. If they do not vote for OBAMA in the General Elections. Just becuase Hillary lost. You will see more jobs lost more soldiers killed and maybe A war In Iraq, Which we don't need

WAKE UP PEOPLE

DEMS 08

MMA503TeamQuest   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

LMFAO.. sorry to say, Electorial College don't matter in the primary. Nice argument though.

If that was the case, the superdelegates would be going for Clinton not Obama right now. But funny how Obama has picked up around 69 supers since February and Clinton a net loss of 2 supers.

b-liberal   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

After all is said and done, the November election needs to be won. people lose sight of that. Hillary is the one to do just that. That is how the general election works.

Thank you Mr.Blitzer for going beyond petty fighting and bowling photo-ops. Now this is a real dicussion! Very brave of you also to go against the formula of simple Hillary bashing.

Tim Rivard   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Please! That is just plain silly, I don't know how else to describe it! It is the ONE way to look at it, where she may hold an advantage, and that is to say that states like New York would ONLY choose Clinton over McCain, because New York & McCain obviously go togther like peas & carrots. Give me break. At this point she is trying everything to justify victory by the super-delegate elite w/in the party of the people. Almost as disgusting as her right of entitlement. Even if she does get the nod, it will be severly tainted.

GO OBAMA!!!

Daniel   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Wolf, the Clinton camp will find all kinds of excuses and reasons. Even if you want to decide it by electoral votes, as she ignorantly argues, who actually won Texas? She is counting Texas as if she won Texas. Texas had a two-step approach. Overall, Obama won Texas. Would she count that as part of the electoral college delegates for Obama and not hers? She is a liar and a big cheat indeed.

NoBodybeleivesyouHillaryEvil   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Wolf you are one low life stupid man. Last month you were talking about the Florida and Michgan untile people were sick hearing it. Now here you go agiain with you stupid baias Electoral College votes crap
who do you think will listen to your stupid report, American people are way smart than that. I just hope some day you and Lou Dobbs fired form CNN.

Hayden   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Right on! Hillary is ahead in the only count that matters while Obama is ahead in the only count that doesn't matter.

How does Obama expect to win in November against a Republican, when he can't even win any big states against another Democrat?

Cnn...post my comments!

Hillary 08

Sue from Ga.   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Another way for Clinton and her cronies to steal this election.

No Dream Ticket   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Wolf,

I suggest you go back to Civics 101. This is a primary election, and the only count that matters is the delegate count. Once again, Barack is following the rules and Clinton and her supporters, like you Wolf, are hedging.

And stop talking about a dream ticket. The only person a dream ticket helps is Hillary and why should we help her, she supported McCain. We want her out of our site because she bad news. Send her to China, she has more in common with their government than ours.

America & Barack 08

China & Hillary 0-Never

Let's get it right   April 7th, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Wolfe,
Is this your 'not so subtle" way of continuing to promote the false hope that Hillary will win? Counting electoral college votes at this point makes absolutely no sense....much like most of your commentary.

John Mencias   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

There is an easy way to judge this. What was Clinton's camp saying one month ago, two months ago, 6 months ago, 12 months ago?

There is another point to be made. If at the beginning of it all, Obama and the others were told that the nominee would be determined by who won the most electoral college votes, don't you think he would have ran a different campaign strategy?

You cannot change the rules in the middle of the game; because then someone can well argue as follows: the nominee should be who has the least number of delegates, the least number of popular votes and the least number of electoral college votes. what could justify this citerion? this is the person who democrats prefer least and hence the one that republicans have a better chance of liking. sounds stupid? well that's what happens when you can make up the rules to suit yourself.

James M.   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

In the Primary nomination season, it is all about the delegates. In the general election, it is all about the electoral college. These are separate elections with completely isolated terms from one another. Therefore, arguing Hillary's abilities to win the general election based upon results on the primaries and caucuses is not relevant. Pro Hillary supporters need to get a grasp of reality and just admit that she lost...fair and square. But hey, let her keep running...let her keep spending all of that money for an election she simply cannot and should not win.

K. Jacobs   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

Wolf, . Hillary is behind in the Delegate Count, Popular vote, and number
of states won. Ed Rendell and other Clinton supporter's twisted logic on the vote counting will not change that fact.

Jeri from Hummelstown PA   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

She keeps trying to change the rules midgame. No, the electoral college doesn't matter at this point. If every vote counts, why does she keep trying to ignore all the states, and their votes, that Obama has won by some wild reason or another? And her claim that pledged delegates can switch is another wild tale. While it may technically be true, if she were to win the nomination by twisting arms of pledged delegates who were pledged to Obama, won by votes cast for Obama, those voters who had their delegate stolen would vote for McCain in a heartbeat. Better to have a republican than a thief!

Chriss Miller   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

Electors are not elected until the general election. Primaries are indicative of nothing related to that.

Sukebe   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

What are the rules to win the nomination. That should be deciding factor instead of differing ideas. Just follow whatever rules are in place.

maya   April 7th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

Bottomline – untill Florida and Michigan count, all estimates are out the window because nothing is valid. Superdelegates should vote as if Florida and Michigan were counted and select Hillary Clinton.

becky   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

If she can not come in one door she will make up another...

Nunya   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

LOL. Most amusing, most amusing.

We can declare victory if we win on Super Tuesday...

Hmm... the real test will be winning Ohio and Texas...

Hmm... the person with the most votes should win...

Wait... the person with the biggest states should win...

Yea, I've got it! The person winning the states with the most electoral votes should win! Yea, that's the ticket!

They really don't need to go through such pathetic contortions.

The bulk of the superdelegates are just waiting for them to have enough success that they have a shred of justification for declaring their support for her and don't alienate large numbers of the supporters of the person who seems to be favored by more of the populace.

michael, ny   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Really?

Why dont you say this: "Obama has to win by the standard I set. Unfortunately for him, I want to win too. So, no matter the number of ways he wins by my standards, I wil always pull another standard that he has not won by and will not. "

It is sad, racism is still alive in this country. I dont think Obama would have to go through all these redefining of the rules if he were white. But again, like in Business, the black guy has to always work harder to get the same treatment. It is heart breaking to say the least.

Fortunately, the new generation gives me hope.

dorothy   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Hillary Clinton, no she is not ahead with the only States that count. and Florida, and Michigan votes do not count, because they were in Violated the Rules, and Barack Obama, was not on the Ballot in Michigan. The Voters are still want a President that has Character, the ability to bring ALL Races, Economical background Together for Change in This FAILED NATION! We want Honesty and Transparency!

Dorothy
OK
,

tony, Mount Vernon, NY   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Super delegates need to think hard about who willl win the general election. Will Obama win some of those big states in the general election like New York and California, sure, but he loses in key swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida in matchups with McCain. His camp says that's true but there are states that are leaning toward Democrats this season that didn't in the past and if he wins those states he won't need those traditional swing states.

I say Obama's claims about a new map of swing states is conjecture. Traditional swing states are proven and if Hillary can win them we know she'll beat McCain vs. Obama's supposed swing state map, which may or may not happen. I think the choice is clear: If you want a winner in November you super delegates should get behind Hillary.

There's something else that isn't getting a lot of attention and that's the popular vote. If Hillary wins the popular vote, and that includes Florida and Michigan, why should super delegates vote for Obama? The DNC can decide what to do about seating Florida and Michigan delegates but there's no disputing that those people went out to vote and they voted resoundingly for Hillary. They're live people so I don't see why their votes shouldn't count. Republicans win votes by supressing votes not democrats.

If Obama wins by a few delegates and gets the nomination because Florida and Michigan don't count he'll have literally stollen the election and won it by making sure those voters aren't heard. Then for sure he'll lose those states and probablly more in the general election for his actions.

Think about it: if Dean wants to come up with a resolution, Clinton wants a resolution, Florida and Michigan want a resolution, so why don't we have one? One answer: Sen. Obama.

Mary56   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Are they going to come up with a new plan everyday. Why not just follow the rules? I guess if they did follow the rules we would not still be talking about Florida and Michigan everyday . The Clintons will do anything to win even if they are the only two left standing. They do not care about the party or this country. I can't believe how much I supported them in the past.

Roy   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

The General Election is all that matters here! We have to win the White House! The Obama supporter have to see this eventually! Hillary is the only Candidate the Democrates have who can beet McCain! Obama should realy think about that dream ticket or he may loose this thing for the Democrates!

Lana   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Oh puleeze....why don't we call the Psychic Friends hotline also, especially if the Electoral College "arguement" doesn't pan out.

Sheesh!

ben   April 7th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

i am a neutral democrat and i am afraid its true BARACK OBAMA has some serious problem coz he is unable to win a big state so i do feel it would be better for our chances that we nominate hillary clinton may be she is not likeable but she is the strongest candidate and she'll make a good president and i dont care abt her personal life coz i am in no lovefest with her!!

Clintonite   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Face it OBAMA LOST SOULS...You cannot win the election..

You have no star power

Hillary 08!

clinton muehlenbrock   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

big bunch of bull, those speculations are not democratic at all. You will lose a whole generation of voters if you try to steal the nomination clinton

SamofCarolina   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Many people are reading this article going and thinking..."This makes no sense, everyone knows Obama will when those big states, why is CNN writing this?"

Well, remember, CNN is here to keep you watching, and the longer this drags out, the better.

Sherwin   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

If we're making such technical, selective-reasoning arguments, then here are two rebuttals:

(A) Most of the big states that Clinton won were won by less than 5% of the state's popular vote, so it's not like the Democratic party will be losing any ground in those states if Obama is the candidate come November.

(B) TECHNICALLY, CLINTON LOST TEXAS, so her data is wrong.

jrzshor   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Gore was popular but still lost (he did win lots of other prizes though) So, point well taken.

Too bad that no one cares. They have declared a winner and they are sticking to him!

arizona gal   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

It is a ridiculous argument that will not work with all the regular, non-super delegate people, voters. Michigan and Florida should stop whining since they caused their problems themselves. If Obama has the delegate count and popular vote he should be the nominee. Period.

Crystal Mitchell   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Clinton camps sounds desperate, sounds like they are trying to cover something here. Last week, she was trying to go all the way, now today she's trying a new stratgey. What are they trying to beat. Something big is about to hit for her camp and she's trying to brace herself. That's why she's say there are more twists and turns to come. This Penn thing is just the tip of a iceberg. Don't be fooled. If she could win they would have pushed for this long ago. This is a smoke screen. All along it was the superdelegates now that doesn't count it's the electoral college votes, it's whatever it takes. Whatever story fits the bill today. Tomorrow we will be back to popular votes. If Obama was in this same state, they would have forced him out. No questions asked. We as the American people would have had to accept it. The Clintons are trying to take this Primary the same way Bush took the Presidency from Kerry. But we as the American people can stand up and say no more. Clinton has proved that she can't run a campaign without lies, cheating, stealing, drama and under handed double dealing. This is why we are in the position that we are in now allowing these politians to do whatever they want . Why do you think they want it so bad ? Not for you and I, I would say for another 109 million. STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!!!

Rob Ceres   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

The many new voters who came out to support Barack Obama are not going to go for this argument. If this becomes the reasoning behind selecting Hillary Clinton, most if all of these voters will, at best, melt away. More likely, they will migrate to John McCain. The loss of these new and very energetic voters would be the worst thing to happen to the Democratic Party ever. Super delegates up for reelection should note how much their campaigns will be helped when (but only if) these new Democratic voters show up and also vote for them..

DM Arlington, TX   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Hold off all you Clinton haters, HIllary Clinton never said she would be honest, she never said she would tell you the truth, nor did she say she only hires honest people.

For free trade she have Mark Penn.

For housing for closure she have Maggie Williams

Neither of the two are honest or trustworthy so they fit well in the Clinton Campaign.

So Again Hold Off. Peter Paul Vs Hillary Clinton.

tb   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Obama could win some of the states he lost initially if there were re-votes now, so the argument doesn't completely add up. Everyone gets another chance to vote on the war and economy and when one is selected it will be Dems against the GOP. The Dems will rally together to get rid of the right.

Not_Fooled   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Well of course she's going to make that argument. She's cherry-picking the one catagory she leads in and is trying to say that one area alone should decide the candidacy. It's also a fancy way of saying the guys in the little states don't matter.

If the tables were turned and she was ahead in the popular vote but had lost the big states, would she be making the same argument?

Clintonfighter08!!   April 7th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

To be honest,

Hillary Clinton has the best chance to win this presidential election.

McCain is going to swiftboat OBAMA with Rev. Wright..

Obama has won the most redest of all states..
States in the general election he cannot win..

Hillary 08!!

DemocraticBaron   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

I don't understand the argument that the Clinton campaign keeps making. They won in these states AMONG DEMOCRATS. Since Clinton does not get many of the republicans who cross over to vote democrat, the other demographic she has won among is DEMOCRATS. Most, a very large percentage, of these democrats in these "crucially important" states will vote democrat in the general, irrelevant of the nominee because of 2 reasons:

1) many polls indicate that many democrats are satisfied with both candidates
2)It seems that this election season, the country is swinging more to liberal side.

So when presented with the option between a Candidate with little economic policy knowledge (Mccain) and one who does (Clinton OR obama) most of these voters will vote for the democrat.

The argument, then is USELESS.

Adam from Chicago   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Another twist? I think so.

When will we realize that our Democratic nomination system is HORRIBLE? Only our twisted system would allow Hillary to twist the rules EVERY time in her favor.

As far as swing states go...

Here is an example of this logic... Hillary won by 3 percent... that means Obama has no chance in the general election.

She could win these states against Obama, and loose them HORRIBLY in the general election to McCain.

**This logic holds NO MERIT**

Most Democrats will go with the democratic nominee. END OF STORY!

United democrats   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Then why not we do the primary in large states only?
You can't change the rules in the middle of the game. There is no reason for Obama not to win NY or California

Adam   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

She is 100% correct. Obama will not beat John Mcain unless he is a Vice Presidential Candidate on Hillary's team! Go Hillary

Jack   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS:

CLINTON WON TEXAS PRIMARY BUT OBAMA WON TEXAS CAUCUS. SO IT SHOULD BE 17/17 SPLIT.

CURRENT ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

CLINTON – 202
OBAMA – 219

IF CLINTON WINS
PA – 21
IN – 11
KY – 8
WV – 5

THE TOTAL FOR CLINTON IS 202 + 45 = 247

IF OBAMA WINS
NC – 15
OR – 7
MT – 3
SD – 3

THE TOTAL FOR OBAMA IS 219 + 28 = 247

THEY WILL BE TIED WOLF. DON'T LET CLINTON SPIN THE MEDIA.

K.C   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

We have heard all sorts of arguments from the Clinton's camp why she should be the nominee.

In January they couldn't wait to have this nomination wrapped up been the frontrunner back then.

Today, everyday they come up with why she should be the nominee and still they say the want every vote to count, Still she was ready from day one.

Please, let this election goes it cause and Wolf try and be objective and stop following blind people writing stupid articules like this.

She can can not beat little know Obama in a primary decisively and all we hear is aguments. rPlease, let everyone know that there will be not argument against MaCain in November. You either win and loss. Period. She is not a Winner

JohnJlws   April 7th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Oh, please. Is Clinton trying to redefine the spelling of the word "desperate" or what? The winner is the one with the most votes, Bush Jr. Go away with a little dignity already, Britney; oops, I mean Paris; oops, I mean Bill and Hill.

Enrique   April 7th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

It's all spin. Hillary is desperate.

Eric   April 7th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

That's ridiculous. Do you honestly believe NY and CA would flip because Hillary didn't get the nomination? There only controversy is deciding just how asinine the argument is.

Steve   April 7th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

Will you please just be honest Wolf and declare yourself a Hillary supporter. If there is a way to turn anything around for her you will do it. If Obama wins the nomination on the first ballot I expect you will have a story about why this is actually a win for Hillary. I can't imagine how you will do it but I have faith that in your imaginative little way you will spin it like that. You should start prefacing everything .. " the best political team for Clinton around". By the way, if you do just come out and say you are for Clinton – the viewers will respond .."duh".

John in San Diego   April 7th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

Forget about which states have been "swing states" in the past. Obama has demonstrated that he can attract enthusiastic voters in droves – at the polls where it counts. He is going to re-draw the red/blue map in November.

Nick   April 7th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

One thing is evident. Clinton supporters are not going to vote for Obama, and African-Americans are not going to vote for Clinton.
Most of voters are not going to vote for Obama because of his church and his affiliation with his pastor.
Frankly I don't see any patriotic American voting for Obama.
McCain is going to be a new president....

NathanK   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

The notion that Hillary supporters in states like New York and California will take a Republican over Obama in the general election is ludicrous.

grant   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

If hillary had all the votes, she would want that to count. She is the one who signed on with the two states and then ran in both. while the other guys didn't.

Tell the demoRATS t stop blaming the govern of Floriday for pushing the schedule vote up, why don't they say something about the michigan vote. who has a demoRAT governer

teresa c   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

Hilary will win and you good old boys in the media will find yourself lost??? don't kid yourselves here of course she will win.

Saad from NJ   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

Eventually, Yes. But this nomination has gotten so turn off-i-shee that common sense rules don't apply anymore.

kim portland, oregon   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

hey bayh and rendell--there's this group of americans, you may have heard of them before, they're called THE PEOPLE!!! political choices are SUPPOSED TO BE made by them, not politicians!

Ryan P.   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

Wow. Aren't those Senators supposed to work on something productive instead of trying to find an edge that is nonexistent. Look, HRC had the all kinds of advantages before the race started and I honestly thought that Obama had no chance before Super Tuesday. It is not that HRC fumbled so much but Obama campaign beat hers sound and fair. Why does HRC continuously try to distort the system to her advantages?

Fonzi   April 7th, 2008 4:42 pm ET

The so called "big" states New York,California,Florida (until recently) have always voted democratic and will vote for any democrat running against a republican in November with or without Hillary. Hillary won these states in these primaries simply because of name recognition.Come November they will still vote democratic with or without Hillary. In contrast, Obama has won states that often go republican. If Hillary could not win these states in the primaries it is remotely likely she will win them against a republican come November.Putting all these together Obama stands an exceedingly better chance to beat McCain come November than Hillary does.Q.E.D..

Stan   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

I have been making this point with my friends since February. Obama won Utah Primary but Dems have no chance there in November. He also won some Southern States that will go to McCain in November. Therefore, the state count does not really matter. Hillary has a chance to win Ohio, Penn and Florida in the general election, states that will really matter. She is the better candidate anyway.

R. Menendez, Albany, CA   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

This sounds like Bill Clinton logic – a desperate and fallible argument.

Look Bill, it's time to face some facts and redirect your mental prowess towards some sound reasoning. The only way you're going to get to frolic around the White House again is to convince your wife to cut a deal and go for the VP slot soon, before the window of opportunity closes. Surely you can see the sensibility behind this approach.

Sooooooon Bill! Before it is too late.

Walaur   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Blitzer,
When you spend your time to put this thing out there you should have a reel conclusion: a real purpose.
What are you implying?
Stop to spend your time on argumentation and non-argumentation at the same time.
You want to be busy please say things that matter.
I like you but sometimes you want to ovoid to take a side .Thus your point become non-sense.
Please say what you think and/or present both sides with conclusion.

Sylvia Johnsen, Oslo Norway   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Hillary 08 is the best:
– Commander-in-Chief-candidate,
– Health-and-School-candidate,
– Economics-and-Jobs-candidate. and yes – even the best
– Black-candidate

Hillary met with reverend Martin Luther King as a young churchgoing activist. Her career on point is a history of achievement. Hillary Clinton is simply the best candidate!

You might not like her, but she'll make US proud and salvage the world from present disaster, courtasy of the very "likable" politician, President George W. Bush.

James, Cleveland Ohio   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Wolf, so much for independant journalism, maybe you should interview for Mark Penn's position it is available

Mischelle from Illinois   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

It is about time someone on CNN made some sense. You must not like kool-aid very much Wolf! She is and always has been more electable than Obama. This will be the case in the end!

chuck   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Everyone knows exactly what is going to happen. If Barack Hussein Obama gets the democratic nomination, it is a guarantee that the Republicans will win the white house again. America is so caught up in that noone wants to be known as racist, that people are saying not what they believe, but what they think is politically correct. In a voting booth out of the spotlight politically correct thinking goes right out the window. Let's not be naive.

Kevin   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Clinton does have a point. I mean, winning a state's primary automatically means you win the votes of that state in the electoral college.

mendoza   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

once again the clintons are making up new rules that have nothing to do with the contest that is taking place now. She looks pretty sad!

Darcy - Arkansas   April 7th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Obama would make the better president. I would vote for Obama. IF he does not get the nomination I will have to vote against McCain, therefore Hillary would get my vote and I will feel we did not get the best president but more of the same politics that got us into this mess. My HOPE for change would be lost to the Clinton machine.
I sincerely hope she does not emerge as the winner of the nomination.

Baffled   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Perhaps this is another instance of her changing her position on an issue in a way that will best benefit her and her quest for power at all costs.

Her previous stance regarding the Electoral College (and which can be found in archived news articles if you search) was expressed in 2000 while the country awaited the word on who would become president. She stated, ""We are a very different country than we were 200 years ago. I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it's time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president."

Interesting that her tune has once again changed. People need to know this!

Independent Voter   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Why does the Clinton Campaign need to change the goal post every second? The Presidency is all about integrity, honesty and of course judgement of which the Clinton Campaign do not have. If Clinton cannot WIN the Democratic Primary, what makes the Campaign thinks they can win the General Election. Why does the Democratic Party has to send its losing team to go and play in the Final two?

kp   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

This is pure nonsense. When Obama is the nominee, the big states that Hillary won will support him. I think the 24/7 news nuts are just filling in air time with their usual stupidity and made up controversy.

Don Badgley   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Hillary's argument about Electoral College votes in major states makes sense only if she runs against Obama in the general election. When desperate.... default to the absurd! CNN should call it what it is: desperate.

anthony s.   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Aren't we all just tired of Clinton trying to find ways to argue that she should win the super delegates? I understand you will do and say anything to win (as Clinton has done), but it gets to a point that the argument is too pathetic. Obama is winning the heart of America, no matter how many obstacles and controversy that they throw his way...may be he should just win on those grounds!

Grant Devereaux   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

I think it is about shoe size. The Person with the smallest shoe size should get the nomination. Yeah – that's the ticket!

The first time I played Candyland with my 3 year old daughter, she made up the rules as she went along. Hillary seems to be doing the same thing.

Joe -New Jersey   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Blitzer is a bias pseudo journalist who might as well pin a "Vote for Hillary" button on his label.

Greg in La   April 7th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

All this spinning is making my head dizzy....

Ray   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Although I'm fed up with CNN's biased coverage against Senator Clinton lately, I'll have to give this a positive response and say I'm glad Wolf is airing it. Yes, it is true the Clinton's are making this case, and the case goes back to the issue of who has won big in primary states and who has won in open caucus states. In primary states, many of them huge states in terms of population, Senator Clinton has shown she can pull out the Democratic base and Independents to win the vote. In caucus states, Senator Obama has shown he can pull out Independent. However, these are small states that are clearly going to vote Republican in the general election anyway. And, if they do vote for Obama in the general election, they won't give enough delegates for the party to win enough delegates to win the election. Senator Clinton clearly has the edge by winning the big states. The argument is a sound and fair one the Obama people have to accept. Of course, they will argue the election has been stolen from them. Then again, they aren't Democrats anyway, so what does it matter what they think. If they really want the war to end and the economy to improve, they will overlook the issue of whether it is Obama or Clinton and vote for Senator Clinton as the Democrat.

Paris Prince   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

The Electoral College tally chooses the President. It's True

Carl from Pa   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

This is one of the silliest ways of measuring who is ahead. Firstly, this is an election among only democrates and so it is not in any way a predictor of who would carry those states in November. Secondly, this contest is about delegates both pledged and super. If Hillary wants every vote to count and for every state to have its say, then why would her campaign suggest that the delegetes overturn not only the popular vote but also those whom they represent to elect her based on this "electoral" number?

Honesly, I can't see how more people can't see the rediculousness of all of this.

richard   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Mccain win New York and/or California on a pro-war policy? Not likely.

L. Stephenson   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Oh my gosh. Has hell frozen over or something? I haven't seen 1 Obama headline in your articles today. The last time I considered voting for Obama was when I actually saw a photo taken where he appeared to have a halo (background lighting). I actually voted for Hillary in the primary – wasn't too excited about her then and am even less so now. Too bad they can't take all the millions of dollars they have collected to advertise their campaigns and maybe do something worthwile with it, like say, feed some starving American children or something. Why do we even bother having a president, anyway?

EVELYN   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

First it was all about delegates, then it was all about super delegates, then it was about popular votes. Now it's about electoral votes. Does Hillary get to keep choosing a way to count till she finds one that puts her ahead? I've never seen anyone so convinced she is owed this nomination that they would make up new rules every month to fit the current situation.

Tyrone Brown, Seattle, WA   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

We can add the current spin from the Clinton campaign to the list of unfortunate notions being pushed by the Clinton campaign. Notions like:

- the smaller so called "activist" states don't count
- South Carolina doesn't matter because Jesse Jackson won in '84
- First Lady (or First Gentlemen that matter) experience qualifies one to be President of the United States
- Obama should run as Vice President

...and now, that it is all about the electoral college.

Barack Obama is edging closer to winning the Democratic nomination. Why? Because he is running a brilliant campaign, has tapped into the "heart and mind" of the average American and represents the very best of what our country has to offer.

Obama '08

Tyrone Brown
37th Legislative District / State Delegate
Seattle, Washington

Mick   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Why is it so complicated?
One Person – One Vote
Or have we given up on Democracy?

John in Virgina   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Even if that is the case, Obama's numbers are still far more than McCain's in those states. It doesn't mean that the general election will be the same as the primary; there will be some degree of crossover. But McCain will need to do something to really mobilize voters to compete with those numbers as they stand. It is a definite concern.

Deb   April 7th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Yes!

Obama is no longer a viable candidate-he can't win in the General Election and if we had known, what we know now, he wouldn't have made it this far-he would have been knocked out after Super Tuesday.

Gav   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

If they were to do cali over again Obama would win hands down.

Kodiak   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

That is just about the most ridiculous thing I've heard since the notion that caucuses shouldn't really count. My question is, when Sen. Obama moves ahead in 'electoral' votes, where does her argument go from there? I've seen her surrogate's peddling this lately, and it seems just as stupid every time I hear it. Do they really think that if they say it enough, it will magically come true?

margry   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

Hillary is our only hope. No way can Obama win the general election. They will tear him to pieces. Vote Hillary all the way!

Gerardo in Los Angeles   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

This new argument by the Clinton camp is hollow, as the rest of their campaign. Any Democrat candidate stands a big chance of wining California and New York. This primary has become annoying and absurd, the Clinton argument boils down to this: I should be the nominee because no matter how many states, pledge delegates, or votes Barack Obama actually gets, I am just better. Please, grow up and accept the fact that you ran a poor camp gain and are simply paying the price for your incompetence.

Miguelito   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

First its the delegates, then its the popular vote (with MI and FL of course), then its the superdelegates, now its only the big swing states!!!

Hillary can't make up her mind about whats the most important metric so she keeps making up new ones where she could get ahead.

The people are tired of this and the polls in PA are representative of it.

Tex   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

It's not controversial, Wolf. It just plain stupid! Hillary's campaign is melting down.

Lucio, from NYC   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

what an absurd argument.

might as well, count up states whose borders have less than 3 right angles

HELLO, Hillary campaign!!! it's time to drop out, and rally behind our candidate.

Angel   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

This is a joke the Clinton Camp will say anything.

Obama 08 enough said.

Robb   April 7th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

Hilary is trying yet another way to try to convince people that she's not losing. She has less pledged delegates, has won less states, and is losing the popular vote. How pathetic, the electoral college means nothing in a primary. John McCain won primaries in states too, it doesn't mean he will win those same states in a general election. What is she going to say next. SAD, SAD, SAD!

White, Female Boomer for Obama   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

Again trying to change the rules...PLEDGED DELEGATES!! She won against a democrat!!

What credibility does she have either at home or on the world stage when she wants the rules changed, lies to look better and can't run a campaign??

Go Hillary   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

I hope this will get posted because most of mine never do. I guess all you want to hear is Hillary-bashing.....Anyway, I'm surprised this article was published here. This is very true and democrats need to begin realizing it.

P.S. I'm so glad the Obama supporters can finally shut up about the taxes...Are you all happy, she released them? and the Clintons have paid their fair share of taxes.

Go Pennsylvanians, do the right thing! Vote for the candidate that can beat McCain – that's Hillary!

Louis   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

Earth to Clinton supporters: Your candidate will come up with any rationale to justify superdelegate support. If Obama now wins more big states, Clinton will then say she should be nominated because her hair is longer.

Jack in NH   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

contoversial? The primary is decided by delegates. The Clinton camp repeatedly moves the goalposts. The competitors don't determine the goalposts. You start the event with a set of rules.

She shows her colors by how she "reasons" in the primary. It isn't pretty. Now she has us thinking she respects the Democratic Party rules the same way GHB respects the Constitution.

Delegates – win the delegates! If you want to change the rules, there was a time for that. There will be another. It isn't in the middle of the contest. It isn't when you are losing.

I was a fan of the Clintons...before this campaign.

Tom   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

The rules indicate that the only thing that matters is who has more delegate. Based on my counting Obama will have more delegates when it is all over.

The nomination process is over. Lets focus on McCain. not each other.

Jim Saxon   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

Well, let’s see:
We started with the rule that whoever gets the most delegates wins
We moved on to most states
Then there was popular vote
Then only the states that Clinton had won actually matter
Now, it’s the electoral college.

What is next? Number of women in USA? Number of poor Whites?
How about whoever the last Democratic President supports?
Or why not actually take a poll of the lobbyists in Washington – that would really decide this once for all!

Fred TN   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

The bottom line is, she's not ahead in the popular votes and that's what determines the nominee. I think it's high time for Hillary to face up to some interesting music; the writing is on the wall!

Sue   April 7th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

This is the most specious argument they've made so far. You can't make predictions about the general from the primaries. Obama will obviously take most, if not all the blue states. He'll also be competitive in a lot of purple states and open up the west for the democrats. The Clinton campaigns smacks of desperation and it is very tiresome!

Elana, Melbourne Florida   April 7th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

she is a joke. Of course Cali and NY will remain "blue" Maybe she should just say that all states that begin with an "A" don't matter, or if the number of Obama's votes in any particular state was an odd number, it shouldn't count, etc... desperation is an ugly place and the American public is smarter than she gives us credit for. That is the true insult of her campaign, her sheer belief that voters are no-brained lemmings that will just follow her right into the white house. Sorry, not gonna happen.

Questionable   April 7th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Go Hillary!

Hillary'08

Caryn, Washington, DC   April 7th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

The only thing that gives me pleasure is the knowledge that that woman will NEVER be president.

@americans   April 7th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Wolf, if Billary is honest about making every vote count, then let the man/woman with the poular vote win!

Dave, Milwaukee WI   April 7th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Someone is getting desperate. By the way, Barack won Texas so everyone can now officially stop pretending that Hillary did.

Nancy   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

IMO I don't think that just because Obama wins the nomination that he automatically will get the larger states that Hillary won, alot of the states that Obama won are generally Republican and they will more than likely be republican again in November.

HJ   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Well I have to agree that the electorial votes are what matters.
I just don't see how many americans are still on the Obama wagon after knowing what his faith stands for. I feel sorry for all if he wins the nomination because McCain will beat him...

Dina Phila., Pa   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Wolf,

Here is my take on this situation. If Hillary's supporters feel that she can win in November by only counting the big states that she has won and does not need the other states to become president, then they are correct.

Now here is reality...the Democratic nominee will need all the democratic votes from every state to win in November, period! Every democrat will be voting against John McCain in November, at this point every state will count. Hillary supporters continue to say let every state vote in this primary because they are important too and should have their voices heard. Now they say, the other states that Obama has won over Hillary, they really don't count and Hillary will be the better candidate in the fall because she won 4 big states. This is nonsense.

Eric   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

This question has no relevance whatsoever, except giving fuel to every spin the Clinton's campaign can come up with. The electoral college votes apply to the general election. Last time I checked, they had no importance in the primaries. Why CNN keeps giving importance to every twist and turn HCR's vivid imagination creates. You should help your audience understand the rules of a primary, and show them how HCR tries to redefine them along the way.

NC Primary MY TURN!   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Clinton's argument is hogwash.

WIlliam Driscoll   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Absolutely. In fact I believe that democrats should not even hold primaries in states that don't "count". Democrats should hold primaries only in states that they won the previous year. We should reduce the whole primary season to 15 states and that way we wouldn't have to spend so much money. This big state argument was devised by who? Let me see–Mark Penn?

and Hillary fired him.

Paul   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Wolf,

This isn't news. This is the Clinton campaign trying desparately to change the metric for winning yet again. It's nice that you feel it necessary to clog a mainstream news web page with this nonsense.
Why don't you do some real reporting by interviewing Senator Clinton and asking her specifically how she is going to end the primary season with more pledged delegates than Senator Obama? That is the metric that matters and the metric that will result in a Democratic nominee. Anything else is senseless spin and a waste of time.

Anonymous   April 7th, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Are you on her payroll too. You are completely biased in your reporting. Quite disappointing.

chuk   April 7th, 2008 4:34 pm ET

As usual...the Clintons live in one world, the rest of us live in another world. They make the rules as they go on. Existing rules do not matter. This people are dangerous!

Avatar   April 7th, 2008 4:34 pm ET

It's not so much a controversial point as it is stupid and pointless. The only measure that matters is delegates. Not states won. Not popular vote. Not a particular state's blueness, redness, or swinginess. Not what a general election poll in a state says. Nothing matters except delegates. And by that measure Senator Obama is winning and unless a major shift happens he will continue to be winning. You may as well say, you know, we've decided that all the 3 point shots in this basketball game should instead be worth 4 points. Or why should we count points at all, total yards rushed is the new measure we are using. It doesn't matter. Only delegates matter.

John G, New York, NY   April 7th, 2008 4:34 pm ET

This argument seems similar to my high school basketball teammates who claimed that they were the best in the league because, if you tallied them up, we had more total points for the season than any of our rivals. What they forgot was that WINS count, not total POINTS. Bottom line...the only thing people remember these many years later is that we didn't even make the playoffs that year.

The Clinton machine will spin just about ANY measurement that makes her viable...since, of course, the real measurement is, well,...actual votes. On that measure, Hillary simply comes up short.

Ric   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Yes. If you factor in the states a Dem candidate will NEVER win. It's funny to hear the Obama camp talk about moving states "in to play". What states? By all accounts, it would be naive of them to think that they could sway enough Republicans in Texas, or Wyoming to vote Democrat. Maybe Florida, maybe Ohio. Maybe.

Bright   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

What a shame on the Clinton camp as they flip flop on their stands. What ever works for them at the time is what they support. Masters of double speaking.

Bob from Kentucky   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

"... the only count that matters." You mean, the only count that she still claims to be leading in if you twist the numbers enough? Ridiculous!

Why is the candidate always the last one to know that they've lost?

Dave in DC   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Only problem is – Wolf and the rest of the Clinton team are pretending that she won Texas. Look again my friend.

Of more importance, Dems won't win TX in November, Dems will win states like NY, CA, IL, and WA – so looking at primary winners to determine who'd win general is pointless – unless somebody's pushing a slanted agenda, that is.

TYSPOCK , COLUMBIA, MD   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Great point, what difference does the primaries make if you cannot win the general election !

ABC   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

A bit unconstitutional.

Andrew Martin   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Does anyone else remember Hillary Clinton calling for an end to the electoral college after the 2000 debacle?

Political Jonze   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Changing the goalposts once again. Nothing new. First Sen. Clinton was going to use the Super Delegates, but when that wasn't likely, it because an issue where pledged delegates weren't really pledged, but when that didn't work, it became a popular vote issue, and when that didn't gain any traction it's now Electoral College votes.

For McCain to have any chance in California, he's have to alienate a lot of his far right base elsewhere. And Sen. Clinton has insulted citizens of every state she didn't win along the way, saying they didn't matter. How is she going to make in-roads in these States should McCain make a play for California?

Kate   April 7th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

LOL .. now that's funny Wolf. Up is down .. down is up .. what won't Hillary with the help of you Wolf do to win this thing ..

Sam McLean   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

If the race wasn't so close between the two candidates I wouldn't agree. However with how close the last two presidential races were I think it is a valid point. Superdelegates really need to weigh all the votes in BECAUSE it is such a close race. We aren't electing Student Body President we're electing the President of the United States.

Obama supporter in Indiana   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

How many ways can the HRC campaign try to add up numbers to her advantage? Don't see it happening. I kinda feel sorry for her at this point, desperate math and comedy TV is all that's left.

Janice Markey   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Hillary has done and will do just about anything so she and Bill have a chance to get back to the white house, even if it ruins the dcemocratic party and ultimately America going forward.

Obama WILL be President   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Silly season!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bright   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Naturally the Clinton camp would change their arguments depending on the race. First they were comfortable with the delegate account. When they trailed on that they argued the nominee should be one with the most poplar vote, when that doesn't seem possible it is now the electoral votes. Clearly these people would present anything point that would give them an advantage. Lest we forget Michigan and Florida did not matter until they found themselves in an uncomfortable position..

Dignity is what they lack!

PeteinDC   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

The logic in this argument is not entirely sound. Obama has won far more Independents than Clinton. He has also shown some cross-over appeal to Republicans in open primary states, while Clinton has shown none at all. Furthermore Clinton's tendency to polarize is perfectly clear. None of these bode well for her chances should she be up against "war hero" McCain in November. The Dems will need all the charisma and non-partisanship they can get in Obama.

Warc   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

you can't cange the rules of the game after the race has been run; it doesn't work that way. Otherwise, wy hold a contest at all?

dave   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

the clinton argument in effect boils down to: which candidate can carry the most states in Nov 08? it does not necessarily translate that if a primary candidate carries a State in the spring, that the party nominee will carry the same state in Nov..... and, actually, this would require a good degree of historic research on what candidates won which states in their respective primaries, going back, let's say, 20 or 30 yrs.... right now, for example, the clinton people are saying that there is no way that Dems can carry MT or WY or Miss or Neb in November, so who won or wins the primaries in those same states in the spring does not carry a lot lot of water.... while, so the argument goes, the Dems will carry NY and IL and CA anyway in the fall, so who cares... oh wait, that is the obama argument.... the point being that how a state goes for any primary candidate in the spring probably does not matter a big deal when rating a nominees strength come November...the truth of the matter is that both mccain and obama have much greater strength amond indie voters than HRC, and that will upend the process to some unknown degree... those states which the dems considered as solidly theirs (such as NJ, WA State, OR, CA, maybe NY and IL) are now good territory for mccain... while other states that the Repubs considered to be solid in their camp (MISS, VA, CO, IN) could be brought into play by obama..... for the simple reason that both mccain and obama can pull indies and the other party into their camp (coalition)..... that is the really big story of this election, but whether one can read the tea leaves on who won the state primary elections, that is another more difficult matter, because a guy like obama should not be doing well in MT, WY, NB, etc....

Red Dog from ND but now in Floida   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Clinton is just grasping at anything to make people think she is winning. She needs to give it up she is a loser and a liar.

Dane   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Quite honeslty, no matter which canidate wins the democratic nomination will take the majority of the democratic votes in november. No democrat is going to have McCain in office.

Bosnian Sniper   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Hillary should befriend General Petreas and attempt a Military Coup....that seems about as likely and logical as this suggestion.

Jim   April 7th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

She disgusts me.

Katie from Boston   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Last time I checked, wasn't the United States a democracy?

... and honestly, Hillary, you cannot say that the POPULAR vote doesn't matter, especially if you plan on representing the PEOPLE.

bhoho   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

what a bunch of BS. Next Clinton is going to be counting the cars that go through the McDonald's Drive Thru

OlvrWhit   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Clinton makes a good point. I am not sure Obama can win those large states that Hillary has won. I also see an Obama backlash in Michigan and Florida that will cost him those states. Sure he holds the leads in delegates, but some of those wins have to be questioned as caucus elections are not very representative of a state. Many of those elections have scandal of some sort tied to them and no one seems to care.
I think Clinton will be the strongest candidate and I fear a lot of her base will sit out in protest over the treatment of the media. Without Clinton supporters, Obama can not win.

Julia in Eugene, Oregon   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

OF COURSE! Because we all know that if you win a state in a PRIMARY, you are guaranteed to win that state in the GENERAL election.

It's about Iowa...
It's about New Hampshire...
It's about Super Tuesday...
It's about the delegates...
It's about the superdelegates...
It's about the popular vote...
It's about Michigan and Florida...
It's about Ohio and Texas...
It's about Pennsylvania...
It's about hearing all the states...
...
and now it's about the Electoral College...

And we wonder why the American people are tired of the same old Washington B.S.???

Realistic   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

After she barely wins Pennsylvania, the goalposts will change again - this time the Clinton camp will argue that the candidate with the LOWEST count should win the primary.

Get ready for it.

Dave in Orange County   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Wolf, who says Schwarzanegger is popular in California?!

He's calling for HUGE budget cuts to education and admits he has screwed up on the state budget.

Schmuckengger can't help McCain here.....

marty from Indiana   April 7th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Once again she wants to move the goalposts. Now she want to disenfranchise the votes of dozens of states and thousands who voted for Obama. How pathetic

and yet she screams about the votes in Michigan and Florida as if those votes are really the most important. She will do and say anthing to get elected. She reminds me of a spoilrd child who wants to have her way or else!

Veterans for Obama   April 7th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Its an illogical point...is anyone actually trying to sell this dribble?

Barb   April 7th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Another reason Obama is ahead is a flawed Caucus system! Any time you have a Caucus that differs greatly from that of the popular vote more than once something just isn't right!

moderate dem   April 7th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Florida, Texas, Ohio? We'll hold our breath for PA

Obama support in Iowa   April 7th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

It's not the first controversial thing that's come out of the Clinton camp. Does Hillary really want to make millions of Obama supporters angry? How does that translate to a win? Another example of her poor judgment.

therealist   April 7th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Obama will not win FL or PN. Two must win states for the dems in the general elections.

Michael   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

That's a stupid argument. Obama leads in the one category that really matters: Delegates. Only the losing side would try to counter that fact with bs. Face the facts. Obama will win and Clinton will lose.

Way OFF!   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

This is preposterous logic! It does not matter who a state voted for in the primaries when talking about General Elections. States like New York and California will vote Democrat NO MATTER who is the nominee. This is a desperate attempt to steal the nomination from Obama.

Disgraceful!

Wolf, why are you giving the "HillBillies" silly ideas to foam at the mouth over?

Go PSU   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

This may true, but Obama has been in the U.S. Senate for only 3 years. If he didn't come out of no where, he would have beaten Clinton in all those states. In addition Clinton has the advantage of being the wife of a former President.

The fact is Clinton lies too much and is much more despised by some voters than Obama is.

aware   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

Yes, Hillary is ahead in the only count that matters. But, it is much more than her 219 Electoral College votes to Obama's 202.

Obama cannot win the general election in November. The under the radar Jeremiah Wright issue will explode in the general, and Obama's racial divisiveness will become more evident.

It is already obvious that he is an arrogant down and dirty politician who has no qualms about using personal attacks and obfuscation against the other candidates. Obama is a sham – a wolf in sheep's clothing! :(

Hillary Clinton and John McCain would both make excellent presidents! Hillary the HOPE of 08 or McCain! :)

Brian   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

Here you go again Wolff, trying to muddy the democratic process.
Even if you count FL and MI that held faulty elections she is still behind Obama. It's as simple as that but then again actually covering the news and not your personal wants would be such a change for you....but you could still redeem yourself, there's time for you where with Clinton? Time ran out a long time ago.

IT ONLY MATTER IF YOU WANT TO WIN IN NOV   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

If you only want to win in August, it doesn't matter nearly so much.

A CANUCK   April 7th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

MAN .......IS SHE DESPERATE !!! SHE MUST BE AWAKE AT 3 A.M. THINKING UP THESE SCENARIOS.

JS   April 7th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

This is the only numbers argument is the left in favor of Hillary. Of course, she is making it. Also, it indicates that despite what she may say now, she has no intention of supporting Barack if he wins the nomination. Rather, she will be busy fund raising for her 2012 campaign.

Angela   April 7th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

The recent poll showed 28% of Clinton supporters would not vote for Obama? If those people stay home or, even worse, vote McCain, then those swing states, and maybe the large Democratic-trending states, are in play.

The super-delegates HAVE to take that into consideration. Obama is not going to carry the red states. Clinton won more democratic and swing states. They HAVE to look at that.

Dilly WA   April 7th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

This is rediculous. The general election is not a primary and the electorial vote does not apply to it. Stop supporting Clinton's fairy-tale math just to make stories for CNN. It is not good for the voters or the Dem party to be so misleading.

Dave in DC   April 7th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

Howard Wolfson Blitzer speaks.

Stephen   April 7th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

well... when she's clearly not winning any other measure of the vote... i guess electoral college is all she has left to yap about.... the question would be... if Obama beats her there? then what's the excuse? The new spin?

Vig   April 7th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

It's 3 am – the phone is ringing – Hillary, pick up the phone – it's destiny calling!

Nate   April 7th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

Clinton DID NOT WIN TEXAS.

So the argument is moot.

Obama – 236

Clinton – 185

Terrence W   April 7th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

Can we change the prerequisite for Winning yet again? First it was a delegate race. Could win there, so it became a popular vote race? Can't win there, so now we are going to count delegates like this is a Gen Election? hahaha this is too funny.

jl   April 7th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

THE ONLY COUNT THAT MATTERS TO HILLARY IS THE

DILLUSIONAL COUNT IN HER DREAMS.

HER COUNTING HAS CHANGED FROM SHEEP, TO DOGS, TO

WOLVES BUT SHE KEEPS COUNTING NONETHLESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, A DREAM FOR HER IS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE

REST OF THE COUNTRY.

Glenn Doty, Columbia, SC   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

This pathetic appeal is all they have left. But it's as hollow as the rest of their imploded and tragically managed campaign.

In California, for the democratic primary, ~5 million people turned out to vote... Which is pretty impressive.
BUT – in the 2004 general election, more than 12.3 million people voted.

New York – ~1.8 million people in the democratic primary, ~7.9 million people in the 2004 general...
Tennissee – 623,000 in the democratic primary; 2.4 million people in the 2004 general...

Every single state you'll find numbers that are similar or worse.

The fact that most of the people voting in the democratic primary are die-hard democrats would strongly suggest that they will vote against McCain regardless.

The only real crystal ball available would be to look at the independent vote. These are the voters that will switch sides depending on the candidate, and will actually determine the outcome. Of course, the Clinton campaign doesn't want to focus on that – since they're supporting Obama over Hillary by ~3 to 1.

Doug, Florida   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

That's one of thre reasons I no longer watch Wolf nor Dobbs.
I just chance the channel

OBAMA 08

Robert in Toronto,ON   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

Clinton can spin it any way she wants to Wolf. Bottom line – she's behind in pledged delegates, states won, AND the popular vote. Time for her to step aside and be a gracious loser instead of bleeding money from Americans to support her already doomed campaign.

Observer   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

would this argument hold up if it were any other candidate making this case?

Jeremy   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

The Democratic Party primaries & caucuses are for all democrats to let the party know who they want to be the nominee, not just those in big states. Democrats that happen to live in red states, or small states, have a voice on how things in this country should be run, too. If Democrats do not vote for whoever the democratic nominee is, they are just ignorant of where the candidates stand on the issues since they are almost the same, and are far different than the Republican counter-part.

Jeremy – Denver, CO

Geoff   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

To put thing into perspective! As a matter of a fact Obama does better in the head to head against mc Cain in California than Clinton does! Also in states like NJ and New York the head to head polls for the GE are not at all in line with the results of the democratic primaries. Bottom line is that you can"t predict results in the GE based on primary results (uncomparible dynamics) and this make the whole Clinton "case" only wishfull thinking!

Mary-NY   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

That is what matters, those big states that the DNC need to win the November election and the way I see it, Barack Hussein Obama did not win any of them and if you guys remembers '00, '04 Ohio, Florida, Michigan must be won by any DNC otherwise White House exclude the candidate. As for me, Obama is not a leader and looking at him, he looks like a man with a hidden agenda. Why couldn't he attend MLK memorial service if you he thinks that he meant something to people and Americans in general. All he is just a pretty boy who is an opportunitist deciving the generation X with empty promises. If the DNC nominate him, come November, NY, CA, Ohio, Michigan and Fl will vote for John McCain and for the first NY will go GOP. Barack Hussein Obama should wait for the next round and gather more experience before running for White House.

Jack in ND   April 7th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

Okay, let's examine...

#1 California...she won that, but in large part because nearlt half of the people voted ahead by mail. Obama was enjoying a late surge, and among people who decided in the last 72 houirs, Obama won handily. Plus, Obama now leads Clinton in California in recent polls.

#2 Texas...Hillary won that narrowly, but largely due to Republican voters, who cast 125,000 votes in a state that Hillary won by 100,000. Plus, Obama won the caucuses..a process that Operation Chaos didn't interfere in.
#3 New York...home state advantage for Hillary.

#4 Florida...one of the two states with tainted results. Hillary would likely win this if they voted again, but only because she's attempted (and unfortunately succeeded) in actually blaming Obama for their disenfranchisement.

#5 Illinois...home state advantage for Obama.

#6 Pennsylvania...biggest state yet to vote. Clinton leads but Obama is now surging there just as he had in California. Hillary will probably still win, but not by the double margin she needs. If she doesn't, it's a useless win.

#7 Ohio...Hillary won this state, with a demographic custom made for her, solidly, and good for her. I wonder, though, if it would have voted the same way if her duplicity had surfaced last month. Fortunately, Ohio's twin, Pennsylvania, can weigh their vote accordingly.

#8 Michigan...the other tainted state, and this one didn't even have Obama on the ballot, as per mutually agreed to rules. It can;t coutn as is, but if it had a revote I suspect Obama would win this one.

That's 8 states with 10 million people or more.

But there are 13 more with 5 to 10 million, and 7 of them went for Obama (6 of them strongly), while 4 went for Clinton. North Carolina will likely be an 8th for Obama, and Indiana is a tossup.

Alexandra   April 7th, 2008 4:25 pm ET

Wolf stop being biased.
You know the rules the DNC set, so why are you trying to help the Clinton's move the goal post?

HRC, it's over babe   April 7th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Stop selling Clinton, she is done. She is simply UNELECTABLE

Key West Sun   April 7th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Well the Dem's are finally starting to see the light, In the fall only Hillary has the chance to take Florida, Ohio or Pa. Nobody is going to the white house without 2 of the 3. Hillary has done everything she could to keep the Florida voters in this from day one. Obama was the only canidate to run campaign ad's in Fl and still didn't not do him anygood. How many times have I seen a Obama supporter on here say,,,to bad they broke the rules, if they don't like it,, then,, we don't need them in the fall.
I guess most Obamaians are young and not really up on how the Electoral vote works. Red and Blue States are a fact, and fewer borderline states,,
Oh well, can't wait to hear the screaming on here from this story.

Alex H   April 7th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

I heard a Clinton supporter on Larry King say Hillary Clinton is "doing so well in these states that look like the United States of America" and saying that the people in those states "are the folks who are important right now" and my jaw dropped!!! This is the sentiment of the Clinton campaign! Who are they to say what America looks like??? Last time I checked, the whole country was America and the whole country is important!

ABG   April 7th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

If Obama wins the nomination, McCain will target his lack of resume for the job. People are ignoring that key point right now, but they will not in November. That is reality.

Hillary leads McCain in the key states to win. Obama does not.

The Democratic party must be united after the convention. That is up to the DNC.

If Hillary Clinton is not treated fairly in regards to the votes and delegates in FL & MI, then the Democratic party has lost their integrity and principle.

As a life long Democrat, I will not vote Democratic if the party does not "walk the Democratic talk".

I am sure there are other Democrats who feel the same way.

Trey L.   April 7th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Yeah right!
If I was Hillary I'd say the same thing. Problem with that thinking is any Decent democratic would vote for whom ever wins the nomination in those big states. That 's like saying the Yankees or the Red Sox would not beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series last year or this year. (Sorry PA)
Well you get the point! Whatever you have to tell yourself Mrs. Clinton to make you sleep better at night. Just admit you can't stand to lose to Obama in O8!

Evan   April 7th, 2008 4:23 pm ET

Strange. I thought that the only count which mattered was the delegate count.

Or have the Democratic Party rules changed and no-one informed anyone?

Sharon   April 7th, 2008 4:23 pm ET

She would win PA, FL, OH, and MI in the General Election....Obama can't.....look at your beloved polls.....Why do you think the remaining Super Delegates haven't voted yet??????? They understand this and are just waiting for her to capture the popular vote and have command of all the states dems need in the fall.....
Glad to see you back Wolf.....the others who covered for you hate Hillary....it's nice to see someone with his own mind back in the drivers seat on CNN......

Ca Native   April 7th, 2008 4:23 pm ET

Will this be their argument when McCain wins MORE states and more votes in the fall??

When a candidate begins doing electorial gymnastics to present their case – you know they're getting desperate!

Jack   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

If the Democratic Presidential Nominee can not win at least two of the following swing states: Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, he or she can not win the general presidential election in November. In this sense, Clinton has more chance to win general presidential election that Obama.

Craig in Texas Democrat and supporter for Obama   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Always plotting but did she factor in her supporters that will back Obama cause she is through. Just hanging on by a thread.

Jennifer   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

wow wow... why not consider the 2004 elections and give the Presidency to McCain.

The voters are more aware of the dirty politics played in Washington. Stop looking back. The world has changed.

Mike   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Hillary SHOULD be the nominee!

Senator Clinton has worked hard and she has earned it!

What has Obama done other than preach "Yes We Can."

"No you can't!"

The media has made him out to be a darling of a candidate and people are simply mesmerized, wake-up!

Go Hillary!

Bruce   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Fritz Mondale and Michael Dukakis won a lot of state primaries on their way to the nomination in 1984 and 1988. What did they win in the general election? Winning a primary in a state does not correllate to winning that same state in November. Apples and oranges. It reminds me of my kids trying to come up with new arguments whenever I told them no. Each argument is weaker than the last.

Chris - Hemet, Ca.   April 7th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

And if that doesn't work and she can't get Florida and Michigan to go her way her next proposal will be that the superdelegates should side with the candidate who wears pant suits!

MP-Pennsylvania   April 7th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

What about Michigan and Florida. She said it is important. Now it is electoral colleges.
She said every vote matters.
She change her words so fast.
Is she going to disfranchise millions of voters.

SUPER GREED

Chipster   April 7th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

Winning in November is vital to the health and well being of our nation. We need Clinton's experience and skills to restore our International relationships and bring this country back from the brink of begin destroyed by corporate greed and voodoo economics!

As a shameless capitalist, I have no problem with the Clintons making money and $10+ donated to charity seems pretty good to me. The media's attempts to exaggerate her slightest missteps and ridicule her sincerity don't change her achievements and her years of public service. Not do they diminish her determination to defend those who have few or no resources to defend themselves. She has 34 retired Generals and 2 Admirals endorsing her for a good reason. They have confidence in her and so do I.

tim   April 7th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

Pro- Hillary and how I hate this guy!

Mike   April 7th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

The bottom line is this:

Obama has so many anti-American, racist and business issues that the only people overlooking it is his supporters. Hillary supporters are galvanized to not want Obama as the nominee by the mere fact of what his church supports. However Hillary has been extremely restrainful in her attempts to win but not hurt Obama's career.

McCain and the GOP attack machine will not restrain at all against anyone. Clinton can win against them because everyone knows her issues and by mere fact her tax records showed she overpayed taxes by 10% and donated 10% of their money to charities makes her a strong candidate of conviction of principals.

Obama's record is starting to come out and the GOP is just salivating for him to be the nominee. When they finish with him, not even his supporters will like him.

ndo   April 7th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

Not sure whom the pundits and McCain's supporters are consulting: Swarzenegger isn't as popular as some may argue. His anti-union stance and our state's struggling economy may prove unfavorable for any fellow Republican he endorses.

kathleen   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

I am not sure Hillary can even hang on to her Senate job in New York.
I don't think so.

Obama 2008

Unbelievable   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

The people from the Clinton campaign just keep trying to convolute and change rules or give microtrend statistics to somehow prove she should get the nomination. She is not winning in pledged delegates which is the way the contest works. She will try anything but if she hasn't convinced many superdelegates at this point I don't think her latest attempt is going to do anything. After all she has a net loss of 5 supers since super Tuesday whereas Obama has gained close to 60. Give it up Hillary, others are playing by the rules so you will just have to do so too.

Obama Supporter   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

Wolf, you are right that it is a controversial, or perhaps an interesting point. It is nonetheless meaningless spin. The democrats could have set up a system where the winner of the nomination would be the person who earned the most faux-electoral college votes, but they didn't. Instead, Barack Obama has won the nomination fair and square, and polls consistently show that he is favored over Hillary Clinton as the democratic nominee. Win or lose, the teams have to play by the rules, regardless of what that means for the general election.

Karen, TN   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

Since the electoral college comes into play only in the general election, I think HRC is getting way ahead of herself. There is absolutely no way she can lay claim to numbers that aren't even applicable at this point. I see what she's trying to say, but the fact is the democrats will probably carry the states they will carry no matter who the nominee is. Not to mention the fact that in almost every matchup, Obama does better against McCain than Hillary does.

Chrissy, TX   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

Yes it's true. And throw in the hispanic votes in those states too. Remember that hispanics also like McCain.

jAYjAY   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

that is a ficticious number. Electoral Delegates do not show up at the Democratic or Republican convention. They mean nothing in primaries.
Keep relying on the uneducated

Doug, Florida   April 7th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

YAH. Right.
After seeing the money Bill Clinton made as Ex-President. Hillary wants her turn as President to rake in some money too.

These people make me SICK!!!!!

OBAMA 08

jps   April 7th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

"It’s a controversial point that the Clinton camp makes."

Um, no, I'd call that a stupid point, not a controversial one

Bud Curtis   April 7th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

It may be a controversial point to make, but the only way to get elected as President of the United States, under the current system, is to win the most electoral votes.
Today the focus is on the primary selection process. But that is all out the window come November. Like it or not, if a Democrat moves into the white house in January, the name on the mail box will say Clinton.
Bud Curtis
Miami, OK

Ronald monis Ventura ca   April 7th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

Wolf you are always there promoting clinton and spinning every wheel you can in order to make the case for her. The fact is Senator Obama is ahead and will get the nomination. I hate watching your bias obama bashing show. Even if they put you as the top of the ticket any democrat will win NJ< NY ANd CA so stop your spinning. YOu all discussed me on cnn.

kathleen   April 7th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

These states voted at the time of the earliest primaries. The voters
were not well-informed that Hillary and Bill were deceptive in every way. The Clinton's popularity has descented into the most negative
opinions NOW. If those votes were to be taken at this time, when
so many negatives have been witnessed by the voters, they would
lose.
I suppose voters "remembered the Clintons" in a positive way,
contending that Bill was a good President, therefore, another Clinton
would be even better. Well, we have learned the true values and
scruples of the Clintons, and voters do not like what they see.
Voters are smarter and more knowledgeable that they were when
these primaries began.

Obama 2008

Alicia - Atlanta   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

Hillary & her people are so desperate it's really hilirious. I was a Hillary supporter up until she begin to look foolish & made me look foolish too by supporting her. Not anymore! She makes Obama look better and better each day. Go Obama, this woman is on your side now.

Eric Jack   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

Hold up Wolf... regarding Arnold and California... check back on this state. What Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is about to do with the state budget and cut education and health services he won't be to popular!

Ryan   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

She has won bigger states – but they're the traditional Blue States that will remain in that column. There is NO WAY that McCain takes NY, CA, MA, etc...NO WAY. What Clinton surrogates fail to recognize that a lot of the states she won in the Primary Obama will win in the General – and further, he will put more than a handful of states into play in the General that normally wouldn't be – MO and CO come to mind.

Going off of that it will force McCain (the GOP) to spend less time in the traditional swing-states of FL/PA/OH to focus on this new battle ground that they have long had a lock on, which only increases Obama's chances in places like FL/PA/OH.

So really, the argument she is making is inherently an argument for Obama. Suits me just fine.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

I personally don't care what the Clinton camp says, let them try it.

cathy   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

So we have a Dem saying the popular vote does not count? Little states don't matter? Hillary Clinto is lower than dirt.

Huh?   April 7th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

I think it would be very interesting to see what happened if the primaries were held again. One of the more squishy things in this campaign is the concept of momentum. It can't be measured, and no one knows exactly how it is acquired or lost. Obama had a great deal of momentum at one time, and then was stopped by Ohio and Texas (even though he actually won by delegate count in Texas).

Now that there has been a long time-out, who has the most momentum? Who is pulling to the front? One would think Hillary might make the best of this, but with the sniper fire, pregnant woman's "death" and her chief strategist having to quit, it would seem that her lead and her momentum in the remaining states is eroding.

I think someone said it best on one of these blogs when they said, "As you get to know more about Clinton, the less of her there is to like. As you get to know more about Obama, the more you understand the truly great things he has to offer." I'm paraphrasing, not mis-speaking, by the way.

I do not believe Hillary's campaign can be salvaged at this point. Her finances, her management, and her public image are all in shambles.
We're just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Kevin Leo (Jonesboro, GA)   April 7th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

That is such a garbage argument!!! The states that Hillary won are Democratic strongholds!!! Does she honestly believe that New York or California will all of a sudden turn pro-Republican if she is not the candidate?!

Linda   April 7th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

It shouldn't. Through this long process so far, maybe many voters voted before now are starting regret. Understanding shrewd politicians always require time to obseve and analyzing As a result things always change but follow some rules and harmany.

John   April 7th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

Give me a break, Wolf. First it was delegates, now this!? Since when is the Electoral college votes the "only count that matters"? How about we look at the real count that matters: the popular vote. The fact remains the same- more people have voted for Obama than Clinton. Get over it. Until Hillary leads in the popular vote or delegate count (both highly unlikely), she can stop claiming she's ahead.

jim   April 7th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

This is how the Clinton camp wants everyone's vote to count?

Scott Mayhew   April 7th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

why don't you just post a banner below the story that reads, "I approve this message...Hillary Clinton for President"

vince - phoenix   April 7th, 2008 4:16 pm ET

Wow Wolf... (you are REALLY reaching today in advancing this...)

So, for the record... you don't count electoral college votes until the genereal election. But I am SURE you are fully aware of that... So, this "argument",really isn't an argument.

The fact is... you can't play in the superbowl until you have won the playoffs.

No amount of "spin" can change that. Case closed.

Mr. B.   April 7th, 2008 4:16 pm ET

Lie..., steal...., cheat, whatever it takes.

She did learn from the best !

Aaron in Virginia   April 7th, 2008 4:16 pm ET

Is Wolf Blitzer straining to maintain the illusion that there's still a race going on for the Democratic nomination?

Of course Clinton is trying to find a way to make it look like she's doing anything but losing big. If he wanted to, Jonathan Edwards could make the case that he's leading in the one category that corelates most directly with a successful Presidential campaign: being a white guy. But ... so what? There's exactly one way of keeping score in the Democratic primary, and you can find that score on CNN.com. It says what it says, and it's not going to say anything else, no matter how badly Hillary wants it to.

Adam in Indy   April 7th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

Makes total sence to me.
and IF obama were to win the nomination... how likley do you think it would be that he would carry Michigan and Florida given he campaign's stance on their primary votes.

Dem   April 7th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

The primary does not reflect the general whatsoever.

Sean   April 7th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

This is a ridiculous thought process. That's like saying that Team B, who won less games than Team A, should be ruled Champion because Team B wom in stadiums with bigger television markets.

gary   April 7th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD GO TOWARD HRC. SHE IS THE BEST QUALIFIED CANIDATE TO BRING REAL CHANGES. O.B. IS JUST A BIG TALKER AND A BIGGER DREAMER. HE COULDN;T HAVE A ORIG. IDEAL UNLESS IT WAS O.B. GIRL VIDEO'S. HE AGREES WITH HRC ON EVERYTHING AT DEBATES AND COPIES HER 3AM VIDEO'S.GIVE ME A BREAK

Joe Green   April 7th, 2008 4:14 pm ET

The Clinton camp would argue that Clinton should be nominated on the basis of who has more frequent flyer miles, if Hillary had more than Obama.

They are grasping at straws, now.

As Both Hillary and Obama said, let the process move forward and let's see who has the most delegates at the end of the day.

Or has Hillary changed her mind and wants to end the contest early?

If Hillary is nominated in spite of the popular vote AND the most number of elected delegates, the Democratic Party will be no better than Bush and Rove were in the 2000 election.

It will be a stolen nomination, period.

It will take them decades to recover from this. All credibilty (and they don't have a lot to begin with) will be lost.

And yes, Hillary will still lose. People despise her, for reasons both real and imagined.

Jot   April 7th, 2008 4:14 pm ET

Blitzer, I like watching your shows but I'm disappointed that you CNN keep putting people on your shows who are so negative about McCmain and Clinton. That pathetic Schultz called McCmain a war monger the next morning is on your show! That B... tch hates the Clintons,is it because you are all pro Obama?

Bit, Alabama   April 7th, 2008 4:13 pm ET

Crying FOUL again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judy   April 7th, 2008 4:12 pm ET

This is an argument born of desperation. Primary votes are not related to electoral votes, unless you look at the TOTAL NUMBER of registered Democrats vs. the total number of registered Republicans, and somehow it looks like there will be just as many Republicans as Democrats who voted in the primaries. Even excluding the newly minted Dems who may be to some extent attributed to Rush Limbaugh's "Chaos" project, there will be a huge plurality of Democrats going to the polls this year. Barack Obama has shown more promise than Hillary has of getting Independents and Republicans to vote for him.

Frank in Missouri   April 7th, 2008 4:12 pm ET

How about:

The candidate who won the most election on

a) Saturdays
b) Tuesdays
c) even days
d) uneven days

will win the nomination. Is Clinton ahead on any of those criteria ?

If so then that will be the next measure of her success.

KR   April 7th, 2008 4:11 pm ET

Do Obama supporters believe that the popular vote matters? I think we ALL know better than that by now.

CB in Florida   April 7th, 2008 4:11 pm ET

Electoral College votes aren't part of the party nomination race equation. The Clinton Team knows this and is only prolonging the agony of the matter. If Clinton still doesn’t have a significant win by April 22, then she must take a hit for the team and step down so that the fight for the general election can finally get underway. She’s a good candidate and she made a terrific effort; there’s no shame in withdrawing under those conditions. However, being forced out of the race after months of stubbornness reflects badly on her as a person and a statesman, and it reflects badly on the entire Democratic Party.

bob   April 7th, 2008 4:10 pm ET

OBAMA CAN FORGET FLORIDA

I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THOUSANDS OF US WILL VOTE

MCCAIN DUE TO OBAMA SILENCE IN FLA. AND MICHIGAN

Helene   April 7th, 2008 4:10 pm ET

O.K. another try and another spin. Then what ? She has lost the nomination and she should concede as soon as possible. Enough is enough.

fred   April 7th, 2008 4:08 pm ET

Hell yes she is!!!

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