(CNN) - In what appear to be the New York senator's most blunt comments to date regarding a racial division in the Democratic presidential race, Hillary Clinton suggested Wednesday that "White Americans" are increasingly turning away from Barack Obama’s candidacy.
"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," Clinton said in an interview with USA TODAY.
Clinton cited an Associated Press poll "that found how Senator Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."
"There's a pattern emerging here," she said.
Exit polls from Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina show Clinton won about 60 percent of the white vote in both states. That percentage is down from the Ohio primary on March 4, in which Clinton won upwards of 65 percent of the white vote. Meanwhile, Clinton garnered 63 percent of the white vote in Pennsylvania on April 22.
Speaking with the paper, Clinton rejected the notion her comments were racially divisive in any way.
"These are the people you have to win if you're a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election," she said. "Everybody knows that."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton called Clinton's statements "not true and frankly disappointing."
From CNN Politics
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and....... she's right.
Maybe we need to ask Hillary about the African American vote that she cannot get?? Recent primaries show she can only garner 8% of their votes. Does she not see a problem with that??
wow! she has just taken herself off the short list of V.P. and put herself on the short bus back to Arkansas.
Just when I was starting to feel a tad bit sorry for Hillary, she shows her
true colors.
Democrats 08.
BS! I am white and a natural-born US citizen (so-called American), and I would never vote for this liar over Obama!
-jake
Sykesville, MD
This is simply outrageous! I am totally dissapointed in this woman and I hope her supporters will see her for who she is. She is really a divider and she can never unite this country.
She is redefining the term "scorched earth" with regards to the political process. This primary season is going to be studied for a long time. Bravo Hillary, hope you are happy with yourself.
It's going to be funny to watch Clinton accuse Obama of playing the race card when everyone jumps on her for these comments.
since when is being popular with uneducated people something to boast about?
Another play from the Rove playbook.
She is really desparate and in denial.
Almost sounds like you are only considered a "hard working" American now if you are white and for HRC??????? Now that is DEVISIVE!
shame... If I was white and didn't have a college degree I wouldn't vote for her just to shut her up.
Hillary Clinton, Shame On You.
Obama '08, '12
Time to leave now Hillary. Obama got 40 percent of the white vote in Indiana, I guess they do not count in your math.
I guess we are going to break white voters into groups now, poor,working poor,and old.
Correction. Only white voters listen to Rush Limbaugh and have been voting under the Operation Chaos scheme. That's a FACT! That's why you've senn a bumpin that support.
i don't want clinton.obama is the best choice.
Hillary, how dare you?
This white American supports Obama.
I know LOTS of white Americans who support Obama.
The Clintons – and the media – need to stop making this a race-based issue.
Sad and pathetic. Typical Clinton.
It is time to get her out of the race ,pronto,DNC. She is starting to sound like she is auditioning for Reverend Wright's spotlight. How will this kind of talk heal the Democrats? Diane Feinstein's comments yesterday were prophetic.
What a loser.
Sorry, Hillary... we don't.
This is unbelievable!! And if she thinks that this kind of comment is not an attempt to divide the electorate along racial lines, G-d help us all if she is elected!!
The destruction of the Democratic party by Kill-R-We continues. Her speeches speak of a united party at the end of this process but then goes out and promotes division. This win at all cost attitude and lack of humility in the face of defeat is ultimately what will hand a victory to John McCain in the General Election. It does not seem to matter anymore who wins the nomination, the will of the many will once again be defeated by the pride and selfishness of the few. How her supporters can see this type of action as good for the party and more importantly good for America is beyond me.
I have just became a Republican. I can't believe Hillary would scoop so low. The end of the Democratic Party is now here. If a democratic party candidate is going to play the racial game, them I might as well change parties.
Anyone notice how the Clinton's marginalize any loss in a state with a large black population? The truth is, there's a hardly a politician out there that gives a crap about black people.
....'cept Barack