(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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Shame on her. She has really gone mad.
Yikes. Is she losing her mind?
Hillary's base is the uneducated?
'nuf said.
Obama '08
I am white, and I will never vote for Clinton. Especially with comments like this, how can anyone say she's not divisive?
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
what a country and a presidential candidate who talks about race to divide the country shame on you Clinton's.
Proud Canadian.
Oh my goodness, this woman has to stop this. She is causing a huge divide in the country with comments like that.
Can any one really believe her heart is for this country and the people that live here? Sounds like she'll do or say anything to get her way. Very disappointing, Hilary.
Shame on her. Very dissapointing. It would be nice to see her bow out gracefully (at a time and place of her choosing) .
She's actually losing white support and he is gaining in white support. Hillary is saying something ridiculous, must be Thursday.
Hillary don't you know, only Obama can say white voters and get away with it? Now you will be labled a racist. Only the media and Obama can split us up into groups.
Boy you're really contributing the America now Hillary.
GET OUT!!!!!!
Pathetic. This woman can't go any lower.
Let her in a boxing ring.. She would be disqualified for "Low Blows"
Who is playing the race card?
Clinton go away! No one wants to hear your divisive prattle! You are harmful to the party and to the discourse of the country! Please superdelegates...end this!!
Now, who is playing the race-card?
Hillary will say anything or do anything for a vote.
She is AUTHENTIC in: Hypocracy, Shamlessly selfish, and straight faced lying.
Is it just me or did Hillary just say that "hard-working Americans, white Americans" are supporting her, leaving the impression that Obama is increasingly left with those who are not hard-working Americans or white? I don't think she quite meant it like that but it sure sounds a bit inflammatory to me.
Clinton won 60% of the "white vote", and I read Barack got 90% of the "black vote"...so Barack with his 90% and 40% is less significant than Hillary's 60% and 10%?
If you really want to spin her comment you could say she is calling every other race lazy. When she states "hard-working Americans, white Americans" what is she saying?? If I were not white I would take that as her calling me a lazy becuase the color of my skin. I think this is sadly the final blow to herself.
It's a shame she couldn't go out gracefully.
This woman want the part to go down with her. The sooner they put her away the better. This is the reason why people don't trust her. She has been playing the feminist card....now its about the race card....shameful!
What a sad, desperate lady. I am an AA Obama supporter, however I have many black, hard-working American college-educated friends who voted for her here in Texas.
and BLACK americans are getting turned off from campaign HILLARY!
You can NOT win the white house without the BLACK vote HILLARY!!
So does that mean that all of us white women that voted for Barack are no longer white? She is really trying to destroy the Democratic Party!
hilliary your movement is not good thats why your losing you are arrogant read your bible well god give mercy to humble one not arrogant .look at obama and learn from him .i will advive you to humble yourself
Isn't it a little late to play the race card?
And a little desperate?
BTW, I'm a 'white American, and I don't support her.
Shame on her.
"There's a pattern emerging here," she said. Yes, when you get desperate, you will play the race card. You should not only drop out, you should go to hell.