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May 13, 2008
Posted: 10:45 PM ET
From CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
Clinton’s West Virginia supporters say they weren't swayed by grim pundit assessments.
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (CNN) –There was never much of a question about who would win the West Virginia primary. The electorate is made up of older, white, blue-collar voters that have become Hillary Clinton's base. But they've also been hearing a week of speculation that Obama's path to the nomination is inevitable. So why turn out? "I think she's got the experience to get us out of a deep hole," said Johnny Nance, a preservation contractor who owns the building in Huntington where Clinton has a campaign office. "You can't win this country's [presidency] without winning West Virginia. We've picked them the whole 20th century," added Nance before saying he'd support whomever the Democratic nominee is. "She's brilliant," said Veda Hughes, 58, joined by three friends at Clinton's victory party Tuesday night. Does the impression the New York senator can't win bother her? "Heck no! No! We're in this 'til the end, it doesn't bother us at all!"
"I think Obama is a wonderful speaker and I love what he says but I think Hillary has the experience, she knows what's going on. She tells what she's going to do," added companion Amy Wade, 35. Several people pointed to potential baggage Obama could carry into the general election. "I don't think his wife has been a credit to him, I don't think his minister has been a credit to him," said Diane Givens. Surgical technician Jeremy Elswick, 30, agreed that Wright was a negative and said Obama didn't do enough to woo the voters of West Virginia. "He just seemed like he had his nose up in the air. She seems like she's for the blue-collar people of West Virginia." Clinton heads to Oregon — considered Obama-friendly territory — on Friday before campaigning in Kentucky, a state whose demographics are very similar to West Virginia's. Filed under: Hillary Clinton West Virginia
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