June 2, 2008
Posted: 08:07 AM ET
From CNN Senior Political Producer Sasha Johnson
Clinton says she’s pressing on – but reviewing “available options.”
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (CNN) – Before leaving Puerto Rico, Hillary Clinton told reporters she is taking the presidential race “a day at a time” and is reviewing the “options available” as she moves ahead with her campaign. “People have been trying to get me out of this race since Iowa and my political obituary has yet to be written and we’re going forward,” she said. (Related: Clinton says she's not ready for 'political obituary') After Tuesday’s final two primaries, superdelegates will ultimately push either candidate up to the 2,118 delegates needed to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination. Barack Obama leads among this group, but Clinton pointed out superdelegates are always free to “change their minds” and she hopes they will evaluate her wins since February and the coalition of voters she’s pulled together. “This has been such an intense process, I don’t think there has been a lot of time for reflection of the sort that I’m advocating which is okay we’ve had an extraordinary series of contests, I’m ahead in the popular vote, Senator Obama is ahead in the delegates … they’ve never been separated before,” she said. “I think it’s only now that we’re finishing these contests that people are going to actually reflect. Who’s our stronger candidate? And I believe I am and I’m going to make that case and at some point it will either be accepted or it won’t be, but I feel strongly about making it.”
In its popular vote tally, the Clinton campaign includes the Michigan contest but does not award any uncommitted votes to Barack Obama whose name was not on the ballot. Clinton reiterated she “reserves the right” to challenge the DNC Rules and Bylaws committee’s allocation of Michigan delegates – a decision she said was made in “violation of the rules.” She called the half vote penalty leveled against Florida’s delegation “unwarranted under the circumstances.” When asked if she was concerned Obama could reach the 2,118 delegate mark within days, Clinton said, “it’s not over until the votes are cast. It’s not over until there’s actually a tally that gets somebody the nomination.” Clinton said she was “thrilled” by her win in Puerto Rico. Her campaign plane stopped in Jacksonville late Sunday evening after leaving the island to refuel en route to South Dakota where she will campaign all day Monday. Filed under: Hillary Clinton
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