Clinton celebrates Mother’s Day in next primary state
GRAFTON, West Virginia (CNN) – While opponents Barack Obama and John McCain took Mother’s Day off, Hillary Clinton hit the trail in rainy West Virginia with daughter Chelsea. They celebrated the holiday with a morning church service in Huntington before flying east to visit the home of Mother’s Day's founder – Anna Jarvis – and to give a speech commemorating the day.
“Judging from the mothers that I meet across the country, I’ve come to believe that hard work, determination and resiliency are encoded in our DNA,” Clinton told a small gathering at a railroad museum. “We also have the stand-up-and-fight-for-what-you-believe-in gene.”
Sunday marked Grafton’s 100th celebration of the holiday and despite Clinton’s tribute to mothers and women in general, Tuesday’s primary and her struggle to stay in the race were not forgotten.
“In two days, the voters in West Virginia will join the tens of millions of Americans who have already cast their vote for president,” said Clinton. “I am asking for your support so that I can continue to fight for you, fight to finish the work that we have started.”
Clinton read her supporters several emails she has received in recent days, encouraging her to say in the race. One read, “It’s not over until the lady in the pantsuit says it is!”
On Saturday, Clinton told donors at a Mother’s Day-themed fundraiser in New York, “Let’s keep going, stay with me, this is a great adventure!”
Clinton will continue to campaign in West Virginia on Monday and Tuesday and is expected to win the state handedly.
Young Democrat brings superdelegate race to a tie
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/11/art.obama.gi.jpg caption="Barack Obama picked up his 273rd superdelegate endorsement Sunday. "]
(CNN) - A Young Democrats of America board member threw her support to Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday, bringing Obama to a tie with Sen. Hillary Clinton in the superdelegate race.
Crystal Strait, 28, became the 273rd superdelegate in Obama's column, by CNN's count. Clinton had 273 Sunday as well - technically 273.5 because of some Democrats Abroad superdelegates who are given half a vote each.
Obama holds a large enough lead among pledged delegates that many believe Clinton's presidential aspirations for 2008 are virtually over.
But neither candidate is expected to have the 2,025 total delegates to win, so superdelegates - elected representatives and other party insiders given seats the party's convention - will ultimately award the nomination. A flood of superdelegate endorsements for Obama could effectively end the
Democratic race.
Bush: Jenna's wedding was 'spectacular'
President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush pose with daughters Jenna and Barbara. (White House Photo)
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Against the backdrop of a stunning Texas sunset, near a lake on the Bush family's 1,600-acre ranch, President Bush walked his daughter, Jenna, down the aisle to her groom, the White House said.
Jenna, 26, married Henry Hager, the son of a well-connected Virginia Republican.
"The wedding was spectacular. It was all we could have hoped for," the president said Sunday before boarding Air Force One.
"We're mighty blessed."
Wearing a white silk organza Oscar de la Renta gown, the bride stood with the groom before a beige-colored cross and altar made of Texas limestone.
Read more here
Obama camp: Clinton not looking for a deal
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/11/art.clinton.gi.jpg caption="Barack Obama’s campaign denied the suggestion that Hillary Clinton is looking for a deal. "]
(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign rejected suggestions Sunday that Sen. Hillary Clinton is staying in the race in hopes of brokering some kind of agreement with the likely nominee.
"I don't believe that Senator Clinton is looking for a deal," Obama's chief campaign strategist David Axelrod told "Fox News Sunday," when asked about suggestions she may want the Obama campaign's help retiring her campaign debt.
"I don't think that's what this is about," he said.
Axelrod said he believes Clinton "will have the capacity to retire her debt."
He also denied rumors that the Clinton camp may be in some kind of discussions with the Obama camp to make her his running mate. "There's been no discussion about vice presidential nominees and this whole scenario," said Axelrod.
Clinton's top strategist Howard Wolfson told the same program, "We think Senator Clinton is going to be the nominee," and that he has "seen no evidence of her interest" in the number two slot.
Sunday Roundup: End of the road for Clinton?
(CNN) - This week’s Democratic primaries in North Carolina and Indiana brought disappointing results for the Clinton campaign. Senator Barack Obama handily won North Carolina by 14 points. While Senator Hillary Clinton edged out a win in Indiana, it was by just two points. Many political observers expected she would win handily.
After Tuesday’s results, several more superdelegates publicly endorsed Obama. Others have switched their vote from Clinton to the Illinois senator, including former senator and presidential nominee George McGovern.
With all these events in mind, the question of the week remains: Does Hillary Clinton have a chance to win the nomination, and if not, why hasn’t she dropped out? The Sunday morning circuit digs deep to find answers.
(Full roundup after the jump)
FULL POST
Dodd: Obama, Clinton ticket not likely
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/11/art.dodd2.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Chris Dodd says it’s “very clear” Obama will be his party’s nominee."]
(CNN) - Sen. Chris Dodd on Sunday joined the chorus of Democratic leaders downplaying the idea of a joint ticket between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
"These are two great candidates who fought very hard, but my sense is today that that probably won't be the ticket," Dodd said on NBC's "Meet The Press."
Dodd, who abandoned his presidential bid on January 3, said he thinks it's "very clear" Obama will be his party's nominee.
Dodd expressed confidence that his party would rally around Obama, despite the lengthy primary season.
Obama campaign chief David Axelrod on Sunday predicted the process would be over soon, but avoided talk of any potential running mates.
Religious right leaning toward Democrats?
Watch how evangelicals are reaching out.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - For decades, evangelicals have been seen as solid supporters of the Republican Party. That could be changing.
The religious right, a cornerstone of the so-called Reagan revolution - the battle over abortion law, and gay marriage - wants a change.
At least some evangelicals do.
A group of influential Christian leaders are declaring they are tired of divisive politics, tired of watching fights over some issues trump all the good they could be doing.
"Our proposal in [our] manifesto is to join forces with all those who support a civil public square. ... a vision of public life in which people of all faiths - which, of course, means no faith - are free to enter and engage public life on the basis of their faith," said evangelical leader Os Guinness.
For Democrats, the timing is good. The party has been pushing to overcome the "faith gap," that many feel has hurt them with church-going voters.
Read more here
Obama open to joining McCain on trail
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/10/art.obamaor.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Barack Obama speaks to reporters in Bend, Oregon, Saturday."]
BEND, Oregon (CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama said Saturday that if he were to become the Democratic nominee, holding joint town hall-style campaign events with Republican Sen. John McCain would be a "great idea."
"Obviously, we would have to think through the logistics on that," Obama continued. "But ... if I have the opportunity to debate substantive issues before the voters with John McCain, that's something that I am going to welcome."
Recently, advisors to the all-but-certain GOP nominee have said the Arizona senator is open to the idea, and his campaign has touted the fact that he and Democrat Bill Bradley held joint campaign events when the two ran for the presidential nomination in 1999.
“John McCain has repeatedly encouraged these types of appearances with his opponents in the past," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.
"But in order to extend all due respect to Sen. Clinton, we will look forward to welcoming the arrangements when the Democrats have actually chosen their nominee," Bounds added.
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