May 20th, 2008
11:22 PM ET
15 years ago

Obama says his campaign is 'within reach of the nomination'

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/20/art.obamaiowa.ap.jpg caption="Obama addressed Iowa supporters Tuesday."](CNN) - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama told an Iowa crowd Tuesday night that his campaign was “within reach of the Democratic nomination.”

CNN projects that Obama won the Oregon primary. Hillary Clinton beat him by a wide margin in Kentucky – but the Illinois senator is still expected to claim a minimum of 14 of the 51 delegates at stake in Tuesday's contest, giving him 1,627 of the 3,253 delegates that will be awarded during the Democratic primaries and caucuses.

"You have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination," Obama told a cheering crowd in Des Moines.

"The skeptics predicted we wouldn't get very far," he said. "The cynics dismissed us as a lot of hype and a little too much hope. And by the fall, the pundits in Washington had all but counted us out. But the people of Iowa had a different idea."

Obama congratulated Clinton's win in Kentucky, calling her "one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for this office." He dismissed claims that the heated exchanges between him and Clinton have divided the party.

"No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age," he said.


Filed under: Candidate Barack Obama
soundoff (109 Responses)
  1. Faktur

    I, like most watchers of American politics, is looking forward to the day I would be proud–yet again–about almost everything 'USA'. And you know what, me think a President Obama will make that happen–sure he would.

    May 21, 2008 03:32 am at 3:32 am |
  2. Mike Stephens

    Let's just hope and pray that Clinton pulls this off somehow. The thought of Obama's inexperience and rash inability makes me cringe. Go Clinton!

    May 21, 2008 03:34 am at 3:34 am |
  3. Ajay

    Congradulation senator Obama, I hope and wish you will be a great world leader, who will bring peace to the world.

    May 21, 2008 03:52 am at 3:52 am |
  4. BHO

    I said some months ago that OBAMA will be the winner to be nominated the democratic candidate but alas.. CNN never publish it!

    Now what is the big point CNN making the readers to believe?

    May 21, 2008 03:53 am at 3:53 am |
  5. Dave

    I want to say congrats to Sen. Clinton for being such a strong candidate.
    But really now is the time for her to do her party a favor and get behind Sen. Obama and start working with him to win the presidency and bring change to Washington, and put the US back to being in good standing with the world community.
    Please Hillary just stop !!!!!!

    May 21, 2008 03:55 am at 3:55 am |
  6. Jack Smith

    This primary is over...
    Lets get together people!

    Obama is a great leader, Hillary is also not bad, but Obama introduces something new. It is not only the "change" statement, but the feeling! We all need to realize that we need change and that we are ready for it. We need to contribute!

    We'll crash the Republicans come November!

    May 21, 2008 04:17 am at 4:17 am |
  7. Folorunso Odidi

    Congratulations to senator Barack Obama! But a joint ticket with "Billary" Clinton would be disastrous for the United State of America. Watch out!

    May 21, 2008 04:18 am at 4:18 am |
  8. Ted van Tol

    I hope Hillary will give up soon and that she
    can manage her voters to support Barack if he is the nomine.
    I would be a desaster for the USA and the world when the
    Clintonvoters vote in november for McCain.
    And, from the start the difference between the programs of
    Hillary and Barack are almost the same.

    I can not understand why thru democrats will vote for a
    totaly different program that is proposed by McCain.
    The democrats that hate Obama so much that they vote for
    McCain and his terrible Bush policy are no democrats at all!
    They will make a desasteres choise not only for their country but
    also for their childeren and grandchilderen.
    Please reconsidder and join for a better future. I can understand
    you will be dissapointed that you candidat has not won but it is realy
    time to change politics in the USA, if it's not by Hillary than it will be done by Barack..
    The whole world is waiting for that to happen!

    With love from the Netherland

    May 21, 2008 05:21 am at 5:21 am |
  9. Gebray hagos Teklay from Adwa,Ethiopia

    I would like to say congradulation to the people of USA ,please ready for change.We expect more from Senator Obama to expose punish dictators in Africa like Meles of Ethiopia.
    Thank you!!

    May 21, 2008 05:38 am at 5:38 am |
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