Clinton supporters tell her: 'It's an honor, Madame President!'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/30/art.clintonsd.ap.jpg caption="Clinton campaigned in South Dakota Thursday."] WATERTOWN, South Dakota (CNN) - Long bus rides along rolling fields, small town stops, intimate crowds and diner pie typically symbolize the run up to the Iowa caucuses and the start of the presidential nominating season. But Hillary Clinton's two-day swing through South Dakota, a state that ends the primary process Tuesday, had all those trappings and neither the candidate nor her supporters were acting as though this race was nearing an end.
"A lot of people didn't want this campaign to keep going. They've been trying to tell me to stop running since January - and every time they say it, people rebuke it and keep voting for me. That's what I hope will happen here in South Dakota," she told a cheering crowd of several hundred in Huron.
As she stood in front of an enormous American flag, Clinton wound through her stump speech promising fiscal responsibility, universal health care, better and more jobs, ending the war in Iraq - all the issues candidates touch as they claw for every vote. She promised that between now and Tuesday there would not be a day without a Clinton in some corner of this state. As voters left they were given small Xeroxed fliers advertising a Bill Clinton event Friday in Mitchell.
Earlier Thursday die-hard Clinton supporters and some undecided Democrats waited patiently inside the smallish Second Street Diner in Madison hoping for a glimpse of and a picture with the presidential candidate. Upon arrival Clinton gripped and grinned with the all white, mostly middle-aged female crowd stopping at each booth and table to chat about issues or her Wednesday trip to Mt. Rushmore – "it's an honor, Madame President!" one woman shrieked as Clinton bounced through the door.
Clinton sat with a group of all female campaign volunteers sipped her tea and nibbled her pie before she took the microphone for a semi-impromptu speech and question and answer session with the diner crowd.
Jolene Johnson, a Madison resident and undecided voter, said Clinton's situation did not look "favorable" but said the "tenacity of staying in is typical of a woman ... she is not a quitter." She came to the diner to hear Clinton's pitch, and brought her granddaughter along to show her that a woman could run for president.
"I'd like to see her win," said retiree Wayne Grad. "Obama is a good candidate, but he lacks the experience. He's too much of a rock star." Grad said he thought calls for Clinton to exit the race were premature. When asked whether he thought Clinton would be his party's nominee he said, "I'd like to believe she is."
Clinton logged hours on the road to touch South Dakota's urban and rural communities from Rapid City in the west to Watertown in the east. She heads to Puerto Rico Friday for a three-day swing and a presumed victory in the island's Sunday primary, further adding to her popular vote total and her argument that she still has a chance at the nomination.
The campaign is mum about where she heads after Sunday and what her schedule holds for next week. The mid-size traveling press corps received an email to sign up for future travel, prompting questions about where the bus was headed next? A campaign spokesman replied "there are a lot of places to go to between June 3 and November."
Obama has done NOTHING!
Axelrod has done it all! Every opinion Obama expresses is orchestrated by Axelrod - that's why you'll rarely see Obama say anything substantive off-the-cuff . The "Obama Phenomenon" is a carefully crafted public relations event - and it started long go.
DO THE RESEARCH YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT – IT'S NOT HARD TO COME BY:
Example: For four years Axelrod had camera crews tracking virtually everything Obama has done in public — chatting up World War II vets in southern IL, visiting his father’s ancestral village in Kenya — and often camera crews outnumbered the civilians. He found a grainy, C-Span-style shot of Obama talking about homelessness on the floor of the IL state Senate, which he quickly used to establish Obama’s prior political experience.
Before that, Axelrod was mostly visible in Chicago the last decade as Mayor Daley’s public relations strategist - the guy who goes on TV to defend Daley from charges of corruption.
Axelrod also operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies. This company discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to shift public opinion their way. He and his partners consider virtually everything about ASK to be “top secret.”
So when a vote for Obama is nothing more than for Axelrod, his "brain." Good Luck!
Not likely..........unless President of the Senate ( VP) position. That will never happen after the last three weeks. GO OBAMA
am I the only one the is starting to find this all a bit disturbing? I mean can anyone really picture this person POTUS?
Just a warning to all Dems:
I can already hear Hillary's NEW argument when Obama hits the magic number.
"Super Delegates have the right to change their minds. I know, several have gone from backing me to my opponent. Therefore, it is my right as woman living in the US of A to take this thing to the convention. During that time I will lobby all SD's to vote for the woman with the lead in popular vote and can win in the swing states".
And, if she cannot convince those SDs, she MAY even run as an Independent.
Say hello to President McCain. Thanks Hill for caring so much about your party.
Senator Obama, if you do get the nod, like you should, and you pick Hillary Clinton as your VP, I will be forced to vote for someone else. I DO NOT WANT A PERSON WHO LIES SO EASILY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Look where that has gotten us today.
Let alone, with her RFK comments, I wouldn't put anything past her to get to that ultimate position!
Clinton take the fight to the convention and then run independent
SHE HAS A RIGHT TO STAY IN BUT HER TIME COULD BE BETTER SPENT HELPING OBAMA POUNCE ON MCCAIN. THIS IS WHY I THINK SHE IS BEING SELFISH. IF THE TABLES WERE REVERSED PEOPLE WOULD BE SAYING OBAMA SHOULD GET OUT SO THERE IS NO DOUBLE STANDARD.
It's amazing how Obama supporters can take a simple, innocuous news story about Sen. Clinton and find hate-filled remarks to send to this "Comments" column. What kind of people does this man attract so many of?
LOL ! The headline reads :Clinton supporters, (plural) tell her: "It's an honor, Madame President". Then I read the article and found she's in a diner and it was one woman who "shrieked, it's an honor ....". too bad she just doesn't have enough supporters to get her the nomination. i guess her supporters will certainly start to shriek after June 3. Bye, bye.
Bush = Enron
Obama = Excelon
Same stuff, different person.
Hillary 08, the real person of change.
OSAMA CANT STEAL THIS ELECTION!!!! SHE WON MICHIGAN BY 100% OF THE VOTE!!!! UNCOMMITTED VOTES DONT COUNT LOOSERS!!!!
Clinton supporters come out and cry that it isn't the fault of the people of Florida and Michigan that their leaders held the election unfairly. They showed up and voted the only way they could, so they should be counted, it is the American way.
Isn't it so true then in the caucus states. Sure you would like them to have a primary, but their leaders decided on a caucus, and people came to vote the only way they could. Should THEIR votes NOT be counted?
That is what Clinton wants to do. Her "lead" in popular vote, includes Michigan and Florida (With Obama getting 0 in Michigan) and NOT counting 4 caucus states that Obama won.
Does that sound like she wants to COUNT EVERY VOTE?
It sounds to me like "Count every vote that was cast for ME"
Can we give the nomination to a person (Clinton) because of a popular vote lead that would only exist if we disregard the 600,000 people who voted in four states? Not to mention the 300,000 people who voted "uncommitted" in Michigan who don't get a voice in the election.
Hillary Rodham Clinton – The only canidate with a built in BS detector.
Barak Hussein Obama – The only candidate with a built in racial church.
John McCain – The only Republican candidate.
I will vote for Clinton (write in her name if necessary), give my vote to the only other centrist on the ballot if Clinton is not on the ticket if necessary (That would be McCain) or just leave the presidential election part blank. I WILL NEVER VOTE OBAMA. I think Clinton should get the nomination and pick someone OTHER THAN OBAMA to run as her VP.
It only takes one negative ad campain of Reverend Wrong, Reverend Flatulance and Bill "I only wish I had set more bombs" Ayres to ruin the Democratic chances in November.
NO MORE INTERNS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. It's time for a change, Put someone that can govern into the White House!!!!!!!
Can't wait for next week! After that – no more news about her and Bill!
Great to see a rookie bring them down and it's pleasure to see how they have been acting!
Must be a shock to see this young-black man win!
Go Obama! We got 2-supers today! Our count-down is 40!
You know, BUSH is a FIGHTER too, often irrationally - Hillary is pretty much the same thing. You people really respect that trait?
Celestial choir will come and Hillary Rotten Clinton will be the next president of the
UNDECIDED STUPID AMERICA. and she will wave a magic wand and the other half of educated americans will see her different, like an honest truth telling trustworthy person,
yeah right…
Delussional(:
As anyone who has been reading the bloggs knows this is nothing new.........
We Love you Madame President!
And we need your Solutions for America!
The cult following of the Left Wing Nut Case has been VERY disrespectful, hateful and down right NASTY.
It is the reason Moderates and Conservatives will not support the Left Wing Puppet-we have been completely turned off and don't want to be a part of this HORRIBLE MOVEMENT!
Take it to the floor Hillary-Millions of us (in fact MORE OF US) have YOUR BACK!!
Hillary 08
Obama Supporters claim they are intelligent. How could they not see that if Barack sits in the Oval Office for 365 days, he's just going to be "present" and keep on sitting until he falls asleep as in his politics in Chicago, calling out "present" for 133 times without voicing his stance on issues. You are all delusional that he can do the job!!!!
florida voter for obama: tu tambien seras un viejo . You will will be old
someday and i am sure real funny. idiota.
So she promised fiscal responsibility...ummm before you buy into that you may want to find out if she's paid off all those small business owners her campaign owes money to...on that healthcare promise you might want to make sure that her staff's healthcare premiums are up to date. After that , and if still believe all her crap you might want to see a doctor.
Be lucky to call her Madame garbage collector if she keeps making a fool of herself. By the way, i thought the priest mocking Hillary was hilarious. Should have been an SNL skit.
DEAR HILLARY AS ONE SENIOR CITIZEN TO ANOTHER I WOULD THINK THAT DURING THESE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE HERE WE WOULD HAVE LEARNED SOME COMMON SENSE AND THAT EVERYTHING CAN NOT GO OUR WAY.YOU HAVE A HUSBAND,A DAUGHTER,NICE HOMES,AUTOMOBILES,YOUR HEALTH AND PLENTY OF MONEY.I ON THE OTHER HAND DO NOT HAVE ALL THESE THINGS BUT I DO HAVE COMMON SENSE AND THAT SHOULD TELL YOU TO STOP ACTING LIKE A OLD STUBBORN MULE OUR GENERATION HAS GOT THIS COUNTRY IN THE SHAPE ITS IN TODAY.LET THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A GO AT IT WHO KNOWS IT WILL PROBABLY WORK OUT IF WE OLDER ONES WOULD KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT AND STOP PRETENDING LIKE WE KNOW SO MUCH SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG.I LOOK AT MY GRANDKIDS AND SEE HOW WELL THEY GET ALONG WITH ALL RACES THEY CALL EACH OTHER BEST FRIENDS AND HERE WE ARE OLD AS DIRT AND STILL HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW TO GET ALONG .THE BIBLE SAYS OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES COMES WORDS OF WISDOM AND THAT I BELIEVE.SO SIT BACK,RELAX AND SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND GIVE THESE YOUNG FOLKS A CHANCE AFTER ALL WE'VE ALREADY MESSED THIS COUNTRY UP AND SINCE THEY WILL BE THE ONES LEFT HERE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAKE A COUNTRY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN AND ENJOY.
Its so funny how every one keeps hollering how Obama doesnt have the experience because they can easily point at his years in the Senate but they over look the fact at how well he out campaigned a person with 35 years experience to the point where they are in debt trying to keep up! Im sorry its easy to make that argument but look at reality! Hillary shouldnt be in this position! He must be doing SOMETHING right! Oh yeah thats right..we're delusional! Even if Hillary got the nomination at this point she will NOT win! Everyone around the world has watched Obama beat her fair and square and everyone around the world has watched her try and manipulate this contest with her tactics and her, all of a sudden, concern for Mi and Fl! People wake up! I love Hillary just as much as you do...but her failure is her fault and hers alone!! She cant blame blacks..latinos are the bigger minority now! She cant blame right wing conspiracy because she is the only one that used right wing tactics. She's tried to blame sexism even though if she were anyone else they wouldve BEEN told her to step down! The most admirable thing she can do right now for ALL WOMAN is step down gracefully if not any woman that runs in teh future will be smeared by Hillary's tactics Every day she stays in after June 3rd is a day taken away from her great legacy!
How many more skeletons in Obama's closest will be exposed.? It is amazing that one who proports to be so pure has so many friends that are racist bigots. I am tired of hearing he did not know these people had these views. If Obama had been scrutinized like Senator Clinton, folks would not be so supportive of his views. The Democrats are going to lose once again because they are out of touch with reality. I am a long time Democrat, but I can not and will not support Obama.
Hillary's having a time of her life people – causing chaos among the democratic party, in a time of War, where thousands of troops are trying to survive, when the United States is in a mess. And she's enjoying herself.
Can't you see how much fun she is having with herself, and you have to wonder HOW?
Hillary is absolutely revolting.
Bow to the Queen,we are not worthy.there is a thing called reality.One of the places that she needs to go is back to her real job in New York.How can so many people expect for millions of people to vote,Millions of dollars spent on primaries ,then just give it to her even though she has lost in every catagory.I'm going to be glued to CNN Saturday to see if the if the DNC does the right thing or if they wimp out and penalize the 48 states that followed the rules.