Clinton seeks to come back from the dead

US commentators might already be reading the last rites of the Clinton campaign, but in the mind of the former first lady, there is apparently no deathbed from which she cannot rise again. In the wake of her hairsbreadth Indiana win and resounding North Carolina loss on Tuesday, the Clinton camp has been busy pounding the few remaining paths which might lead her - albeit precariously - to the nomination.

But even the most talented book-cooker would struggle to make these numbers add up. With no hope of catching rival Barack Obama in either the delegate count or the popular vote, Clinton has only two avenues left to pursue. The first, and most crucial, is to strike a deal which would see the disqualified delegates from the Florida and Michigan primaries seated at the convention. The Hillary For President website posted a petition this week demanding that Florida in particular be counted, and the campaign has included the state’s results in its own tallies. Clinton, meanwhile, continues to refer to them in her stump speeches. Determined to portray Obama’s resistance to such a move as undemocratic, the former first lady sent an open letter to her rival denouncing him for obstructing a solution. Obama meanwhile has spoken of a need to seat the delegates in some way – but his newfound willingness to do so reflects his confidence that his lead is now unassailable.

Michigan is a harder sell, however. Whereas in Florida, Obama was a candidate but did not campaign – in accordance with party rules penalizing states for holding primaries early – in Michigan, he was absent from the ballot entirely. Clinton, however, defied party rules to remain on the ballot – and is now hoping her maneuvers will pay off. But, as a pro-Hillary superdelegate quoted by the Huffington Post indicates, she is failing to gain much traction. Says Mame Reiley, a member of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee, "it's a whole different ballgame with Michigan. My decision there might make Hillary not happy with me."

Her second strategy - one that relies heavily on the success of the first - is to convince the superdelegates that only she can win against John McCain come November. According to congressional aides and lawmakers quoted by Politico - during a visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday Clinton simply ambled into the offices of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and asked for any uncommitted superdelegates that happened to be around. This scattergun approach does not appear to be working too well so far - in the three days since the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, Obama has picked up six superdelegates, while Clinton has taken one and lost one, for a net gain of zero.

Her increasingly desperate attempt to convince superdelegates that Obama is unelectable has also backfired rather spectacularly in recent days. In an interview with USA Today, she finally voiced what she has long been implying - that Obama cannot win because of his skin colour. "Senator Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again," she said, adding: "There's a pattern emerging here."

Her comments prompted a trenchant editorial by the New York Times, which formerly endorsed the New York senator, calling on her to conduct herself with dignity if she insisted on remaining in the race.

"Mrs. Clinton will be making a terrible mistake — for herself, her party and for the nation — if she continues to press her candidacy through negative campaigning with disturbing racial undertones. We believe it would also be a terrible mistake if she launches a fight over the disqualified delegations from Florida and Michigan," the paper said. Referring to her remarks, it added: "Yes, there is a pattern — a familiar and unpleasant one. It is up to Mrs. Clinton to change it if she hopes to have any shot at winning the nomination or preserving her integrity and her influence if she loses."

But bowing out with dignity does not appear to be a concept with which "Rocky" Clinton is familiar. She continues to insist she will battle it out to the last - though there are signs that privately, her campaign knows it is in its death throes. Lawrence O'Donnell writes on the Huffington Post of a conversation he recently had with a senior campaign official, who spoke of an end to the race by June 15 - after the last remaining primaries but a full two months ahead of the convention. This official could not bring himself to say that Clinton would drop out, saying only that she was a reasonable person, but the meaning was clear, O' Donnell writes. "The Clinton campaign has not lost its grip on reality," he says. "Yes, Clinton spokespersons publicly seem to be lost on gravity-free planet Clinton, but privately they know the end is near."

Comments

[Wizard101]

Its not over until the fat lady sings - once the newest scandal gets out - the super d's will be flocking to get out of the way..
Stay tuned - you are in for a real ride.

[A. Cristina]

Sorry, Hillary! You tried! In every way but one, you tried! Your personality showed up, then your true colors did too. Then..., 'We the People' heard what you meant but couldn't say. Not the nation, not its well being and not that of the people, but Hillary's ambition and ego tripping, that's what the whole thing was about. A pity! A true pity! Had the campaign been genuine and heartfelt...! Had you had the vision and the heart...! As it is, it is only another 'might have been'!
Now I wonder if you'll swallow pride and prejudice and stand behind Mr. Obama all the way to the White House? It's the only way left to political redemption, you know.

[Gayle, South Africa]

Could this be the Florida recount, round 2? Can the Democrats hold their heads up if such a thing is allowed?

I think Hillary should stop now, and retain some dignity. It is very disturbing that she is choosing to play the race card in any shape or form.

[Claudia Schellschmidt]

Hillary has been in the white house 2 times and she was n't liked then for her actions!! You really believe that america will let her come back??????

[chemical mike]

i dont know about all of you out there, but i think the democrats dropped the ball big time in this up-coming election. instead of clinton and obama fighting it out for the chance to be the first of their race/gender to be americas president, they both should've teamed up TOGETHER and ran .( isnt THAT what we really wanted in the first place?)
feel free to disagree, folks
peace
p.s. dont vote, stay apathetic

[philippe peron]

I think the world has suffered enough from a decision so obviously cruel to vote for a illegal Irak war by selfish people like Hillary or Georges.The least I would expect from her is to have a wee bit of decency and admits beforeit is too late that only Obama can bring America back from total ruin brought on it with brio by the Bush dinasty.Good luck to all Democrats with this project.

[Jason Brink]

This is politics people, at least Hillary is willing to speak her mind and be HONEST! I would say that is something that Obama could learn from her, instead of hiding behind lies and denial. I am pro-Hillary, and will support her until the end! Go Hillary, stay HONEST AND TRUE!