Clinton Is Urged to Drop Out if She Loses on Tuesday - NYT

[stop the bleeding]

WASHINGTON — Top supporters of Senator Barack Obama, joined by at least one prominent Democrat yet to endorse a candidate, put pressure on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday to bow out of the presidential race unless she scores clear victories in the crucial big-state primary contests on Tuesday.

“I just think that D-Day is Tuesday,” said Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a former Democratic presidential candidate who has yet to throw his support behind either candidate.

And two Obama supporters, Senators John Kerry and Dick Durbin, pushed for Mrs. Clinton to withdraw if she does poorly at the polls on Tuesday.

~snip~

Mr. Richardson, saying that it was vital to Democrats’ hopes in the general election in November to mount a positive, unifying campaign, said on the CBS News program “Face the Nation” that “whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday clearly, in my judgment, should be the nominee.”

For that to be Mrs. Clinton, she would have to significantly exceed the results predicted by polls, which now show Texas a virtual toss-up, while Ohio voters narrowly favor her. In the smaller states, Mrs. Clinton holds a lead in Rhode Island while Mr. Obama has the edge in Vermont.

~snip~
And a Clinton supporter, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, said on “Fox News Sunday” that Mrs. Clinton should ignore the pressure to bow out and decide for herself what is best. “Hillary Clinton is a major candidate,” Ms. Feinstein said. “She has every right to stay in the race if she chooses to do so.”





http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/us/politics/02cnd-campaign.html?hp


Please discuss and enjoy

[adoraz]

1. they need to make it more clear what they mean EDIT: ok the OP was updated

by poorly, do they mean she breaks even in delegates for the day, or she loses by 15 delegates for the day?

Most likely it will be a tie, and if that happens she should drop out.

[JackORoses]

10. she has to gain in delegates, and gain big

otherwise she cannot make up the deficit, and there is no point wasting more time and resources on this Primary Contest

[DJ13]

2. Even Carville grudgingly admitted on MTP this AM she would need to quit....

......if she didnt win both Ohio and Texas on Tuesday.

He hated to say it, but he finally was pressured by the rest of the panel (including his wife) to say he agreed with Bill Clinton about the need to win both.

[Dinger]

3. Pressure Or Threat?

Just asking.

[blocker]

7. na na na na hey hey hey goodbye!!!

Sing Along....na na na na , hey hey hey gooodddbbbyyyee!!!

[Dinger]

19. Back At Ya

You uniter you.:sarcasm:

[stop the bleeding]

4. FUCK read this part from ROVE!

But Karl Rove, the former senior political adviser to President Bush and architect of his presidential election victories, said such calls from Democrats for Mrs. Clinton’s withdrawal were unwise and unbecoming.

“I think it’s a mistake for his campaign to be calling for her to drop out,” Mr. Rove said on Fox. That would be seen as “rubbing her nose” in the fact that she is trailing, he said. “It’s up to the delegates at the convention to decide who wins and loses,” he added.

[Cha]

15. Fuck rove and his rovian strategy that got bushits

in and the dirty campaigning by hilaryland.

[Johnny__Motown]

16. His supporters are saying that, not his campaign. More Rovian distortions

[Drunken Irishman]

17. Rove wants this to go on as long as possible.

Because Clinton's bullshit gutter politics will give McCain so much fodder for the general election.

[1776Forever]

27. Exactly - DUH - How stupid to even think that Rove would be "fair" and feel for HRC! ROTFL!!!!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Drunken Irishman]

29. Yup, well I'm sure Clinton fans will feel he's being fair.

[stop the bleeding]

33. well the problem is this now

some of the logic that HRC fans have used lately is the same that Rove just used. I mean no liberal in their right mind would ever have the same talking points as Rove. As much as he wants this thing to drag out, he kinda just killed one of their talking points.

I'm just sayin and all

[KoKo]

64. Rove wants Hillary to drop out so he can focus his attention on Obama!

Rove and his cohorts are having a real hard time keeping the Media shoving dirt at both Clinton and Obama.

Be careful what you wish for...because it might happen in the way you don't imagine. Be grateful Hillary is hanging in there...

[Drunken Irishman]

74. Na.

This is Rove's dream. Obama is being attacked from both the Democratic and Republican side. It's a one-two punch, once Clinton drops out, it becomes only the McCain punch.

He's hoping this goes well into the summer, because it'll only get that much uglier. I bet Rove is praying for a 1980-type convention.

[DJ13]

18. Rove (and most neocons) WANT a divided Democratic Party

Thats why he doesnt want Hillary to quit or be forced out.

[Why Syzygy]

77. Oh please let's do let Mr. Rove tell us what to do! Nothing could be finer. eom

[LiberalAndProud]

85. When Rove talks, I go into double-think mode.

If Rove want it then it's bad for us, so we need to do the opposite. But Rove knows that we'll do the opposite of what he says, so maybe we should do what he says. But maybe he knows that we know that he wants us to do the opposite of what he says so maybe we should do the opposite of what he says.

Stopping now. Getting dizzy.

[NightWatcher]

5. define "loss"?

I think that unless she wins all four states with more than 60-40 numbers, she should drop out. Even Bill said that she needs to win Texas AND Ohio and that she cannot win if she doesnt take those two states. A 52/48 win is not enough.

I think that we will know what Hillary thinks of the Democratic Party based on the outcome of the tuesday primary. If she loses Texas by a percent or 2 delegates and fails to win Ohio with more than a 40 delegate advantage and does not drop out it shows that she cares more about power than the good of the country and party.

I will be curious to see WHO puts how much pressure on her depending on the results of the vote two days from now.

[indimuse]

6. she will not drop out.

because she's a winner..and.......fighter to the end! That means for you and for me.

[liberalnurse]

9. That is so true.

To the Convention. Plus, maybe in July, Florida will be ready for a re-vote.

[Milo_Bloom]

13. Sounds exactly like what Edwards said....

.... a few days before he dropped out.


Clinton is following the same pattern

#1) Declare yourself a fighter.

#2) Blame the media

#3) Vow to stay in.

#4) Drop out.

[jefferson_dem]

22. Actually...for her.

That is all.

[Zachstar]

28. You mean the republicans.

Because the end is President McCain getting sworn in.

If this goes on past April then you can say hello to President McCain.

[goodgd_yall]

46. I don't understand this reasoning

We have to have a presumptive nominee by May in order to have hope of defeating McCain? Do tell.

[goodgd_yall]

43. Wow

Nice picture.

As long as Hillary is winning the big Demo states, there's no reason to drop out.

[grytpype]

8. I think she has to go through Tuesday for the sake of her supporters.

But then she has to drop out.

A Clinton restoration would have been OK, but America wants to put the past behind us a go in a totally new direction.

[rodeodance]

49. I was with you till I opened your post. If you think Corporist Obams is going to

to lead you in a ---totally new direction.----you will need to be de-programmed.

[NC_Nurse]

11. I am not interested in what DiFi has to say. She has lost me in the last year.

She seems to be headed down the Lieberman path. Yuck.

[progdog]

20. As a Californian

I must agree with you.

[ZinZen]

68. As another Californian

I have not voted for DiFi for years.

[goodgd_yall]

40. She came around recently

I forget the vote(s), but she started acting like the old Feinstein we used to know.

[burythehatchet]

70. Yes, the political equivalent of throwing bread crumbs to the masses n/t

[movonne]

12. Don't you just love fienstein...a true repug...screw the dems..

[JackORoses]

32. I really hope we have a challenger to DiFi in the next go round

[goodgd_yall]

56. That's a stupid thing to say----look at her voting record

No way she voted like a Republican. She's voted for troop withdrawal and abortion rights for one thing. Is that the voting record of a Republican.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Who Really Gives A Fuck What His Supporters Think?

She'll decide for herself. But I would think she'd care a little more about what her OWN supporters say, as opposed to, ya know, the rhetoric from her opponent.

[Dinger]

24. Bingo

Thanks for the post! Luv ya! :hi:

[Drunken Irishman]

26. Because if she loses Tuesday, she'll continue embarrassing herself and the party.

Clinton supporters want her to fight on, but there is nothing left to fight for after Tuesday. If she loses either Ohio or Texas, it's going to be nearly impossible for her to win this thing (hell, even if she wins -- unless by wide margins -- it'll be next to impossible).

Clinton needs to get out and back Obama because she's doing more harm than good for this party. If Clinton wants to stay in the race, she needs to take the Huckabee route and stop slamming Obama on every issue that will be used in the general election with Hillary's support. She's writing the attack book for McCain and her name will be all over it.

Does she even care if the Democrats win in November? Or is her ego so big that she'd rather watch Obama go down in flames for she can laugh and tell everyone she told them so?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

31. She's Embarassed Nobody. In Fact, I'm Quite Proud Of Her.

She has proven herself to be quite the fighter and she has my respect. I will support her decision to drop out or stay in whatever it may be, based on her own merits. I personally don't give a frog's fat ass when HIS supporters think she should drop out. I'd say they're just, like, ya know, a taddddd biased.

[Drunken Irishman]

35. Oh she's embarrassed a lot of people.

How do you think Obama became the frontrunner so fast?

You don't go from an 80% approval rating within the Democratic Party to where she is now without embarrassing those who once supported her. Face it, Clinton supporters, like Huckabee supporters, are becoming the fringe of this race.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

And Yet She's Had More Support From The Party Than Obama. Yeah, You Know What You're Talking About.

:rofl:

[Drunken Irishman]

59. Had is the operative word here.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

61. Including Currently.

Throughout this race, she's had the majority of democrats' support. That's what makes your statements look so blatantly ignorant.

No more food for you. :hi:

[Drunken Irishman]

72. When was the last time Clinton won more Democratic voters than Obama?

Wasn't in Hawaii or Wisconsin.
Wasn't in DC, Virginia or Maryland.
Wasn't in Maine.
Wasn't in Washington, Nebraska or Louisiana.

Ya' have to go all the way back to Super Tuesday to find a state where Clinton won more Democratic votes than Obama. So no, not currently at all.

[rodeodance]

51. its embarrassing just reading your crap!!

[anitar1]

62. The real split in the Dem Party will be caused by attitudes similar to

yours, DI. After reading so many angry and rabid posts the last few months, I am astonished by the hatred that is out there. You are all doing a good job of handing it over.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

41. she's only helping McCain at this point

by doing all this negative stuff, since she doesn't win on positives.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

45. Blah Blah Blah.

:boring:

[Drunken Irishman]

60. I know Clinton and her supporters don't care if we win in November unless she's on the ticket.

But many of us do.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

69. Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blazay Blah,

:boring:

[Bullet1987]

48. I agree with you Drunken Irishman...that's the same vibe I'm feeling

right now. If she loses and continues on...it's just to spite Obama.

[rodeodance]

39. bingo--Besides they have said that for months now. Why do they hate domocracy?

[PresidentObama]

21. Personally, if she loses either...I think she should. But it's up to her.

And it's her decision alone.

She can stay in until the convention if she wanted to. It's up to her!

[Dogmudgeon]

23. Suppose she does WELL.

If that happens, we get 5 months of "for the sake of the Party, Hillary, drop out now, or the blame for all our problems will be placed on YOU."

The idea that Obama is inevitable is likewise flawed. He has only a slightly better chance of getting 2025 delegates before the convention than HRC. Like it or not, a 52-48 split is not enough to guarantee that Obama will "PWN" Hillary, or vice-versa. She is still quite popular. But somehow, she has a much higher standard to meet.

Team Obama is turning out to be extremely thin-skinned and brittle. As long as Hillary is taking 100% of the damage, everything is fine, but once Hillary gets a percent here or there, or even a favorable comedy sketch, they become frantic and call for her to drop out and presumptively blame her for an intra-party split that doesn't even exist.

If Team Obama can't deal with the genteel opposition of Hillary Clinton, how are they going to cope with real-live Republican mud, that delightful mix of soil and crushed insects and feces and urine and broken glass?

--p!

[anamandujano]

25. Kerry, Durbin and Richardson!!! I'm shocked! Shocked!

Well, now we know what 3 peens in the objective corner of the planet think.

:eyes:

[blonndee]

30. Actually, Richardson is a LONG-TIME friend of the Clintons.

For him to come out and say that says a LOT.

[anamandujano]

36. He is a bitter loser rumored to be ready to endorse Obama.

He would have done it already if Bill Clinton hadn't had him under house arrest during some football game. I got a chuckle out of that.

[blonndee]

52. LOL!!

It is to laugh.

[Forkboy]

53. Who are some of you people going to like after this is over?

At the rate some of you are chucking bodies under the bus there won't be any Dems left that you can support. With friends like you....

[KoKo]

66. ain't that the truth...I wonder myself....n/t

[susankh4]

34. I can't even begin to tell you

the disappointment and rage that I feel toward the party I have supported and worked for.... for the last 32 years.

The bullying is unforgivable.

[anamandujano]

38. They are bullies alright! It is sickening.

[goodgd_yall]

37. I'm with Dianne on this

We have plenty of time to do the "unifying campaign." No need to be quick to coronate Obama.

[rodeodance]

42. She is a sane voice.

[AX10]

79. True.

[Colobo]

44. If she doesn't win by a landslide on both TX and OH, she should drop.

[NoodleyAppendage]

47. Feinstein and Schumer both support Hillary. That you tell you something.

ANYONE that these two traitorous dems support is likely to be part of the DINO/DLC "old school" club and will perpetuate the same pro-corporate, Repuke-lite, bullshit in Washington.

J

[AX10]

81. And the ULTIMATE DINO Ben Nelson supports Obama.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

50. why should she when these are "Open" primaries? crossover rethug voting in our dem race....

muddy the waters

let the super delegates do the job that they were created for to do....CLEAN THE DIRTY POOL

[cali]

67. Oh, don't worry, they will do the the job.

If Hillary loses either OH or TX on Tuesday the SDs will flood to Obama. They'll send her a message she won't be able to ignore. In case it escaped your notice, Obama's been closing the SD gap over the past 2 weeks. She now leads by something like 46 instead of 150. If she loses on Tuesday, the SDs will clean Hillary right out of the race.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

71. We will see how it shakes out in Denver.........

you did know that they can't cast their votes until then right?

they can talk all they want about who they say they are going to endorse but it's just that TALK!

[cali]

87. They can signal their intent, and it won't go to Denver

It won't even make it to the start of sugaring season. And no, it's not just talk. If you think Howard Dean is just talk, you don't know him.

[high density]

54. All of these blind Clinton supporters are suffering from Me Me Me Me Me syndrome

I can't believe some of these people want to see her extend this fighting until late April when PA votes. If it were a peaceful primary going on we'd be fine, but these last two weeks of intra-party fighting is not helping anybody but McCain.

[cooolandrew]

55. All the Democrat party is saying here is to respect a democratic decision, imagine

what it can do to certain superdelegates chances of re-election if they vote unfavourable to candidate a or b. That is the issue it has to be the people's vote.

[susankh4]

58. I will respect the decision

if Ms. Clinton does.

And... I'll continue to vote and work for lower Dem offices.

[anitar1]

57. She is free to do anything she wishes. He, also , can do anything

HE wishes except force another to do his bidding. This is a ploy to keep him from being questioned. Sounds like many Dems are very frightened of her. They must feel that McCain will win. So odd.

[sniffa]

63. Even if she gets routed on Tuesday, she should stay in

Maybe after Puerto Rico she can drop out, but not until they have their say.

I say this as a rabid Clinton hater too.

[CalGator]

83. absolutely disagree

It cannot come down to the convention. Even if Obama goes into it needing 10 Supers to win the nomination and Hillary needs 390, it would be awful for several reasons.

1) Clinton supporters would still cling to the hope that she gets in, and losing it at the convention would cause a rift in the party, at least temporarily. The wound would be too fresh and they would feel cheated by the Democratic establishment.

2) It would make Obama's nomination appear political at best, undemocratic at worst. That does not help him in the GE.

3) Republicans are likely to have an official nominee on Tuesday. He could then go on the campaign attack on the likely Democratic nominee, with Obama/Clinton still going at it and unable to attack back at both McInsane and the other candidate.

[LadyVT]

65. Silly news. Of COURSE Obama supporters want her to bow out.

[Drunken Irishman]

75. Richardson endorsed Obama?

[okasha]

82. Lots of Obama supporters seem to have learned their polity

as well as their politics under George Bush. I've never seen such a bunch of authoritarian-leaning instant-grantification-demanding little DINO Rethugs-in-dems'-clothing wussies in my life. :eyes:

Watch out--they'll hold their breath if Hillary doesn't drop out right this minute.

[grantcart]

73. Richardson went even further on CNN (no link yet)

He went beyond the statement in the NYT and said something to the effect that the party will be rallying around the presumptive nominee on Wednesday.

It was pretty obvious that he was indicating that he intended to endorse the presumptive nominee of the party on Wednesday.

[stop the bleeding]

76. wow that is a telling statement

when he said party, I am wondering if that means the Gang of 5?

[blonndee]

80. Does that suggest that there are others who are about to do likewise?

This could be an embarrassing flood for Clinton if so. Maybe he's trying to give Hillary a chance to bow out with dignity. If not... "the party will be rallying around" someone else. Do you think that's what he's saying?

[AX10]

78. I don't give a damn what Dickless Durbin says.

:puke:

[RandomKoolzip]

88. Ah...very mature.

So is it now okay to lump you in with the "minority" of Clinton supporters who are poisoning the atmosphere here?

[SoCalDem]

84. Or she could team up with Huckabee & offer Ron Paul up as Sec of State

and they could all keep running as the NSD Party (never-say-die):)

[Major Hogwash]

86. Wow, this is huge! Her supporters must be demoralized by this news.

As if it were a secret!

LoL

[loveangelc]

89. it's not over. if she loses tx or oh tho she will have to drop out if she wants to save herself

a LITTLE dignity...

[thoughtcrime1984]

90. Maybe this will go to PA, not necessarily a bad thing

The Obama campaign is on the ground in massive numbers there right now, and the polls have swung from Clinton domination down to near the MoE. Obama's campaigning is not to beat Clinton, it is to get his name out in the general public, which is going to benefit him in the GE. All of this work is not only for now, but later as well. Hell, we might as well go all the way to the convention, then he will have had plenty of face time in each and every state. I don't see how that hurts him, and I am not at all worried that Hillary is going to surpass him in delegates, as he is growing stronger as this season wears on.