Clove
02-12-2008, 04:51 PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/12/wuspols312.xml
Hillary Clinton struggles to rally support
By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 9:24pm GMT 12/02/2008
Hillary Clinton is struggling to shore up support among supporters as Barack Obama, her rival, continues to gather momentum in the race for the White House.
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The former First Lady has made a series of conference calls to anxious fundraisers and so-called super-delegates, who could play a decisive role in the neck-and-neck race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Mrs Clinton is heading for campaign stops in Texas
Several super-delegates, who have a free vote at the party convention that appoints the nominee, told the New York Times that having promised to vote for Mrs Clinton they were now thinking of supporting Mr Obama, especially if he wins more delegates chosen by the public.
One said he would ultimately have to "go with the flow", suggesting that her advantage among the 796 super-delegates would be lost.
Some of those involved in the calls reportedly said that she sounded jaded and were left concerned that Mrs Clinton could be on an irreversible losing streak.
Mr Obama was forecast to build on his narrow lead in delegates over Mrs Clinton with strong performances in primary votes in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, the so-called "Potomac primaries" named after the river that passes through all three jurisdictions.
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With the Illinois senator triumphing in five polls over the weekend, and forecast to do well in primaries in Hawaii and Wisconsin next week, Clinton supporters are well aware that she could go without a win between Super Tuesday on Feb 5 and Texas on March 4.
Having virtually written off her chances in the latest contests, Mrs Clinton was heading for campaign stops in Texas, which her strategists now privately admit could be make or break when it votes along with Ohio.
She has claimed that those states are more representative of the country as a whole, and suit her campaign.
Mike Huckabee resolves to keep on fighting
Clinton followers are upset that her strategists have not produced a short-term plan to deal with the impact of Mr Obama's charisma and pulling power. The Clinton camp is instead focusing on including a long-term tactical war for delegates.
It is arguing that delegates from Florida and Michigan should be included, although the Democratic National Committee has ruled they will be discounted after both states disobeyed party rules by holding their primaries too early. Mrs Clinton won both uncontested polls.
She is also stepping up her charm offensive for super-delegates, recruiting her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea in an attempt to stop super-delegate desertions.
She even despatched Chelsea to have breakfast with a 21-year-old Wisconsin student, who is a Democratic National Committee member and therefore a super-delegate.
Jason Rae said they discussed "electability and mobilising young voters". He said he had been called on his mobile phone by both Mr Clinton and Madeleine Albright, his secretary of state. Senator John Kerry had called on behalf of Barack Obama.
"I started to think, is this real? I am a junior in college and Bill Clinton is talking to me," he told ABC News.
Given the Clinton family's famous tenacity and readiness to get their hands dirty, no one will write off her candidacy until it is absolutely clear there is no way back.
Hillary Clinton struggles to rally support
By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 9:24pm GMT 12/02/2008
Hillary Clinton is struggling to shore up support among supporters as Barack Obama, her rival, continues to gather momentum in the race for the White House.
Huckabee's campaign rolls on | 2008 US elections in full
Toby Harnden: Hillary Clinton's Rudy Giuliani strategy
Trail Mix: Republicans turn to Barack Obama
The former First Lady has made a series of conference calls to anxious fundraisers and so-called super-delegates, who could play a decisive role in the neck-and-neck race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Mrs Clinton is heading for campaign stops in Texas
Several super-delegates, who have a free vote at the party convention that appoints the nominee, told the New York Times that having promised to vote for Mrs Clinton they were now thinking of supporting Mr Obama, especially if he wins more delegates chosen by the public.
One said he would ultimately have to "go with the flow", suggesting that her advantage among the 796 super-delegates would be lost.
Some of those involved in the calls reportedly said that she sounded jaded and were left concerned that Mrs Clinton could be on an irreversible losing streak.
Mr Obama was forecast to build on his narrow lead in delegates over Mrs Clinton with strong performances in primary votes in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, the so-called "Potomac primaries" named after the river that passes through all three jurisdictions.
advertisement
With the Illinois senator triumphing in five polls over the weekend, and forecast to do well in primaries in Hawaii and Wisconsin next week, Clinton supporters are well aware that she could go without a win between Super Tuesday on Feb 5 and Texas on March 4.
Having virtually written off her chances in the latest contests, Mrs Clinton was heading for campaign stops in Texas, which her strategists now privately admit could be make or break when it votes along with Ohio.
She has claimed that those states are more representative of the country as a whole, and suit her campaign.
Mike Huckabee resolves to keep on fighting
Clinton followers are upset that her strategists have not produced a short-term plan to deal with the impact of Mr Obama's charisma and pulling power. The Clinton camp is instead focusing on including a long-term tactical war for delegates.
It is arguing that delegates from Florida and Michigan should be included, although the Democratic National Committee has ruled they will be discounted after both states disobeyed party rules by holding their primaries too early. Mrs Clinton won both uncontested polls.
She is also stepping up her charm offensive for super-delegates, recruiting her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea in an attempt to stop super-delegate desertions.
She even despatched Chelsea to have breakfast with a 21-year-old Wisconsin student, who is a Democratic National Committee member and therefore a super-delegate.
Jason Rae said they discussed "electability and mobilising young voters". He said he had been called on his mobile phone by both Mr Clinton and Madeleine Albright, his secretary of state. Senator John Kerry had called on behalf of Barack Obama.
"I started to think, is this real? I am a junior in college and Bill Clinton is talking to me," he told ABC News.
Given the Clinton family's famous tenacity and readiness to get their hands dirty, no one will write off her candidacy until it is absolutely clear there is no way back.