Larry Eichel reports...
In a conference call this morning, the Clinton camp tried to alter the expectations game in Pennsylvania and the definition of what would be success or failure for the two Democratic presidential candidates on April 22.
The consensus within the political community has been that Hillary Rodham Clinton had to take the state big, perhaps by double digits, to be able to claim that she'd won it a way that matters in the overall nomination struggle -- given her deficits in both the delegate race and the overall popular voter. But her strategists say that such thinking should not apply, now that Barack Obama has completed a six-day bus tour of the states and has outspent Clinton by a huge margin on television commercials.
Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said: "Pennsylvania, absent the resource differential, ought to be a fair fight for the two candidates." He noted that Pennsylvania is a swing state in a general election and, in some senses, a microcosm of the country. For Obama, he said, failure to win it would raise renewed questions about the Illinois senator's ability to win big states and to close the deal with voters.
"Sen. Obama ought to be able to win. I think they expect to win," Wolfson said. "If they fail to win there, they will have failed in Pennsylvania."
In other words, now that "the Obama campaign is now fully engaged in the fight for Pennsylvania," as Wolfson put it, Clinton shouldn't be held to any margin-of-victory standard on April 22. Said Wolfson for those who might not have gotten the point: "I believe that a win is a win."
And to wrap it up, a final video from the Obama bus tour:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/multimedia/17270819.html
The moved goal post...Classic.— Tanksleyd
That's a Clinton for you: Change the playground rules all the time for their advantage and disadvantage of "my opponent". Know by now that Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is not about playing fair. Go to her past for HDR early foul play go http://www.northstarwriters.com/dc163.htm— CA Hope- It's not criminal, it's animal. The show that she and to a smaller degree all politicians play gives insight to us all. Like I said Classic. I don't want to kick her when shes down.
- Hey! Did you hear the one about Hillary and the manure...Well she was a diggin'....... ;-)
- Why isn't it front page news when Obama misspeaks? e.g. When he used the phrase “typical white person” last month. But as usual, Obama continues to get a free pass by the media. Honestly, if Hillary ever said “typical black person”, she would be ripped to shreds by the media. Oh wait, she already is.— Alex
- What does typical mean?— Moneyrich
- Hazelton, pa Do not put Hillary and Bill in the white house, let's respect our young intern, our little boys and girls. Do not put disrespectiful in the white house again, because George Bush would have to oclean it up again. Hillary where is the tax paper? All the foolish jokes and fairy tales aside, BECAUSE THE BIG GIRL SEEM TO BULLY THE BIG BOYS, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? TAX PAPER, YOU HAVE HAD LONG ENOUGH, HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE PHILLY. DENOUNCE HILLARY AT THE POLL— glue
- Wolfson is right. All Hillary needs is a 1 vote win to take it all the way. Remember every vote counts, and yes, even the superdelegates. But that's later...Turn out and vote for Hillary!!— Tammie
- Just like the Clintons to change everything for their benefit, just like Michigan and Florida, Hill said back in Oct/07 that their votes do not count, and now that she is behind she blames it all on Obama. Is this what we want back in the White House? Wake up PA, lets show everyone we are smarter than TX and Ohio— lexus817
- The logical follow-up would be 'is a win a win in Texas - or does that BIG state no longer matter now that Obama has confirmed his victory?' Howard? Penn? Ickes? Anyone? Anyone?— COPotter
- Big states , AfAm, rules, caucuss, racial slurs, lies about experience--none of it matters WHEN--'YOU ARE IN IT TO WIN IT". Now she slams the American soldiers by making jokes about snipers, bullets, and gun. Shameless.— Bink1
- is anyone else as sick of the SPIN as I am? I guess the Clinton campaign prediction of a 15pt margin doesn't look so sure -- That's the biggest problem - the Clinton campaign thinks everyone that votes for them is dumb well they may have a point— alisonw
- Amazing how Hillary thinks can she change the rules and manipulate people. She's doing what Hillary does best, dividing people and picking fights. Her plan is to ignore the rules and sue sue sue for power. I think she'd be even worse than Bush.— Kathryn
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The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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