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May 14, 2008
Hillary
Clinton Won't Quit Race
Washington
Senator Hillary Clinton claimed victory in the Democratic Party's
West Virginia presidential primary at a televised rally following
the close of polls.
"I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until
everyone has had a chance ... to be heard," Clinton said Tuesday,
pumping her supporters for more money to keep her campaign alive.
With 68 percent of polling stations reporting, the former first lady
had 66 percent of the vote compared to 27 percent for rival
Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
Clinton's pre-victory speech was upbeat and conciliatory, and she
commended rival Democratic candidate Obama.
"I believe that this campaign has been good for the Democratic Party
and good for our country," Clinton said. "People are discussing and
debating issues. They are turning out in record numbers to register
and to vote. There is an excitement about politics that is the
lifeblood of our democracy."
Major television networks had predicted a Clinton victory
immediately after voting stations closed Tuesday evening.
Clinton closely trails Obama in delegates won for the Democratic
presidential nominating convention in August. Despite the narrow
margin, her campaign has been declared all but hopeless by most of
the national media, with only a handful of small states yet to vote
in the intra-party contest.
Clinton argued Tuesday night that contested primary states, Florida
and Michigan, should see their votes counted. The states voted in
January, too early under national party rules, leading to the loss
of their convention delegates.
"Some said our campaign was over after Iowa, but then we won New
Hampshire. Then we had big victories on Super Tuesday and in Ohio
and Texas and Pennsylvania. And, of course, we came from behind to
win in Indiana," Clinton reminded primary voters.
"So, this race isn't over yet. Neither of us has the total delegates
it takes to win. And both Senator Obama and I believe that the
delegates from Florida and Michigan should be seated."
Clinton's campaign was banking on a strong win in West Virginia to
revive her fortunes and convince party leaders that the New York
senator is best positioned to reach a broad coalition of voters for
the Nov 4 general election.
Only 28 delegates are up for grabs in West Virginia. Without the
inclusion of Florida and Michigan, no realistic scenario exists for
Clinton to catch Obama in pledged delegates awarded by voters.
May 14, 2008
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