Clinton targets Obama in speech

Posted: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 6:26 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Clinton campaign has released excerpts of the speech Hillary Clinton will give tonight at 8:30 pm ET from Youngstown, OH. And, according to these excerpts, she doesn't mince words when talking about Obama.

"Tonight, I want to talk about the choice you have in this election -- and why that choice matters... This election is not about me or my opponent. It’s about you. Your lives, your dreams, your future," she will say.

"Right now, too many people are struggling. Working the day shift, the night shift, trying to get by without health care... They need a president ready on day one to be commander in chief. Ready to manage our economy. And ready to beat the Republicans this November. I will be that president."

More: "This is the choice we face: One of us is ready to be commander in chief in a dangerous world… One of us has a plan to provide health care for every single American -- no one left out… Finally, one of us has faced serious Republican opposition in the past. And one of us is ready to do it again.

And: "Both Senator Obama and I would make history. But only one of us is ready on day one to be commander in chief, ready to manage our economy, and ready to defeat the Republicans. Only one of us has spent 35 years being a doer, a fighter and a champion for those who need a voice. That is what I would bring to the White House. That is the choice in this election... It’s about picking a president who relies not just on words – but on work, hard work, to get America back to work. Someone who’s not just in the speeches business – but will get America back in the solutions business."

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Comments

she is speaking before the polls close in Wisconsin? THat seems odd since the exit polls seem to show she may have a big night, why wouldn't she wait?

Rich, Orlando FL (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:24 PM)

The Gallup daily tracking poll Feb 16 to18 shows Clinton closing on Obama from 49%-42% to 46%-45%. Since the poll is based on 3 days polling, I estimate the Monday Feb 18 polling by Gallup, Hillary Clinton with 50% and Barack Obama with 41%.

A Hillary Clinton win in Wisconsin (or losing by less than 5%) may confirm her campaign was effective over the weekend as reflected by my estimate of the National Gallup poll on Monday.

A quote from The New York Times, Feb. 19, 1992:
"Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas was comfortably in second place at 26 percent and in a position to take his resilient candidacy on to the string of primaries in his native South."

Celebrating today the comeback kid's 16th anniversary by Bill Clinton in 1992, will history repeat with Hillary Clinton in 2008?

Angel, Spring, TX (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:27 PM)

Billary can't count the 8 yrs as first lady as experience.She say she is a doer, what have she done besides vote for the war.

David, WV (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:27 PM)

It's a funny thing to listen to Clinton fans latch right on to the latest "he's all words". Whenever I ask a Clinton fan to name 3 historic or landmark things she championed on her own and got passed through, not a single one has been able to do it. Hillary presents herself as if she's FDR ready to save us all from despair. Look at her actual achievements...it's very typical and generic stuff of a junior senator who just finished first full term. It's amazing that after 20 consecutive years of Bush-Clinton-Bush that about half Democrats want to send the same thing right back into the White House. Some Democrats are treating Obama as if he's literally as bad as George Bush. It's absurd and the Clinton fan base has to be the ones considered cultish or weird at this point.

Keith (NY) (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:27 PM)

Only one of us loses to John McCain in all the swing states

Plagiarizer (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:32 PM)

nevermind...i just saw the fox exit polls...Hillary is in BIG trouble if these numbers are accurate

Among Democrats

Women: Obama 51%, Clinton 49%

Families with income under 50,000: Obama 51%, Clinton 49%

Independents: Obama 63%, Clinton 34%

Seniors: Clinton 60%, Obama 39%

Top quality — experience: Clinton 95%, Obama 5%

Union households: Clinton 50%, Obama 49%

Rich, Orlando FL (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:34 PM)

Regardless of all that has been said about Hillary, I admire her intelligence, courage, toughness, skills and her down-to-earth attitude. Remember, we are to vote for our next president, not a spiritual leader. Hillary has the experience, skills and common sense to lead the country in the global economy and threat.

Lena, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:36 PM)

Andre Kaz--the website you suggested does not exist. This one does

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Obama sponsored 113 bills.

I think these Clinton sponsored bills are substantive:
A bill to provide higher education assistance for nontraditional students, and for other purposes
A bill to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct an independent safety assessment of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
A bill to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct an independent safety assessment of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
A bill to amend the Truth in Lending Act, to provide for enhanced disclosures to consumers and enhanced regulation of mortgage brokers, and for other purposes.
Andre--why misrepresent the truth? You have listed the bills of Clinton that have passed, while listing what Obama has sponsored. Most of the Clinton sponsored bills deal with children, family issues and education. Are you saying these are not important?

This is why Democrats will lose in the fall. I am a Democrat and both sides should be ashamed of themselves. If the Clintons are playing dirty politics, then Obama has met their offer and doubled it. He is bringing politics as usual to a whole new level. Neither campaign is playing it straight with the public. I believe Clinton is more qualified, but right now I feel like sitting home in November.

M Cohen Westchester County NY (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:38 PM)

If we choose Hillary, we WIN.

If we choose Barack "Hussein" Obama, we LOSE.

When the Republicans get through with Obama we will LOSE the general election... Inspiration is a two-edged sword!

Democrats you make the call...

Do we take the White House or the Out House, again?

Randy, Los Angeles CA (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:48 PM)

"They need a president ready on day one to be commander in chief." -- Hillary Clinton

George H. W. Bush's campaign slogan in 1988 was "Ready on Day One."

If I was mean I would call it plagiarism.

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:50 PM)

You guys need to regurgitate less, and be journalists more:
- Does the speech represent something that is fundamentally shifting about this candidate's approach?
- Why is Clinton leaking text of speech on a results day?

Brian (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:51 PM)

Hillary is a VENTRILOQUIST for her husband's UN-American, UN-Constitutional, UN-Democratic THIRD term presidency.

Anne, Somerville, MA (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:51 PM)

Yawn. She's done.

Edgar (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:53 PM)

Hatfields and McCoys have become the Bushes and Clintons. Give us a break! We needa President that can move us past the petty bickering.

Jane in Sherman Oaks, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:55 PM)

What is this? Isn't it time for her to move beyond the "solutions, not speeches" theme for this week? When will she roll out her next losing theme?

Anderson, Savoy, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:55 PM)

The difference between this 'speech' and one given by Biden or Dodd or whoever is what?

Mrs. C, you are a fine U.S. senator. It's about character, not resume or entitlement.

iowan (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:56 PM)

Words don't matter!! It's not over yet but I am beginning to feel sorry for the Clintons. He lied under oath and we forgave him, she is disliked by 48% of Americans yet Democrats wanted her to succeed. Howard Wolfsen is single handedly shoving the Clintons down the toilet. It really is sad!!!

frank lopez, sausalito, ca (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:57 PM)

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