Clinton declares IN victory, asks for $
Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:32 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
2008, Clinton, Primaries
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
INDIANAPOLIS -- The crowd came to the Murat Centre tonight to hear Hillary Clinton give a victory speech tonight. They got that -- but they also got a fundraising appeal.
Sure enough, Clinton did claim victory, referring to Obama’s own words in saying, “We’ve broken the tie,” and that it’s “full speed on to the White House." But then came the money pitch. “This has always been your campaign and this is your victory, because your support has meant the difference between winning and losing,” she said. “We can only keep winning if we’re able to keep competing against an opponent who does outspend us.”
She then asked supporters to visit her Web site, where visitors are greeted now with a message on the front page that asks supporter to donate $5.
Asked if this was a victory speech or a fundraising appeal, one spokesperson responded: “The two go hand in hand.”
As she sought additional funds, Clinton moved the goal posts ahead and identified two states in particular as areas of emphasis.
“For too long, we’ve let places like West Virginia and Kentucky slip out of the Democratic column,” she said. “Well, it’s time for that to change. These next primaries are another test. I’m going to work my heart out in West Virginia and Kentucky this month, and I intend to win them in November.
West Virginia votes next Tuesday. Kentucky votes on May 20, along with Oregon. A preliminary schedule calls for Clinton to visit that state on Thursday. But it's a state that Obama is favored in, and one where many of the votes have already been cast because of the mail-in system. Campaign aides say they are by no means writing Oregon off, but that Kentucky and West Virginia are states that they “feel very good about.”
The speech was also noteworthy for some curious inclusions. For starters, Bill Clinton joined her on stage after having been absent for victory celebrations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The former president had been on a whirlwind tour of North Carolina in recent days, but his trips to small town after small town apparently couldn’t close the gap.
She also congratulated Obama on his victory in North Carolina. During his run of victories in February, she often campaigned in different states, ignoring the results. But she also made her pitch again to count contests she won that he did not compete in, Florida and Michigan.
“It would be a little strange to have a nominee chosen by 48 states,” she said
Regardless, she did acknowledge the need for the party to unify behind the nominee, even if she wouldn’t acknowledge the shrinking window for her to achieve that position.
“It’s so close, and I think that says a lot about how excited and passionate our supporters are,” she said. “No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November.”
