Clinton's Florida-Michigan push
Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:55 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As she prepares to campaign in the Florida today, Hillary Clinton said in a radio interview this morning that Democrats should learn from the lessons of the hanging chads from elections past and not ignore the will of the voters.
Clinton, speaking with WMJI radio in Cleveland, Ohio, this morning before flying to Florida, referred to the upcoming HBO movie about the 2000 recount and said she has heard that it “makes a very strong case” for seating the state’s delegates today.
“The lesson is if you can discern the clear intent of the voter, why would you punish the voter?” she said. “We are turning this into a major battle that I think is really ill serving the party.”
Clinton will be making that case today during three campaign appearances in South Florida, where she is expected also to press her argument that she is leading in the popular vote. Clinton also said the entire nomination process should be looked at in the future.
“We’ve got to change the way we nominate presidents for a lot of reasons,” she said. “I personally believe these caucuses are terribly unrepresentative. … [And] I think that what’s happened with Florida and Michigan raises serious questions about the principles of our party.”
Clinton claimed some measure of momentum, saying that since Feb. 200 she has “won the states that have been contested that we have to win.”
“I have a lead in the popular vote that I added to last night,” she said, referring to a strong showing in Kentucky. “I continue to believe that I am the stronger candidate to be John McCain in the fall.”
Clinton again alluded to her gender, saying when asked about media coverage of her that it “has been a really challenging campaign for both Sen. Obama and me.”
“We’ve never had a woman this close, we certainly have never had an African American [this close],” she said. “I cant tell you how many times an older man will say to me, ‘You know I decided to support you and I though I’d never support a woman. “And it’s a really nice moment.”
Clinton called in for the interview en route to Dulles Airport. Joining the hosts in studio were Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Zack Space, two uncommitted superdelegates. Space at one point praised Clinton, saying it is clear she speaks from the heart and is passionate about the issues.
“Can I assume this is your superdelegate endorsement?” Clinton joked. “Seventy percent of the people who voted for me in your district would be so happy to hear that.”
Space demurred, saying only that there were two great candidates.
