Clinton Press Release: Talking Points - Decisive Victories Lead To Momentum Shift

[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 5, 2008]

Talking Points: Decisive Victories Lead To Momentum Shift

With strong victories in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island, the campaign has fundamentally shifted in Hillary Clinton’s direction.  We believe these victories signal the start of our upswing as the campaign now heads into Pennsylvania.

Sen. Obama poured everything he had into scoring a decisive knockout and failed.  He outspent Hillary by a more than 2 to 1 margin and has – in the words of media analyst Howard Kurtz – defied “the laws of journalistic gravity.” Despite these advantages, he couldn’t close the deal with voters.

CONFIDENCE IN CLINTON; QUESTIONS ABOUT OBAMA

Americans want a nominee who can pass the test when it comes to being commander-in-chief and serving as the steward of the economy.  Tuesday showed that Hillary passes that test but Sen. Obama hasn’t.

The press is finally starting to give Sen. Obama a close look and scrutiny of his campaign is only just beginning.  Americans need to learn more about him beyond his words:

1. Sen. Obama found himself on the defensive on whether he is ready to be President.  Questions about whether he is ready to take that 3am phone call and be commander in chief abound.
2. The Rezko trial is just getting underway.
3. Sen. Obama got caught criticizing NAFTA in Ohio while his campaign – despite their denials – told Canada that his rhetoric was just political positioning.

The exit polls confirm that Democrats believe Hillary can lead and is best able to do the two most important jobs of the president – being commander-in-chief and captaining the economy.  That’s why 30 generals and admirals back Hillary.

Hillary is the one who can deliver the White House back to Democrats in November.  Her base is the key swing bloc of Latinos and women.  She’s won in states that Democrats need if they are to succeed in November – OH, NM, FL and MI.

She is more able to retain the support of Democratic primary voters in a race against John McCain than Barack Obama, according to the latest Pew data.

With late-breaking voters overwhelmingly supporting her, the momentum is moving in Hillary’s favor. Among voters who decided in the last three days, 69 percent of voters in Ohio and 55 percent of voters in Texas chose Hillary.

PRIMARY PROCESS MUST BE FULLY COMPLETED

The primary process must continue.  The states and territories that haven’t had a chance to participate yet need to have their voices heard and their votes counted.

Both campaigns agree that automatic delegates will determine the nominee.  There is no difference between pledged delegates and automatic delegates. We plan on gaining pledged delegates and closing the Obama camp’s lead by the end of the nominating process.  When it comes to pledged delegates, we’ll be competitive.

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