Obama Delegate Lead Dicey for Clinton

Unlikely to catch up, she'll push for Fla., Mich. delegates

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 14, 2008 9:10 AM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama has taken a lead of more than 100 delegates in the race for the Democratic nomination, leaving Hillary Clinton with a deficit she's not likely to make up unless she wins Texas and Ohio with a landslide, the New York Times reports. With dwindling options, aides say she'll push aggressively to seat disqualified delegates from Florida and Michigan, where she won the primaries unopposed, a move likely to be highly divisive.

And she'll continue to lobby superdelegates, making the case that they should discount Obama's lead because much of it was won in caucuses, which attract far fewer voters than primaries. “I think for superdelegates, the quality of where the win comes from should matter in terms of making a judgment about who might be the best general election candidate,” Mark Penn, Clinton’s senior campaign adviser, tells the Times.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., points to her supporters upon her arrival for a campaign stop in McAllen, Texas, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., makes remarks during a rally in the Racine Town Hall Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Racine, Wis. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., smiles during a campaign stop at St. Mary%u2019s University in San Antonio Texas., Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., makes a campaign stop to do door-to-door canvassing in San Antonio Texas., Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Associated Press)

Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., cheer as she makes a campaign stop at St. Mary%u2019s University in San Antonio Texas., Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP... (Associated Press)

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Obama Delegate Lead Dicey for Clinton

Unlikely to catch up, she'll push for Fla., Mich. delegates

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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Democratic presidential primaries • Michigan primary • delegates • Florida primary • superdelegates • Election 2008

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Media Can't Agree on Superdelegate Count

Tally varies as superdelegates hedge their bets

Dems Seat Fla., Mich. Delegates as Half-Votes

Raucous hearing leaves Obama 66 delegates from victory

Democrats to Settle Score on Fla., Mich.

Committee likely to seat half of delegates, a blow to Clinton

Bush v. Gore 's Lessons for 2008

2000 election mess colors Obama-Clinton contest

Clinton Still Defiant on Trail

She dismisses calls to step down as 'deja vu all over again'

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Obama Delegate Lead Dicey for Clinton

Unlikely to catch up, she'll push for Fla., Mich. delegates

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Democratic presidential primaries • Michigan primary • delegates • Florida primary • superdelegates • Election 2008

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Media Can't Agree on Superdelegate Count

Tally varies as superdelegates hedge their bets

Dems Seat Fla., Mich. Delegates as Half-Votes

Raucous hearing leaves Obama 66 delegates from victory

Democrats to Settle Score on Fla., Mich.

Committee likely to seat half of delegates, a blow to Clinton

Bush v. Gore 's Lessons for 2008

2000 election mess colors Obama-Clinton contest

Clinton Still Defiant on Trail

She dismisses calls to step down as 'deja vu all over again'

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What is Newser?