Reasons Why Hillary Clinton Isn’t Dropping Out of The Presidential Race
Posted: Friday, May 09, 2008
by Abigail Richards
We have watched the dramatic saga of the democratic race this year. As the final primary elections are set to wrap up in the next couple of months, the drama just continues to escalate. In the center of course is Hillary Clinton. Despite several pleas from notable Democrats, the woman candidate refuses to drop out of the race. The numbers show that it will clearly be a Barack Obama win when it comes to the Democratic nomination, yet she keeps chugging.
She really thinks she can win.
This is the reason that Hillary is hoping the American public buys into. I mean who wouldn't want a candidate that isn't afraid to give up and keep fighting despite insurmountable odds?
Clinton has a chance at winning a few of the remaining states, but the likelihood of her taking the delegates she needs to win is nearly impossible. She is favored to win in West Virginia, as well as the May 20 contest in Kentucky, and the June 1 contest in Puerto Rico. But her chances are slim in Oregon on May 20, and in the last two primaries in Montana and South Dakota on June 3.
But to reach the number of 2,025 total delegates needed to clinch the nomination, the New York senator would need to take 349 of the 486 total pledged delegates and superdelegates still on the table or undecided, which includes 16 pledged delegates that have yet to be cast in North Carolina. Superdelegates are jumping ship pretty fast as is evidenced by the recent switch by George McGovern.
She is hoping to end in the black financially .
It has been well-publicized that Clinton has borrowed millions of dollars from herself to keep her campaign going. She has found herself lacking in the fundraising arena. Therefore, the longer she stays in the race, the more chance she has at recouping some of her expenses and not ending the campaign in debt.
The senator is out over $11 million out of her own pocket for funding the campaign. Yet, money still seems to come in, especially with Hollywood support. The New York Times reports that Clinton still is taking in cash: $1 million at one fundraiser, another $200,000. But it pales compared to the $10 million brought in after Pennsylvania.
She is running for a spot as the vice-president.
Clinton does have almost 50 percent of the popular vote. Some theorists believe by her continuing in the race, it is a ploy to get Obama to choose her as the vice-presidential nominee to make some sort of super ticket.
Sources close to both parties do not believe the two can put away the bitterness to run on the same ticket.
ABC Correspondent George Stephanopoulos thinks differently. "This is what some people close to the Clintons are talking about: Is there a way to negotiate a settlement with Barack Obama to have Senator Clinton on the ticket?" Fox news reports he said. "I mean, first of all, would Senator Obama go for it? Can he get over the bitterness of this campaign? Can he be convinced that it's the strongest ticket? Third, of course, would Senator Clinton take it? I think if it was offered in the right way, yes."
Finally, she is looking for a 2012 nomination.
Some believe Clinton is campaigning for 2012. Her goal is to make Obama look as bad as she can so that he does lose to McCain. Then she will be waiting as the savior with an "I told you you should of picked me" attitude to save the Democratic party in 2012.
Former Bill Clinton adviser and columnist Dick Morris also buys that scenario and shared it with FoxNews.
"She's staying in because it's a hunting license," he said. "Between now and the day she pulls out, she can say anything nasty about Barack Obama that she wants and that's her way of making sure John McCain wins the election … and the nomination for the Democrats in ‘12 will be wide open and Hillary will have a very good shot at it."
Here is my take. Being a woman, I know that we are manipulative creatures. Nothing would give us more satisfaction after a defeat or rejection to be able to say we were right all along. My vote, therefore, is on the last theory. I think she has another motive to staying in at this point.
By staying in she is splitting the party, destroying Obama and still gaining support for the future nomination. No one has ever accused Hillary of not being smart or not manipulative. Why should she be viewed as an angel now? She is buying time and votes for 2012 and the opportunity to gloat.
Unfortunately, I don't think she has what it takes even in 2012 to win the nomination.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Abigail, yes all birds of a feather in my opinion. For all intents and purposes the election was over when these three got into the finals. Any of them and more of the same. The real battle for America is Congress. Good article, thanks.Thanks Robert for the encouragement! I am curious to see how it all plays out! Thanks for commenting!
I enjoyed your article and the information you gave here. I have no clue why she is staying in, but like your conclusion.
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