National Journal.com

nationaljournal.com > Hotline On Call

Turnout Thin

On Call gets ahold of Barack Obama senior spokesman Hari Sevugan's latest missive:

In case any of y'all missed the Clinton camp's "major endorsement" today, I wanted to make sure you got the AP story on the event:

"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has scheduled what it called a 'major endorsement' for noon today at the state Capitol in Harrisburg." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/15/08]

AP: Clinton mayoral rally gets small turnout in Pa.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Turnout at the "100 Mayors for Hillary" rally was a little under 20 percent.

Only 19 mayors of Pennsylvania cities showed up for Tuesday's rally in the Rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol. Other mayors' names were listed on placards supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed spoke for the group against the backdrop of a banner touting the 100 mayors. He criticized Clinton's rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, for saying at a San Francisco fundraiser last week that some voters in small towns in Pennsylvania cling to guns or religion because of their frustration over their economic circumstances.

Reed called Obama's comments "divisive and condescending."

"Small-town values are the bedrock of American values," Reed said.

Kathleen Strand of the Clinton campaign said rally organizers never expected all 100 mayors to attend and that some were participating in Clinton events in their home cities.

But an Obama campaign spokesman said participation in the rally is "about the same percentage of voters who actually care about this story."

"Voters are hungry to get this campaign back on who can create jobs and lower the cost of health care," said the spokesman, Sean Smith.

5 Comments

The rest were pinned down by sniper fire I'm sure.

No, in Clintonland, 19 and 100 are exactly the same. Just don't let her make change for a buck.

wow....I guess they all had to show up. Isn't she finished yet. Hasn't Obama sealed the deal yet? Hasn't he outspent her about 4 to 1 but still down about 10 points with all the spin you shills can muster? Somethings wrong with this picture.

@Kefa: They don't all have to show up, but if you could get a quorum it'd be nice. I'd certainly cancel the presser if there's less than 20 showing.

Check out news coverage of Hclinton for the last 2 months--most are 'TIGHT SHOTS'. Her crowds and bill's are increasingly thin. Her 'advance team' has to stack the audience behind her to make it look like a crowd is there. Think only Elton got her an Obama sized reception...