Clinton: WV Critical For Dems In The Fall
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. – Hillary Clinton was neither defiant nor defeated during a 20-minute speech here today as she pledged to fight through this state's primary next week, which she called "one of the most important elections in this entire process."
"I personally believe that West Virginia is one of those so-called swing states, Democrats need to win it in the fall," Clinton said at a hastily-arranged event outside of McMurran hall at Shepherd College. "I want to start by winning it in the spring, to lay the groundwork for victory in November."
Clinton never mentioned Barack Obama in the speech, not even a passing reference to "my opponent." And there was no acknowledgement of the increasing pressure facing her following Obama's blowout victory in North Carolina, only a statement at the top about her narrow win in the Hoosier State.
"We were very excited about our come-from-behind victory in Indiana, where people are concerned about the economy," she said. "There's a lot of reasons why I think we came form eight or so points from behind to win, and it's because people really know they need a president again who's going to focus complete attention on making sure you have the jobs that will give you living wages that'll give you a chance to have a better life."
Several hundred, including sign-brandishing Obama supporters, came to an event that was originally advertised as an appearance by Chelsea Clinton. The campaign said that the New York senator wanted to immediately return to the campaign trail to work for votes in the remaining contests. Her tentative schedule still calls for a return trip to West Virginia tomorrow, followed by stops in South Dakota and Oregon.
(NBC/NJ's MIKE MEMOLI)
Right. Critical like a wetsuit in death valley.