Clinton, Obama try to appeal to working class ahead of next week's primaries

Sunday 04th May, 01:25 PM JST

WASHINGTON —

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama locked horns over a proposal to curb surging gasoline prices, latching onto a key voter concern as Clinton struggled to stave off further defections from her camp ahead of primaries in Indiana and North Carolina next week.

Clinton was campaigning Saturday in North Carolina, where surveys show her cutting into Obama’s once sizable lead, before returning to Indiana for a final push. Obama was spending the day in Indiana, next door to his home state of Illinois, where polls point toward a particularly close finish in Tuesday’s primary.

Clinton sought to bolster her already strong standing among women voters by taking part Saturday in a panel discussion with working mothers hosted by the website momlogic.com in which the former first lady engage in a mostly lighthearted discussion focused mainly on how she had balanced work and family.

Clinton was gingerly asked by one of the panelists on how she had guided her family through “difficult times“—a clear reference to her husband’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky that led to his impeachment in 1998.

“When you are in a difficult situation, oftentimes you just want to withdraw and just shut yourself out,” said Clinton who joined the panel from a campaign stop in Cary, North Carolina. “When you have to do it in front of the world, that’s different,” Clinton said, adding that she had relied on her religious faith and her friends to help her through the crisis.”

Meanwhile, Obama defeated Clinton by seven votes in the Guam Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday. The count of more than 4,500 ballots took all night. Neither candidate campaigned in the U.S. island territory in person, but both did long-distance media interviews and bought campaign ads for the caucuses.

Results of the count completed Sunday morning Guam time show delegates pledged to Obama with 2,264 votes to 2,257 for Clinton’s slate. That means they’ll split the pledged delegate votes. Obama’s slate won in 14 of 21 districts.

Clinton issued a statement Saturday night promising, “I will continue to champion the issues facing the people of Guam, and when I’m president I will ensure that hard-working families of Guam have the resources and the opportunity to succeed.” Obama’s campaign had no immediate reaction to the results.

Eight pledged delegates will attend the convention, each with one-half vote.

U.S. citizens on the island, however, have no vote in the November election.

The territory also sends five superdelegates to the National Convention in August in Denver.

Meanwhile, Clinton called for a vote in the Democratic-controlled Congress on a summertime suspension of the federal gasoline tax, a plan that Obama dismissed as a political stunt that would cost thousands of construction jobs and mean little for hard-pressed consumers.

“It’s a shell game. Literally,” Obama said to laughter from his campaign audience, using a double entendre that referred to the major oil company Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain also favors the summer gas tax suspension. The proposal, timed to the season when many families take road trips, is meant to appeal to voters squeezed by the faltering economy at a time when fuel prices are hitting record levels in the U.S.

The Democratic presidential rivals highlighted their differences in ads and speeches across North Carolina and Indiana ahead of Tuesday’s primaries. The two primaries have 187 national convention delegates at stake.

Both candidates addressed a fundraiser for the North Carolina Democratic Party Friday night.

Clinton expressed confidence that after the hard-fought nominating contest the party would united behind its eventual nominee.

“We all know that what unites us as Democrats is so much greater than the differences, and the stakes are too high for us not to pull together as one team,” she said. “I will tell you this. If Senator Obama is the nominee, you better believe I’ll work my heart out for him.”

About an hour later, Obama emphasized his humble origins and values as he sought to dispel questions raised about his patriotism because of fiery remarks by his ex-pastor.

“I am before you here today, just as my wife would be, as the beneficiary of everything that is good about this country,” Obama said. “My story is not possible, except in the United States of America.”

Obama, the front-runner, leads in the overall delegate competition, 1,736.05-1605.5. total of 2,025 delegates are needed to win the nomination. While Clinton’s win in Pennsylvania last week appears to have translated into renewed voter support, it is almost mathematically impossible for her to reverse Obama’s delegate lead.

That has made winning Indiana and North Carolina all the more important in helping her convince the superdelegates—party officials and lawmakers free to vote as they chose—that she offers the Democrats’ best chance to defeat McCain in November. Obama has been snatching support from this group, which is likely to be the deciding factor in the nomination.

Obama has been trying to shore up votes with less educated Democrats. He attempted to dispel suggestions that he is elitist, saying his life more closely mirrors that of the average American than either of the other two candidates.

“We’ve struggled with paying student loans. We’ve tried to figure out whether we have adequate daycare. I’ve actually filled my own gas tank,” he said.

Public opinion surveys on the Democrats have been particularly volatile in recent weeks as campaign criticism takes its toll on the two and Obama grapples with controversy stemming from the rhetoric of his former pastor, the Rev Jeremiah Wright. The Illinois senator’s former pastor who called for God to damn America for its treatment of blacks.

Despite a fierce, occasionally personal campaign, to a surprising degree the former first lady and Obama have generally agreed on most policy issues. That made the proposed suspension in the gasoline tax an exception.

And while there is little support among the Democratic congressional leadership for the plan, it was a disagreement that both presidential contenders appeared content to perpetuate.

“All I hear about is gas prices. Gas and diesel, everywhere,” Clinton said in Kinston, North Carolina. “Some people say we don’t need to get a gas tax holiday at all, it’s a gimmick ... I want the Congress to stand up and vote. Are they for the oil companies, or are they for you?”

Obama’s rhetoric grew sharper, as well.

“She even borrowed one of Bush’s favorite phrases,” he said dismissively of the New York senator. “She said every member of Congress should have to tell us whether they are with us or against us.”

He said the average consumer would save a “quarter and a nickel” a day, and only $28 in three months.

McCain was forced to clarify his comments suggesting the Iraq war involved U.S. reliance on foreign oil. He said he was talking about the first Gulf War and not the current conflict.

At issue was a comment he made at a town hall-style meeting Friday morning in Denver.

“My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East,” McCain said.

The expected Republican nominee sought to clarify his comments later, after his campaign plane landed in Phoenix. He said he didn’t mean the U.S. went to war in Iraq five years ago over oil.

“No, no, I was talking about that we had fought the Gulf War for several reasons,” McCain told reporters.

Latest 15 of 47 Total Comments Show All

SezWho2 at 09:40 AM JST - 5th May

RomeoRamenII,

I agree with your first three paragraphs completely. Barack is not well-known, his relationship to Wright has put doubt in the minds of many, and, politically at least, he should have handled the problem differently.

However, I'm not sure what you mean by your fourth paragraph and Barack's integrity. My brother, for example, had been a Clinton supporter until the Wright episode. Now he supports Obama precisely because he sees integrity in Obama's response and none in Hillary's attacks.
skipthesong at 09:51 AM JST - 5th May

White Americans just cant bring themselves to support a black candidate" Ok, I knew that was going to come up.. depending on which media outlet you get your news from, Obama has won Upper Middle Class white males, Middle class F/M's, and college aged whites. Where Obama is failing is lower class whites. Some will say because they are racist, as I see your post leaning to, but in talking with people, most have come the conclusion that lower class whites have been pretty much pushed aside and most of the urban lower income whites live side by side with African Americans. There are too numerous issues that do fail to bring people together and actually cause flights, but the Government leaders seem to not "waste" their time on poor whites as most do not vote. We are talking about white men who work at factories, construction jobs, police, fire, etc.. The type of whites liberals refer to as white trash! Now, for once in a long time, they seem important. Even Hillary, who was basically the leader of the pack in her "positive discrimination policies" has put a lot whites on guard. In all actuality this particular primary should not be "appealing to working class" but instead appealing to people who were never appealed to before; thus it is appealing to race. For African Americans, the unity in the voting drives lead by leaders such as Jessie have proved to be so politically strong, same for women, Hispanics, and gays.. This has left lower income whites, who have no unity nor do they really have an identity. They are usually the first to get hit hard by disasters as there are no organizations to help them out specifically, there are no organizations to help them out for college, jobs, and the incarceration rates for them are much higher than what most believe. For once, they have an importance in an election and while most that I do know say they don't like McCain nor Hillary but they do like Obama however they were prefer him to have some guts and come out and spell out their bitterness.. He did at least come out about it slightly, more than any other candidate in recent history, once the Rev.Wright fiasco came out but quietly many are waiting for much more.
Betzee at 10:19 AM JST - 5th May

McCain's entire economic strategy involves borrowing from China

I'm not sure how much longer we can depend on the Bank of China to purchase US treasury bonds to keep Uncle Sam afloat. At some point they will want to diversify their portfolio, particularly if the USD doesn't regain some of its value.

The attraction of the United States as a place to put money rests on the perception that ours is a transparent, and therefore safe, investment environment. The imploding financial services sector has predictably shaken foreign investor confidence. I wish the candidates would address the issues surrounding this type of reliance on outsiders, including much maligned China, rather than simply putting forward competing bail-out plans.
SezWho2 at 10:24 AM JST - 5th May

skipthesong,

I don't think liberals refer to as "white trash" white men who work at "factories, construction jobs, police, fire, etc." I think conservatives use those terms, too. I don't think whether one is liberal or conservative is central to the point you are making--which I take it is that "lower class" whites have been ignored but have a chance to make a difference in this election and are waiting for a candidate who will really speak for them.
RomeoRamenII at 10:29 AM JST - 5th May

Sez,

Point taken. "Integrity" might have not been the best word. "Judgment" in choosing whom he associates with ("Rev." Wright; unrepentant terrorists Ayres, Dorhn; Syrian mafioso Rezko, ect.) is what I should have written.

Afterall, early in his campaign barack was selling himself on the idea that by being a relative outsider to inside-the-Beltway politics he is better able to judge what's good for the American people. He is now showing that that is not true as he continues to be slow on the upswing about really knowing who his friends and associates are.

Since he's proving that he cannot sell himself to the majority of democrat voters -- the ones who will cast their ballot for him in the General Election (or else he'd have the delegate count needed to carry the convention today) -- imagine how the Republicans will vote should he be chosen as the jackass party's candidate this time around.

RR
skipthesong at 11:02 AM JST - 5th May

sezwho: No, I do believe liberals have come down hard on poorer whites for the actions of wealthy whites as well as the actions of the US government. I had a white dad who was very liberal and some of the comments I heard from him in those days I do feel are unfounded and incorrect. Most urban poor whites don't attend church nor do they get involved in civil activities mostly because nothing is really for them so basically it has been hard in rounding them up and trying to find something for them to identify with. They are usually the ones the bear the brunt of any racial discontent that may happen. I do feel that Obama is over all welcomed by them more than any other candidate at the moment, but still he has not gone far enough and how is he going to handle when things blow up in communities where they are a large minority? Is Obama going to "have to" take the side of the blacks because they are his largest base? Or is he going to look at things middle row and try to bring whites and blacks together on find common ground instead of blame? They do have a legitimate concern. I don't think we are going to see any major movement from them until the general elections. One Point: In talking with white friends living in areas where they are the minority, they are hoping Obama remains what he is and that is black and white. If there is ever a way to fix the urban problems in the US, one major factor is going to be having both black and white finding common ground. Once that is achieved, bringing in all others together is going to be a lot smoother.
SuperLib at 01:28 PM JST - 5th May

Is there anyone on either side of the aisle who is on record as supporting "government waste." Don't think so...

Betzee, the man has won accolades for his work on reducing government waste, especially pork. Your above words are petty and misguided.

I've already said that I'm not voting for him, Obama still has my vote. But you appear to be on some kind of personal mission against the man, spreading negative information or flat out disinformation at every possible opportunity. What's your angle? Pure politics? Or is it something person you don't like about the guy?
SezWho2 at 06:25 PM JST - 5th May

RomeoRamenII,

You're right. "Judgment" is a much better--i.e. fairer--word.

You choose to judge Obama harshly for his lack of judgment in associating with a University of Chicago professor. You call Ayers an "unrepentant terrorist". I think that's over the top. Might it be the case that you were looking for dirt when you found it and might it be the case that a plate that is not squeaky clean is still clean enough to eat off of?

In my opinion, Obama made no error in judgment in his association with Wright. He demonstrated loyalty to the person who brought him to his faith and he demonstrated loyalty to the church of which he is a member. I think Wright has been retired for some years now hasn't he?

Obama did in fact recognize that Wright could be used as ammunition against him and that is why he decided to rescind his invitation to Wright to deliver the invocation at his candidacy announcement. Wright seems to have taken umbrage at this and his remarks have certainly damaged Obama--particularly among those who have seen only snippets of his remarks.

The biggest error in judgment that Obama made with Ayres and Dohrn is possibly in believing that Americans had the capacity to forgive people who turned themselves in to the justice system, were not prosecuted and went on to hold respectable jobs. If it turns out that we can forgive alcoholics and druggies but not people who befriend reformed radicals Obama will have been wrong. And Americans will get what they deserve. People ultimately do.

I don't think it matters much what Republicans will do come November. America is still horribly fractured along party lines. The only things that really matter are whether the Democrats can get the vote out for the Democrats and who the Independents vote for. This Independent is voting for McCain or some viable 3rd party candidate (Ralph, where are you?) if Clinton is nominated, Obama otherwise.
SezWho2 at 06:32 PM JST - 5th May

skipthesong,

I wish you would use paragraphs. It's difficult for me to follow the flow of your thought.

You seem to be arguing from experience. In regard to that, I can only say that my experience is different from yours. Maybe I just don't know what you're trying to say. But I don't remember hearing anyone that I can identify as a "liberal" referring to people with steady jobs in factories, in construction or in emergency services as "white trash".

Again, even if this were true that liberals more than others are hard on this group of people, I don't see how it would speak to your point. It seems to me to be more a slur against liberals.
super delegate at 06:37 PM JST - 5th May

"You call Ayers an "unrepentant terrorist". I think that's over the top."

Failed terrorist-turned-yuppie William Ayers (planted bombs in one of the women's restrooms at the Pentagon - really fightin' da man there, Bill) and his wife Dohrn (who "mentored" Obama's wife at the law firm of Sidley Austin) is unrepentant.

Listen and judge for yourself, some of the recordings linked below are as recent as 2007 - -

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020362.php

Again, as with his choice for a pastor either Obama is a horrendous judge of character - far too naive to be president - or he is as duplicitous as they come.
skipthesong at 06:50 PM JST - 5th May

Sez, sorry but this is a tiny keyboard.

I wasn't calling you a liberal. And it wasn't a slur either - today' liberal is tomorrow's conservative!

I'll try to put it a different way. The so-called white-trash, who have been left out to dry mostly by their own kind in liberal form do seem to have negative view of Hillary. It was her after all who stated that "whites" should tolerate some forms of discrimination (nice of her since she has her millions).

These people could provide Obama a very large block. However, if he wants them, he will need to reach out to them! Hillary is trying but reading local papers, she is being viewed as a snake.
skipthesong at 07:09 PM JST - 5th May

Again, as with his choice for a pastor either Obama is a horrendous judge of character - far too naive to be president - or he is as duplicitous as they come." We all have friends who have screwed up.. I think most people can let Obama off on the Ayers thing.. The Rev Wright thing however has hindered his relationship with disenfranchised whites. Again, if he cares about it, he'll figure out ways to get around it but if he doesn't then ....
Betzee at 07:41 PM JST - 5th May

Betzee, the man has won accolades for his work on reducing government waste, especially pork.

Government waste generally falls into two categories: 1) inefficient delivery of services; 2) wasteful programs which benefit tiny constitutencies.

Yes, McCain has been proactive in publicizing the problems associated with earmarks, which fall into the latter, and not been afraid to take on his own party over particularly outlandish examples, e.g., a rainforest in Iowa.

I don't know where he stood on GWB's prescription drug coverage. While it's true the cost of such drugs for senior citizens has become prohibitive, particularly as seniors live longer thanks to those drugs, no program such have been implemented requiring Uncle Sam to buy drugs at the retail price. This is the most expensive new entitlement program in decades and it was heavily promoted by GWB who would not entertain any changes to it.

Again, as with his choice for a pastor either Obama is a horrendous judge of character - far too naive to be president - or he is as duplicitous as they come.

If you were interested in an honest debate you would address the issue of McCain's seeking the support of Reverend Hagee who opined Hurricane Katrina was God revenge's for NO's hosting a gay pride parade. Instead you are simply looking for something to hang on Obama. What does this have to do with anyone's ability to confront the very real problems GWB is bequeathing his successor such as runaway government spending and a no end in sight occupation of Iraq? I look forward to debates focused on the issues, not character assassination owing to poor choices of personal pastor or seeking the campaign support of similarly minded bigots to get a particular group to the polls. I mean is that duplicitous or what?
SezWho2 at 10:55 PM JST - 5th May

super delegate,

I don't know how well you remember those times, but the Weather Underground was always more bark than bite. There were some truly violent members among them. I think, however, Ayers and Dohrn were always more into blowing up symbols than people. The statements in which they talk about attacking symbols of government were, I believe, from 1970, the same year that the Ohio National guard was taking deliberate aim at college students. I don't find it at all odd for a group of students to have believed that government was its enemy.

On the other hand, the statements from today are sober, reasoned and rational. They are exactly the same kind of statements that many of America's critics make. I think politicians in America should be listening to what these people have to say and not dismissing them as terrorists or unrepentant terrorists or whatever. I personally find no error in what they say about American government today although I do think it is heavily weighted by their previous experiences.

Moreover, having listened to all their clips, I've now listened for about what? 4 minutes? Do you ever feel that you're missing something about these people? Or is it that you've heard all you need to and you don't need to confront what they're actually saying. They've just given you enough code words to dismiss them out of hand.
SezWho2 at 11:06 PM JST - 5th May

skipthesong,

I didn't think you were calling me a liberal. I call myself a progressive, by the way.

I notice that when you tried again, you still stuck in that word "liberal". What I am saying is that this word is contentious and the excellent point of your post is diminished by what seems like a need to put a name on things.

As for what he should now do in the wake of the Wright thing, I'm not sure. Maybe I'll think about that when I send him my contribution.