Bottom Line: Win Boosts Clinton, Math Favors Obama
Is Democratic win in Miss. House race a "sign of things to come in November"?
May 14, 2008— -- Despite New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's overwhelming win in Tuesday night's Democratic primary in West Virginia, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos says despite the "big boost" to Clinton's campaign, "it doesn't change the fundamental delegate math" in Sen. Barack Obama's favor.
Referencing the Tuesday's Democratic win in the special election in Mississippi's 1st Congressional district, a longtime Republican stronghold, George also said special elections are sometimes "canaries in the coal mine. A sign of things to come in November."
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ROBIN ROBERTS: : But we begin with a big victory for Senator Hillary Clinton in West Virginia. She won by the widest margin this season so far. But while celebrating, Barack Obama already moved on to Missouri and this morning he's in Michigan. Was last night a game-changer? for the bottom line we turn to Chief Washington CorrespondentGeorge Stephanopoulos. Good morning.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Good morning.
ROBERTS: Does it mean anything?
STEPHANOPOULOS: It's a big boost. Like a shot of red bull to get her through the next couple of weeks. the problem is, it doesn't change the fundamental math. look at these numbers, Robin. There's 2025 delegates needed to get the nomination. Barack Obama hare has 1887. that means he only needs 138 more delegates in these next five contests to become the nominee. at everything at stake he only needs a third of the remainingdelegates. Math is still working for him.
ROBERTS: Math is not working for Senator Clinton, but you wouldn't know it by what she said last night. this is what she said in West Virginia.
CLINTON VIDEO: This race isn't over yet, I'll keep coming back and I'llstand with you as long as you stand with me. you will never be counted out and I won't either. you will never quit, and I won't either.
STEPHANOPOULOS: She's running what they call the Eleanor Roosevelt strategy. She's talking to all of the women out there supporting her, saying she's going to stay in the race for them. Part of the rationale for the Clintons, they believe that it will be easier to convince those women to go over and vote for Barack Obama later on if they don't feel Senator Clinton has been pushed out of the process early.
