Clinton Says Calls to Drop Out Are 'Just Idle Talk'
Clinton responds to superdelegate defection in interview with "Nightline."
May 1, 2008— -- Hillary Clinton campaigned Wednesday in Indianapolis, on the same day that Indiana superdelegate and former Clinton supporter Joe Andrew announced he was switching his allegiance to Barack Obama.
Andrew, the former head of the Democratic National Committee, nominated by Bill Clinton, cited his belief that continuing to support Clinton was bad for the Democratic Party.
"I think this has been good for the Democratic Party," Clinton countered in an interview with "Nightline" co-anchor Cynthia McFadden, adding that Andrew didn't call her to tell her about his decision.
"I haven't spoken to him," Clinton said. "But, you know, people can decide however they want to decide. That's up to them. But anyone who believes this is bad for the party I just think is not paying attention, because the level of enthusiasm to be part of this process is, from my perspective, helping us build a stronger and deeper Democratic base."
Clinton said those who say she should get out of the race "don't understand politics or history."
When asked if she would pull out of the race if she didn't win in Indiana, she replied, "I'm not going to pledge to do anything. I'm going to just keep getting up every single day and going out there.
"I think that this is such a close election, why would any of us think that it shouldn't go to the end? We've got a process. The rules are it goes all the way into June. Let's follow the rules and get to those June contests and see where are."
Even if the battle goes all the way to the Democratic convention in August, it would not hurt the party's chances of defeating the Republican candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Clinton said.
"I've seen elections turn on a dime," she said. "Senator Kerry was way ahead when he wrapped up the nomination in '04. This is just idle talk."
Clinton called her base of support "broader and deeper" than Obama's, and said, "At the end of the day, that's what it should be about for Democrats. You know, it is who can better win. And I've won the big states. I've won the states that we have to anchor. If we had the Republican rules, I would already be the nominee."
