Game On: Clinton Wins Crucial Texas, Ohio Primaries

March 5, 2008 — -- Still beaming from Tuesday night's comeback primary victories in Ohio and Texas, Sen. Hillary Clinton talked this morning as if she had taken back the momentum in the Democratic race -- and suggested rival Sen. Barack Obama might make a good running mate.

Tuesday night's four state primaries were Obama's best chance to deliver a knockout blow to Clinton and end the Democratic contest, but Clinton made the second comeback of the primary season by winning three of those states.

"Sen. Clinton is tenacious and she keeps on ticking," Obama conceded today on "Good Morning America."

Obama won in Vermont, but Clinton picked up Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas, a series of wins that has reinvigorated her campaign and supporters.

Clinton told "Good Morning America" today that her Web site received huge numbers Tuesday night and many pledged donations.

"[Voters] are clearly saying they don't want this contest to end," she said. "This election is incredibly close."

On CBS' "Early Show," Clinton was asked whether she and Obama could share a presidential ticket.

"Well you know that may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket," she said. "I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."

Clinton still sits behind Obama in the total number of pledged delegates for the Democratic nomination, according to the ABC News count.

Clinton acknowledged the tight race and said Democratic voters now have a real choice to make because they know who is the Republican nominee. Arizona Sen. John McCain wrapped up the GOP nomination Tuesday night.

"This election is not only between Sen. Obama and myself. It is also between one of us and John McCain," she said.

Clinton said national security will be the campaign issue against McCain.

"I think national security is the issue when you are running against John McCain," Clinton said. "I have the credentials. I have the strength and experience."

National security was also the issue she used against Obama in the last week, highlighting it with an ad that featured a red phone ringing in the night and asking whom did voters want responding to an international crisis.

Clinton also said she will work diligently to make sure the votes from Florida and Michigan, which she won, are counted.

"They should count. No Democrat can win the White House without Michigan," she said. And the last two presidential races show it's hard to win without Florida, Clinton added.

The Democratic Party isn't counting the primary results in Florida and Michigan as a reprimand after those states moved up their primaries and Democratic presidential hopefuls said they would not campaign in the states. Clinton, however, won the vote in both states.

"I'm going to work as hard as I can to make sure they count," she said. "At the end of the day, we're going to be the nominee."

She also planned to begin campaigning in Pennsylvania -- the next big primary April 22 -- as early as Thursday.

Despite his losses in Texas and Ohio Tuesday night, Obama said he doesn't believe Clinton's ad critical of him on national security played a large role in the final result.

"'I don't think any one ad makes a difference," Obama said on "Good Morning America" today. "She started off with a big lead."

Obama said he is eager to debate Clinton and McCain on the national security topic.