Obama Plays Underdog, Chides Media as Texas, Ohio Vote
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller Reports: As the citizens of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont head to the primary polls, Barack and Michelle Obama strolled to the back of his campaign plane en route from San Antonio to Houston.
"It is a very, very tight (race)," Obama told reporters, "You know, I mean we started 20 points behind in Texas and Ohio –- we closed the gap but you know whether it’s going to be enough to actually win is going to depend on turn out."
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
Heading into Tuesday’s critical contests, Obama finds himself ahead in every major category: delegates, popular vote, and states won.
But the most important stat in the Democratic nomination fight is delegates and on that front, despite 11 straight wins, Obama was also downplaying expectations.
"We know there’s not going to be a huge shift in delegates one way or another just given the math," Obama said. "Which means that either way we will go to Mississippi or Wyoming next week."
Political pundits have predicted the contests in Ohio and Texas are make or break for Clinton’s campaign.
"If she loses both (Ohio and Texas), I think there’s no question that she will be getting out of the race," said ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America." "If she wins Ohio and loses Texas, I think it will be very difficult for her to go on. . . but I think if it’s close, she may find a way to stay in."
Clinton, in survivor mode, refused to speculate on such assertions.
"Do you buy in at all to the opinion that you actually need a double digit win in this state to keep the campaign alive," questioned ABC affiliate KXXV in Waco, Texas, Tuesday morning during a marathon series of 20 interviews that began her day.
"No, I sure don’t," Clinton responded.
Aboard Obama’s plane, the candidate called his rival a "tenacious and determined candidate," reiterating, "the theory was that they had to blow us out of Texas and Ohio and I don’t think that’s going to happen."
Obama, who has faced criticism for conflicting reports concerning his position on free trade and his connection to a disgraced fundraiser, said the Clinton camp was employing a negative "kitchen sink strategy" and chided the press.
"This whole spin of just how the press has been tough on them and not tough on us. I didn’t expect that you guys would bite on that. But it is was it is. Our focus is to just talking about the issues. I don’t want to change the tone of our campaign because that’s how I ultimately think I’m gong to be able to govern," Obama said.
Asked if the attack ads and negative campaigning has any effect, Obama replied, "There’s no doubt that if you’re being attacked everyday that it creates a sense of turbulence in the minds of people."
On a lighter note, Obama also returned fire to "Saturday Night Live", the program which welcomed Clinton to open its broadcast the week before the March 4 primaries.
"Ya know, I missed it" he said of the skit before adding, "I missed Saturday Night Live for some reason this past weekend. I was working too hard. But clearly Tina Fey and I are gonna have to have a conversation."
Tina Fey may not have much to say about the matter. It was Amy Poehler who a doppleganger take with the real Clinton by her side.
For all the latest from the campaign trail, read The Note every morning exclusively on ABCNews.com
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Hillary Clinton has been in the eye of the press storm for weeks, and the moment that the junior senator from Illinois feels a little bit of heat the cracks start to appear. Can you imagine if he was the nominee? Hillary Clinton is battle-tested by the right and will stick to important principles no matter what.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | March 4, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
But it was Tina Fey that started the season off with her remarks and I am sure it was her writing in much of those first scripts.
Posted by: dl | March 4, 2008, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Are you really this desperate, dl? I think we both know what he meant. For God’s sake, let the man say the wrong thing once in awhile. That’s ok. NO big deal. It was just fun.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | March 4, 2008, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
I think the important thing to note is the fact that the delegate number won’t change much. Neither candidate is going to get enough delegates to win the nomination. To suggest that Hillary should get out because she is only slightly behind in the delegate numbers is crazy. Let the people vote, a winner can be chosen when it’s all over and not before. Obama is like a new fad, which after awhile you get tired of having it shoved in your face and you move on. Lets see if Obama can maintain his support over the long haul. Hang in there Hillary, I feel a change in the wind direction!!
Posted by: Firefighter | March 4, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Would you please stop with the SNL blame game, it is a show and people watch if they want. So what that some of the actors may or may not indicate who is their preference for president. Don’t most Hollywood and alot of the entertainment people say or indicate who they like in interviews or shows? so what? I love SNL and i love the political intone and jokes….keep rocking SNL.
Posted by: PB | March 4, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
well up until the past couple of days I thought Obama was paying them.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | March 4, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Thanks DL. I should tell you up front I’m a Hillary supporter. Nevertheless, should you ever find yourself drawing a blank as a writer just keep a large enough sample of these blogs as inspiration because you can’t make up stuff like this.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | March 4, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Obama has been too nice thus far, but he can afford to be magnanimous at this point. He knows that if the delegate count REALLY tightens all he needs to do is run 2 commercials over and over in the remaining states. The first? Hillary whining like a spoiled child about being asked the first question. If a man did that he’d be laughed out of the race. The second? A scrolled list of investigations that have been conducted of the Clinton’s business affairs over the past 20 years. I recently was reminded of the full list, and it really is mindblowing in its scope. So relax, everyone, HRC will never, ever be President.
Posted by: joe johnson | March 4, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
I PROMISE YOU WE WILL WIN ALL 4 STATES TONIGHT…. (INSA) IT IS ALL OVER.. OBAMA 08
Posted by: Lawrence | March 4, 2008, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Joe, or Hillary can run each day court proceeding in the Rizko trial with Obama’s NAFTA claims. Two can play the game. What’s new?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | March 4, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Obama is fine with the coddling by the press and celeb endorsements and rah, rahs, but you can see a vastly different persona when the tables are turned (can’t run with the big dogs?).
Posted by: yellowdogdemocrat | March 4, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Joe—
If you scroll back up to the story you will see that this article is about a man whinning.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | March 4, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Hillary tears up, Obama whines and plays the race card. At present, he is a novelty and just like the new toys at Christmas, he will be cast aside for old favourites, the toys that have stood the test of time. I do believe the Clintons already know how this Rezko thing is going to play out. Already it can’t pass the stink test. Talk about bad judgement; knowingly getting involved with a schmuk already under investigation when you have aspirations to the presidency. Way to underestimate the IQ of your electorate Obama.
Posted by: Bill Elliott | March 4, 2008, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Does anyone find him as sexist as I do? “Tina Fey and I are gonna have to have a conversation.” What does that mean? Is he threatening her? Just because she doesn’t worship at the Church of Obama, whatever religion that is, does not give him leeway to make such an obnoxious assertion. There is a lot more to this guy that is unlikeable than likeable. We’ll see how his demeanor changes when he doesn’t put it away tonight.
Posted by: Nicole | March 4, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
Sexist, Nicole? You should know by now God cannot be sexists. Okay. Perhaps he might believe the rib is a cheaper cut and all, but he is all knowing all seeing and – wait a minute does he know that women have the vote now?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | March 4, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Lets be clear about the numbers.
First of all Obama was never down by 20% in either of these states after John Edwards left the race. One poll put him 21% down in Ohio only one. The others all showed about a 10% spread. At no time was the average 20%.
Texas has never had him down by 20%. One poll had him down by 16%, again one poll. The average was about 5% down.
If the spread is 10% for Clinton in Ohio and 5% for Clinton in Texas these would be exactly the same numbers since Edwards left the race.
Obama after outspending Clinton 2:1 and 3:1 would have gained no ground.
Posted by: s.b. | March 4, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
The Clintons have disgraced the Democratic party once again. We can only hope that Barack Obama can persevere to rescue it from the negativity and bitterness the Mrs. Clinton has brought to it in the primary season thus far.
Posted by: robby10001 | March 4, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Obama has no haha. Clinton can take a joke. She has a great sense of humour. He does not like it at all.
Posted by: s.b. | March 4, 2008, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
If Clinton is elected president and Rezko is convicted, a presidential pardon might be a hard thing to find.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | March 4, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Robby10001, are you saying the Hillary wing of the democrats are not democrats at all? And yours is the only democrats? I guess in that case then, should we lose we’ll just have to have a word with the McCain folks. Thanks for throwing us out buddy.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | March 4, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
By the way why has ABC news elevated that Hasselback woman to the status of political pundit? Are there no other female reporters, oh wait she’s not even a reporter. Are there no women who work for ABC who know just a little bit more about politics than this twit. ABC cheapens it’s news coverage by linking to her bubbleheaded rants.
Posted by: s.b. | March 4, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
I agree that if Obama can’t take the heat, he should get out of the kitchen. What a whiner! Such a sense of entitlement. Wants the nomination handed to him. Well, this is a democracy, that’s not the way it works.
Let the people vote!
Go Hillary!
Posted by: mab | March 4, 2008, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
BAD PEOPLE EARN BAD PRESS NO?
The Clintons get the press they EARNED!
It is a simple as that.
Clintons can’t behave like classless crows and expected to be treated like a sparrows; but Hilary can whine for sympathy instead of improving her style.
Some suckers are going to fall for the fake personality.
Can we teach old female dogs new tricks? lol
The ‘inevitable candidate’ and amply funded Clintons, since the horrendous loss in Iowa and even before, have been dismissive, divisive, disingenuous, deceptive, devious and NEGATIVE!
Now, what kind of a media coverage does such attitudes and bad behaviors by the CLintons deserve?
On the other hand, Obama Campaign has been hopeful, positive, principled, dignified, intelligent, efficient, successful and a crowd puller.
So naturally Obama is going to not get negative press, and even get positive media coverage.
Posted by: New Yorker | March 4, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
New Yorker—
I owe you one. You have cleared this whole nasty mess up for me in just a few sentences.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | March 4, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
ShadowKnows | Mar 4, 2008 5:40:13 PM
Glad to be of service.
We only wish that those in the press would be a bit more on the ball.
However, most media people aren’t that bright or are cunning lawyers like the Clintons; and so they don’t know how to respond correctly to the ridiculous charge of the Clintons about ‘bad press’.
Those who would behave like crows and expected to be treated like sparrows are self-deluded. That’s the ever-self-centered Clintons
Posted by: New Yorker | March 4, 2008, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
New Yorker—
I just don’t know how to respond.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | March 4, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
There is no one self centered than Barack Hussein Obama. He takes takes our tax money as a senator and he never participates in senate.
I have never heard and seen any poltician this much ambicious adn can play any dirty game to get power.
I am a die-heart democrat and i worry about our party due to this OBAMA CULT.
YES HILLARY HAS LAUNDRY LIST OF NEGATIVE THINGS BTU IN 35 YRS NOT IN 4 YRS.
IMPORTANTLY SHE HAS SPEND HER WHOLE 35 YRS TO DO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDED. SHE COULD HAVE CHOSEN WELL PAYING JOB BUT SHE CHOSE TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE.
I SOLUTE HILLARY FOR HER SERVICE, INTELLIGENCE, COMMITMENT TO REGULAR PEOPLE AND FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHT.
HILLARY YOU DESERVE VICTORY IN ALL 4 STATES AND I HOPE VOTERS AND GOD WILL GIVE IT TO YOU!
Posted by: Uma, mpls, MN | March 4, 2008, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm
Uh if it wasn’t for the media, who would be propping up Obama. If anything they’re trying to finish off Hilliary. (Not that I mind) But he should at least be honest about it.
Posted by: cba | March 4, 2008, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
Robby1001- I am a lifelong Democrat who has gone out absolutely every election and voted in almost all cases for a Democrat. I don’t just go to the polls if one candidate inspires me and then sit out the rest of the elections. I don’t think the Democrats can really afford to alienate those type of Democrats. I’m thoroughly disgusted with those calling for Clinton’s withdrawal at this point when you have a divided party (and those oldsters are probably the ones they’ll be counting on for their own re-election). I am also disappointed that our party is opting to lean towards a candidate with minimal experience when we will be up against McCain. This election is too important and world events too complex to vote on the basis of redemption and symbolism. I have no problems with Obama
and if he goes back and takes the opportunity this time to aquire expertise and experience rather than just focusing on his political aspirations, I’d support him 100%. His comments about Pakistan and Iraq have shown his inexperience and appear hawkish at times, most likely to compensate for his lack of. One thing we can always count on the Democrats, is that they’ll put someone in who won’t win. This might be the first election I cast my vote for a Republican
I’d have alot more faith if I could encounter just one Obama supporter who can advocate for Obama in a way that doesn’t attack others and that indicates
they actually know something about their candidate beyond hope and change.
Posted by: alpaig | March 4, 2008, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
Remember we’re counting on a media that sat by and didn’t ask the tough questions of our government as our young men/women marched off to Iraq.
It’s also the same media that deemed Paris Hilton’s DUI fiasco news.
Posted by: alpaig | March 4, 2008, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
When I first took my driving test I made a bad dangerous move and was stopped to proceed with the test. Hillary Clinton’s voting for the war in Iraq is comparable to such a move . If She did not have the intelligence to see the stark truth about this war She should have got out of politics as it made her totally unworthy of any kind of leadership of our coutry at this period in our history . This war was about everything except our security. It turned the whole world, even moderate loyal muslims against US policies.
She also needs to spend a year in quietness meditating on the true meaning of the words ‘action’ and ‘experience’. If George Bush had ten more lifetimes of experience as US president would he be any less of an absolute nincompoop.It does not take experience to be a president it takes integrity, individual maturity courage and a brilliant mind open to learn. A host of experienced staff can provide all the experience but if you dont have the above qualities all experience is tantamount to zero.
Posted by: waris | March 5, 2008, 2:23 am 2:23 am
mab: You are so right. I heard that Obama was going to celebrate his wins in TX, OH & RI last night but that was meant to be. It’s about time the voters came to their sense about Obama. Obama talks change but never stated what changes he would make. He talks about hope. What hope is he talking about. He may be ahead in delegates right now but that will end. Right now the media better eat crow because they were the ones that kept promoting Obama.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | March 5, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am