Bill Clinton: West Virginia Vote Can Make ‘Earth Move’
ABC News’ Sarah Amos Reports: Bill Clinton continued his two day tour of West Virginia Friday, stressing the importance of a huge win for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Tuesday’s primary.
Speaking to a full firehouse in Madison, the former President told the crowd that those against her are trying to discourage people from caring about the election because they realize if enough people come out to vote, she could still win the popular vote.
"You have to realize that if you show up in enough numbers, and your neighbors in Kentucky do, and we have a good run through the rest of these states," asserted Clinton, "We gotta have your help and get the largest number of people to show up on election day. See all this stuff you are hearing about is an attempt to discourage you. That’s what this is, pure and simple, hoping, well, Hillary can get eighty percent of the vote in West Virginia, and if only 100,000 people show up it is not enough. But if 600,000 people show up, and you say we want a president than you will see the earth move. You can do it."
While the crowd gave Clinton an extremely warm welcome, many in the crowd seemed to lose interest as he began his speech — even during his appeal for a high voter turnout.
Clinton also brought superdelegates into his argument, a part of the primary process he usually avoids talking about while on the campaign trail.
"She can win the popular vote, she is clearly the most electable according to all the national polls, and between now and August, the superdelegates are gonna have to think long and hard about how badly they want to win. If she is clearly the most electable with positions that people have finally focused on, the real difference I think is, I think she has got a real shot at this and let me just tell you something, all those folks who are telling you on television that she can’t win – they weren’t for her in the beginning," said Clinton.
During the course of Clinton’s hour long speech, many people wandered out but those that did stay listened intently to Clinton discuss his wife’s energy and education plans for America.
As he wrapped up, the former President left the crowd with the idea that crowds like the one in Madison were best hope Hillary had at winning this nomination.
"So, that’s my case. You think that is a good enough case for West Virginia? Is it a good enough case to get a lot of people to go vote? Will you do what you can to get more people to vote for between now and Tuesday? You just remember what I told ya. This whole deal is riding on how you perform. We are walking out here on a ledge. They have tried to push her off of it and she’s still walking for you, toward tomorrow. Don’t you let anybody discourage you. Don’t you let a single soul stay home on Tuesday," Clinton told the crowd.
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Plain talk. The absolute truth.
Posted by: geevill | May 9, 2008, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Its a bit funny, to see people left while he was still speaking, asking them to show up in large number on Tuesday to vote! Will they?
Posted by: Peace | May 9, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
I am really beginning to wonder if the tone of you Obama supporters will cost Obama the white house.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 9, 2008, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
Why is it that the media keeps reporting about Hillary getting out of the race. LEAVE HER ALONE. They don’t even remember their own reporting. It was reported that after June 3rd, the race will be decided by the “Supers”. She will probably get out of the race but she wants the other states to vote. Her name is still on the ballot and she is concerned for her supporters. That is a good legitimate concern. We are already very volatile about this race. If she doesn’t get the respect she deserves for getting half the electorate, there will be blood in the General Election. She has worked hard for a whole year and to just get out without a “transitional Period”, will be disatrous for the whole party. Besides it is already a movement going to boycott the GE if Obama is the nominee. It won’t matter if she gets out now or later. The damage is already been done by Hillary-hating media.
Posted by: Lois, California | May 9, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
They said the same thing about Ohio….
Then, they said it again about Pennsylvania..
Then, again, in Indiana……..
And now, the “change the tide” state is
going to be West Virginia….. LOL
Bill….. go home already…… LOL….
Posted by: Mark | May 9, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Obama posters appear to have nothing positive to say about their candidate. This Clinton bashing is not going to be an very effective campaign theme. Even Obama cannot talk about healthcare without saying he agrees with Clinton’s plan.
Posted by: geevill | May 9, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Tomagam-
There is a difference with Rev. Wright, who was one of Obama’s closest friends…
He was preaching…
Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
You can vote however you want, but I do not want to hear a couple of years from now that change isn’t always a good thing…
Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Old enough to be in my 2nd year of law school.
Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Obama slams Hillary for saying that money not earned from the gas tax will cause thousands of jobs to be lost.
Yet he proposes $1,000 tax cuts for working families…. Where does that money come from????
Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
You keep showing every one what an idiot you are Tomagam. You have no clue if I am Democrat or Republican.
Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
no, what do you not understand….
Wright was preaching hate to others to spread…
Clinton’s pastor never told his church that they should touch children…
Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
mike, great point! I’ve been mulling this Gas Tax Holiday over too.
Obama says Hillary’s plan to pay for it with a Windfall Profits Tax on Big Oil will cause prices to rise… yet, his own Energy Plan calls for a Windfall Profits Tax.
Obama says Hillary’s plan to save Americans 18 cents/gallon this summer is pandering… yet his attack ad included a plan to give everyone a $1,000 tax break (and of course, doesn’t say where he’ll get that money).
Who’s kidding who?
Posted by: HoosierSue | May 9, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
thank you finally someone else who understands… i just hope everyone else understands
Posted by: mike | May 9, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Tomagam you just can’t figure out how this works. You only need to submit it once. Can we count 1 -
Posted by: rockthebleachers | May 9, 2008, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Wow, he’s setting some pretty impossible goals there. 600,000 voters is roughly a third of the state’s population; I’m not sure they even have that many registered voters. Even in these heated primaries the biggest turnout so far hasn’t cleared a quarter of the population in any other state. On top of that, Hillary hasn’t gotten anywhere near 80% in any contest so far. The best she got was 70% in Arkansas, and she hasn’t cleared 60% in any other contests.
I think everyone expects Clinton to do well in West Virginia, but the numbers that Bill is spinning are just a fairy tale.
Posted by: Justin | May 9, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
This party is over for the Clinton’s.
Posted by: Lou | May 9, 2008, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
FYI Barack Obama is going to be the next president of the USA and I think he will do a great job for all people.
Posted by: Lou | May 9, 2008, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
charleychaplin:
You’re not only dead, but you’re out
of your Mind!
If Hillary ran as an Independent in the
general election, John McCain would be
elected easily! Hillary and Obama would split the Democrat vote! Get a Clue!
Posted by: reaganfan | May 9, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
The Clintons have lost their minds…they look pathetic.
Posted by: Sam | May 9, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
In response to Bill Clinton says West Virginia can make the Earth Move yes that is if they lose their MINDS that is COAL MINES.
Posted by: Patricia | May 9, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Hillary will be the nominee when monkeys start flying out of Bill’s bottom. GoBama ’08. Accept the inevitable, Hillbilly.
Posted by: Yodit | May 9, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
If any of you think that supporters of either candidate are 100 percent represented on a comment board, then you might want your head examined. Quit being over dramatic. This is not indicative of all Obama or Clinton supporters.
Posted by: vninja | May 9, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Hopefully the earth won’t move in West Virginia like it has in that giant sinkhole in Texas this week. Oh wait, that’s Hillary’s campaign sinking and being swallowed up by too few delegates, too few states won, too few popular votes, and now too few superdelegates. Even Florida and Michigan won’t help tip the scales now. Must be down to flipping a coin or rock, paper, scissors. Just like Conan O’Brien says, she leads in the state of denial.
Posted by: Russ | May 9, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
West Virginia has to prove that it matters and their votes are important to the nomination.
OBAMA is ignoring the state and gives up on West Virginia.
Perhaps, this is the only chance for people in West Virginia to make history. This is the opportunity that they can’t afford to miss.
Posted by: John_Lai | May 9, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
obana is a white hater and white people voite for him
Posted by: butch armel | May 9, 2008, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
Wow, walking out on a former POTUS, I’m guessing the polls in WV have just moved about 20 points in Obama’s favor
Posted by: Samantha | May 9, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Clinton is certainly not black enough!
But it is doubtful that
you do not know how to vote
even though you are not black enough.
Posted by: yetlost | May 9, 2008, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
Operation FUTILE
We will see how many west virginians comit political suicide with Senator Clinton.
Posted by: Alma Ludivina | May 9, 2008, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
Since Super Tuesday Hillary has won Texas, Ohio, Penn., Indiana, and is up 43 points in WV. Since all Obama’s recent scandals he has lost almost every state with the exception of NC. He is the one who is toast!
Thanks Dems for giving us Obama and the presidency. The next states will be a good representation of what is in store for you in the general election. Those states will show how done America is with Obama, but it’s too late to turn back now you nominated him! lol
Posted by: Bill | May 10, 2008, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Bill:
Hillary Clinton Did Not Win Texas!
Obama Won Texas! Figures Don’t Lie!
Obama 99 Delegates,Clinton 94 Delegates!
The MSM has been spouting that Lie
for too long! Obama Won Texas, period!
West Virginia has voted for
Senator Robert C Byrd a former
Klansman for years! Do you really think
they’re going to vote for Obama?
If you’re running to be head of the
KKK West Virginia is important!
Posted by: reaganfan | May 10, 2008, 12:20 am 12:20 am
I am a Democrat and due to the nastiness of the Obama supporters and the Obama campaign, myself and many many Dem voters (the majority) will not vote for Obama! You had better hope Obama doe not get nominated because what you will have done is given McCain the Presidency. Hope that makes you happy that you will be responsible for ruining our country for yet another 4 years with a corrupt Republican administration. Get your heads out of the clouds, Obama can not defeat McCain in an election. you Obama voters are about to throw our only chance of a Democratic administration down the toilet!
Hillary for President 2008!
Posted by: Shel | May 10, 2008, 12:39 am 12:39 am
I find it ironic that the Clintons talk about who is “most electable.” Anyone remember that in JUNE 1992, Clinton was behind Perrot and Bush in national polls? His campaign didn’t have its big push until the few months before the general election. That said, I believe that the division in the Democratic party is only believable as much as the media decides to push it down our throats. Clinton can decide when and how to withdraw. If the party was really in trouble, the superdelegates would throw their support behind one or the other and end it.
Posted by: TruthTeller | May 10, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am
this is sad you think anyone runnoing cares about anyone? i went to vote today in WV and for the prez their was noone i could mark that didnt make me feel like i was doing to wrong thingi ended up voting for clinton this to keep it going because i realy im not sure what all change he talks about is. i change shirts twice a day so????plus i dont fell like bama likes white people and i know clinton hates every one so it just felt like ither way i was doing the wrong thing. so i started thinking maybe i should vote for mcainbut i done asked for a Dem card but then mcain isnt any better hes like i want to be mr nice guy and get along with every one cross party lines, so he will do what ever it takes go look good like i quote think of the work of…. he broke your bones almost killed you dont talk nive about him like hes your but buddy. so its almost june and we have found out one thing we have no one worth voting for!!! its never been this bad !!!!! god save the office of prez, not the queen
Posted by: jack (I) | May 10, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
i guess if clinton hate every one and obama just hates whites i guess clinton is less of a racist. can some one ells run please!!!we have 3 running and no one to vote for!!!
Posted by: davy | May 10, 2008, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
I think the change that Obama has written about and campaigned about has to do with a change in political tactics. The typical political tactics are divide and conquer at the expense of everyone else and/or for the benefit of the most powerful. In 1992 the Clintons campaigned mostly from the grassroots and not from the most powerful corporate interests. They were more popular because they did. Now that they are part of the party elite they seem to not care about their roots so much. They are now top-down politicians rather that grass roots politicians. They got their funding from the elite until they were tapped out this year. Obama has not yet taken money from the traditional big donors and lobbyists. Almost all of his money has come from small individual donors – and he still has enough left to possibly donate to Hillary’s debt recovery.
Posted by: russ | May 10, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Hillary needs to stay in the race. Obama has run a campaign solely based on “changing politics” and then spoke positively about Republicans while bashing the Clintons. Meanwhile it was the Republican administration that screwed things up! Of course we want change, but we want someone who knows and thus speaks about what they will do and how. Hillary is that candidate.
Posted by: irma | May 11, 2008, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
You may think that this is over but it is not over, not even close. Hillary Clinton is so close to Barack Obama on so many layers of the Primary that it is a disgrace that his people keep trying to “bamboozle” you all with the media hype. The fact of the matter is that if this was a Winner Take All Race like the General Election, Hillary already won. In the Electoral College, she has already proven that she can beat Obama’s potential 2:1. Obama cannot win McCain. Hillary can.
Posted by: Jodi B. | May 11, 2008, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Russ, another thing is that Obama’s mother is Caucasion. If he cared so much about his own family, he could not say the biggoted things that he has been saying all throughout this race. What kind of man turns his back on his deceased mother and walks all over the fact that she and her parents raised him, that his own father abandoned him?
Posted by: AnotherThing | May 11, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Why doesn’t someone in the MSM
ask Senator Clinton if she will
Denounce West Virginia Senator
Robert C Byrd for his Racist Past
prior to the Primary on Tuesday?
Since Clinton claims that her campaign
hasn’t been using the “race card” let’s see her prove it!
Posted by: reaganfan | May 11, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
I personally think it is time to change the White House, It has become so crooked aand remember Clinton is part of the establishment. So if you bring her in your still going to end up the way it is now.We need a change someone who is not afraid to talk to our enemies, someone who is intelligent, understands our Declaration of Independence.Someone who is as knowledgeable abt. the law as the judges are and that person is Obama. Give him a chance, remember you can always vote anyone out 4 years later, but I’m willing to bet you will be voting to give him the next 4 years.
Posted by: Jean K Worthington | May 11, 2008, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
I am not trying to be accused of speaking ill of the Clintons but overstating the importance of West Virginia is sort of said. It would be as though Obama were saying Oregon was the make or break state in the election. In West Virginia there are a lot of people who will not vote for Obama simply because of the color of his skin. In Oregon there are a lot of people who will not vote for Clinton because she voted for the war in Iraq and is generally a bad candidate and is using race and hatred to try and further her pathetic career. I believe that the Oregon voters are right. But even if you agree with the racism of the West Virginian voters I don’t think that racists should be the thing that chooses our Democratic candidate. Now I know that Clinton supporters are more in favor of using race to decide this thing but I think the will of the people of the United States is a better means.
Go Obama.
Posted by: Bob | May 11, 2008, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
mpwdc: This is the United States of
America! We do not ignore the legal
votes for one candidate because our
candidate lost and choose our candidate
anyway! Why have primaries at all if the
Super Delegates can overturn the
primary results and choose a different
nominee?
You Clinton supporters would Love
Putin and the Russians!
Posted by: reaganfan | May 12, 2008, 12:18 am 12:18 am
When I read stories such as this one, I almost feel sorry for the Clintons, eh,em! It is such pathetic rantings. I wonder if he is doing time long after the crime? Hillary wants to be the Nominee soooooooooo desperately that she has been willing to say and do just about anything even putting the elusive and arrogant I-will-not answer-your -questions Chelsea out in the hustings to beg for votes.
Be careful bill, W.V votes just might make the earth move – from under Hillary’s feet. you really seem to think that people are stupid.
Posted by: exatlantic | May 12, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
I’m getting really tired of hearing how mean and nasty Obama and Obama supporters have been to Sen. Clinton and Clinton supporters. Sen. Clinton supporters keep whining about how bad they are being treated by the opposition, the Media, the candidate himself. What’s so frustrating is that there is this perception by Clinton supporters that she and her husband are soft and gentle and gracious and above reproach. I keep going on these blog sites and Clinton supporters keep whining “We won’t vote for Obama. He’s awful. He can’t beat McCain. He’s mean to Hillary. She should run as an Independent. He’s destroying the Democratic Party.” That in and of itself is ironic because within that argument Hillary Clinton leaves the Democratic Party, Democrats stay home or vote for McCain and all daggers are pointed at Obama. It’s so clear to me that it’s one of those situations where Sen. Clinton’s supporters are looking in a mirror. I’m not saying there aren’t Obama supporters that are being unnecessarily disrespectful to Sen. Clinton, there most certainly are. But there’s enough blame to go around on both ends, including Sen. McCain supporters. During elections, every side gets ugly and nasty. But geesh, stop whining because you support Sen. Clinton and she appears to not have the edge any more. Clinton supporters would do the same thing to Sen. Obama if the roles were reversed. IF she were on top right now, she and her husband would be gloating and smiling from ear to ear and would have very little compassion for Obama or his supporters. Amy Poehler’s monologue on SNL this Saturday summed it up perfectly – the Clintons are not known for being gracious winners or losers. So stop trying to paint Obama supporters or Sen. Obama as being so nasty. There’s always been a certain level of nastiness coming from the Clinton camp since 1992 and it appears, based on some of the postings and unwillingness to support Sen. Obama come the general election, that her supporters are cut from the same cloth. Quit your whining and suck it up like Guiliani, Ron Paul, John Edwards etc. supporters have done. Right now, Clinton supporters sound like the biggest babies of them all. Enough all ready.
Posted by: biko24601 | May 12, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
why exactly would Al Qaeda have a field day with Obama? What proof do you have of this? If you’re going to vote for McCain, then you’re really not a Democrat — which is fine, you’re an Independent or a Republican, so why are you so excited about Clinton? She’s a solid Democrat, which means she’s pro-choice, unlike McCain, and wants to pull out of Iraq, unlike McCain — but just like Obama. Obama wanted to go after Al Qaeda and Bin Laden where they actually are — Afghanistan and Pakistan. Most important: OBAMA SAID HE WOULD NOT SIT DOWN WITH HAMAS! Your argument is foolish because you didn’t do your research. He is opposed to meeting with Hamas. Your posting makes one’s head spin because you have nothing but dumb opinions, emotionalism and hyperbole to back up your claims – no facts.
Posted by: ponch | May 12, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
This is for all of you that have brought up Sen. Byrd and his past affiliation with the Klan. The citizens of West Virginia are a forgiving bunch who have given Sen. Byrd the benefit of the doubt a long time ago and allowed him a second chance. He has made good on this opportunity and has done a tremendous amount of good for our state. Further more, Sen. Byrd has not declared his support for either candidate, although some have tried to shame him into supporting Obama as a way of repenting for his past.
If you would like to see a backlash of epic proportions in November, attack Sen. Byrd during the primary. He is West Virginia’s favorite son and is untouchable in state politics. West Virginia voted for Pres. Bush for his first term, marking the first time the state had gone republican since Herbert Hoover. With that being said, the state will go republican again if Sen. Byrd feels its the best for the state or expresses a lack of confidence in the democratic nominee.
If you want the support of the Mountain State, the first ass you kiss had better be Robert Byrd’s.
Montani Semper Liberi
Posted by: anthonyw | May 13, 2008, 10:49 am 10:49 am
I am so fed up with people and their stereotypical views of WV. How do you know we are racist? Do I know you? I’m sure I have never met you. Yes Sen. Byrd was in the klan but more importantly he has asked forgiveness for this. Everyone does things they are not proud of especially when they are young. Are you sinless? Obama cut his own throat in WV by showing he could care less about us. He didn’t even try to win our votes. He was here for an hour and played pool at a bar for most of that time. He had already written us off. He stereotyped us as poor white racists who weren’t worthy of his campaining time. I believe our next president should care about all American people now matter what poll they represent. Hilary doesn’t give up even when she is down she keeps trying. Is that not what we need in the White House? As for you bigots get a life because unless you know every person in the state of WV you don’t know US or our opinions. However I am glad to give you mine. We are proud people PROUD TO BE WEST VIRGINIAN AND PROUD TO AMERICAN!!!!!!
Posted by: fed up | May 14, 2008, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm