'A Win Is 50 Plus One'
Both candidates are looking for victory in the hotly contested Keystone State.
April 22, 2008— -- Pennsylvania Primary
Polls Close: 8:00 pm ET
Pledged Delegates at Stake in Primary: 158
There will be no horserace numbers from the exit polling until 8:00pm ET when the polls close but there will be demographic data trickling out before then. Log on and follow the twists and turns as ABC News' Rick Klein blogs all the action tonight.
Since the Mississippi primary on March 11, the polls out of Pennsylvania have narrowed from a 12 point lead for Hillary Clinton (Quinnipiac, March 18) to a seven point lead for Clinton (Quinnipiac, April 21), prompting considerable talk of the margin of victory that Clinton needs to really count the state in her W column.
Barack Obama doesn't seem to believe in moral victories and perhaps put that margin of victory talk to bed with a few hours to go before the polls close.
While chomping on the local delicacy in South Philly, Obama said: "Well let me cut to the chase. A win is 50 plus one. So if Senator Clinton gets over 50% she's won the state and you know I don't try to pretend that I enjoy getting 45% and that's a moral victory, we've lost the state."
Obama has been managing expectations in Pennsylvania by looking beyond the Keystone State to the remaining nine contests. Underscoring that strategy, he will be in Evansville, IN for a rally with John Mellencamp (wonder if the two will share their views on "small towns").
Over six weeks, the expectations and predictions game played by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns has provided locker room bulletin board fodder that rivals some of the more bold predictions set by athletes over the years.
See if you can sort out the politicos from the players and match up the following notable figures to the expectations-setting statements below. Answers included before the schedule:
1. "Maybe the question ought to be, Why cant he close the deal?"
2. "…[I]f Senator Clinton is going to make meaningful inroads in this race for delegates, she will need a huge margin in Pennsylvania."
3. "We want the ball, and we're going to score!"
4. "So I'm saying that we will win this state, but we'll win it somewhere between 5 and 9, 5 and 10 percentage points."
5. "We're going to win. Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do"
6. "I'm not predicting a win.....I'm predicting it's going to be close and that we are going to do a lot better than people expect."
7. "I want to leave a championship legacy."
8. "So if he's already the frontrunner, if he's had six weeks of unlimited resources to get his message out, shouldn't he be the one expected to win tonight?"
9. "We're going to win next week. There's no question in my mind. I guarantee we will win next week. I'm going to get this team ready. Guaranteed."
10. "We're going to win Pennsylvania. You're asking the wrong guy. I believe we win everything."
11. "We know how resilient they are. They had a hard schedule coming down the stretch and they won when they had to."
12. "Going in one more round when you don't think you can - that's what makes all the difference in your life"
13. "Clinton has to win Pennsylvania. She has to be ahead in the popular vote to have any chance at all of getting this nomination."
14. "I think we are the team to beat in the NL East – finally."
15. "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it." Clinton – Philadelphia, PA
Match-up Answers: (1) D (2) L (3) C (4) O (5) M (6) N (7) H (8) F (9) K (10) A (11) G (12) J (13) I (14) E (15) B
If you answered:
0-5 correct: Haven't you ever heard of Google?
6-9 correct: Not quite ready to take questions on a campaign conference call.
10-12 correct: You clearly are glued to the Political Radar all day.
13-15 correct: You cheated and used Google.
On the campaign trail. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- 12:45 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, New Albany, IN
-- Attends to Senate duties, Washington, DC
HILLARY CLINTON
-- Attends event with voters, Indianapolis, IN
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 11:00 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Inez, KY
-- 1:15 pm ET: Holds media availability, Inez, KY
At the White House and Beyond. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 11:05 am ET: Attends congressional gold medal ceremony honoring Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey, Washington, DC
-- 2:10 pm ET: Participates in photo opportunity with recipients of the Baldrige National Quality Award, Washington, DC
-- 3:35 pm ET: Speaks on National Small Business Week, Washington, DC
SECRETARY OF STATE RICE
-- 2:00 pm ET: Meets with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, Washington, DC
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
-- Releases existing home sales figures for March
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Jennifer Parker: Pressure on Clinton to Win Big in Pa. LINK
ABC News' Emily Friedman: Bill's Comments Unhelpful to Wife's Campaign LINK
ABC News' Rick Klein: Blogging the Pennsylvania Primary LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Bill Clinton Claims Obama Camp Played the Race Card Against Him LINK
Sen. Obama tells reporters in S. Philly he doesn't believe in moral victories. LINK
Clinton: 'A Win Is A Win'
Clinton on Obama in PA: "The question ought to be why can't he close the deal?" LINK
Clinton Says Media 'Mischaracterized' His Remarks
The former president refuses to discuss the interview during a Pittsburgh stop. LINK
Candidate Smackdown
Clinton and Obama WWE avatars wrestle out the primaries. LINK
Clinton Evades Race Card Question
Sen. Clinton ignores the question, adding it's important to focus on the voters. LINK
Obama Confused by Bill Clinton's Race Remark
Obama: "These are words that came out of his mouth, not out of mine." LINK
Last Dance? Clinton Clan Gets Down
The Clintons and surrogate Rep. Tubbs Jones shake it in Philadelphia, PA. LINK
View Ladies: 'Do You Vote Your Age?'
Hasselbeck says years don't play a roll in voting booth; co-hosts take issue. LINK
Aging Democrats
How four years in the White House would affect the candidates. LINK
Obama on Making Tough Decisions
"Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts talks with the Illinois senator. LINK
Defining Moment for Clinton
The New York senator sits down with Chris Cuomo to discuss the heated race. LINK
Big Day for Democrats
Today's Pennsylvania primary will go a long way to securing a nominee. LINK
Endgame
Things get ugly in the final push before the Pennsylvania primary. LINK
Bush Boogies in the Big Easy
The president showed off his quirky dance moves at an event in New Orleans. LINK