SNEAK PEEK: Vote Early, Not Often
After a rough two weeks, Clinton maintains focus on Texas and Ohio
February 20, 2008— -- After winning several big states on Super Tuesday, it's been a rough two weeks for Hillary Clinton, with ten consecutive losses and a handful of superdelegates switching their support to Barack Obama. (Even the struggling Washington Wizards have won a game in their last 10 outings.)
But just like basketball, a campaign can become a game of possessions. (Ask Mark Salter how well his alma mater has proven this concept).
Right now the Clinton campaign needs to figure out how to slow down Obama's momentum, manage the clock and come up with a game changing play to alter the dynamics of the race – and they have only two weeks to do it. That's either an eternity or a nanosecond, depending on how you look at this nomination race.
The next big events in the Democratic race are the March 4 open primary showdowns in Texas and Ohio, with 333 delegates at stake in just those two states.
Former President Bill Clinton drew a line in the sand today and went further than her campaign spokespeople by making March 4 a do-or-die situation for his wife's campaign, reports ABC News' Sarah Amos.
"If she wins Texas and Ohio I think she will be the nominee; if you don't deliver for her, then I don't think she can be. It's all on you," the former president said in Beaumont, TX.
Clinton's campaign may not be saying that Texas and Ohio are must-wins but they certainly aren't shying away from stressing their significance.
"I think that they are critically important…I'm not going to make any vast predictions but there is no question that they are critically, critically important," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said on a conference call with reporters today.
All that stands between now and March 4 is two debates (and perhaps several dozen campaign conference calls).
On Thursday night in Austin, Clinton will get her first crack at another one-on-one debate that she has been itching for since Super Tuesday. Obama is in the more comfortable position. He just has to not slip up. Clinton needs to cause him to make a mistake or draw fresh, sharp distinctions that would gain her headlines on Friday and possibly a little bit of mo.
That task is made more difficult with another big endorsement for Obama: ABC News' Teddy Davis and Sunlen Miller report that the Illinois senator has picked up the support of the Teamsters on Wednesday and he is poised to win the endorsement of "Change to Win" on Thursday. "Change to Win" is a coalition of seven labor unions which spun off from the AFL-CIO in 2005.
The labor coalition is scheduled to hold a 10:00 am ET conference call on Thursday to consider an endorsement of Obama. Since the Illinois Democrat now has endorsements from the four largest unions in the labor coalition, he is expected by those familiar with "Change to Win's" plans to win the group's endorsement, Davis and Miller report.
On the campaign trail. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 9:00 am ET: Meets with voters at event, Perrysburg, OH
-- 9:45 am ET: Holds media availability with voters, Toledo, OH
-- 1:00 pm ET: Tours Ford Motor Company Wayne Assembly Plant, Wayne, MI
-- 2:00 pm ET: Holds media availability with voters, Wayne, MI
MIKE HUCKABEE
-- 9:00 am ET: Attends rally with voters, Houston, TX
-- 1:00 pm ET: Attends fundraiser with supporter, Houston, TX
-- 5:00 pm ET: Visits the Alamo, San Antonio, TX
-- 8:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, San Antonio, TX
As for the Democrats. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends CNN/Univision/Texas Democratic Party debate, Austin, TX
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 10:25 am ET: Attends early vote event with voters, Laredo, TX
-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends CNN/Univision/Texas Democratic Party debate, Austin, TX
BILL CLINTON
-- 11:00 am ET: Holds early vote event with voters, San Antonio, TX
-- 2:30 pm ET: Holds early vote event with voters, San Angelo, TX
-- 9:45 pm ET: Holds early vote event with voters, San Antonio, TX
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 4:50 am ET: Participates in arrival ceremony with the First Lady, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 5:30 am ET: Meets with the President of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 6:00 am ET: Attends meeting with the President of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 7:00 am ET: Attends Gowning and Investiture Ceremony, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 7:40 am ET: Attends social lunch with the First Lady and the President of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 8:55 am ET: Greets embassy staff, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 9:20 am ET: Delivers remarks at Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 10:05 am ET: Participates in roundtable discussion on Teacher Training Project with the First Lady, Monrovia, Liberia
-- 9:45 pm ET: Arrives at the White House with the First Lady, Washington, DC
POLITICAL NEWS ARTICLES AT ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Rick Klein and Sarah Amos Reports: Bill Clinton: Texas Could Be Hillary's Last Stand LINK
ABC News' Rhonda Schwartz and Justin Rood Report: Obama Discloses New Rezko Details LINK
ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: Obama, McCain Win Wisconsin Primaries LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Sunlen Miller Report: Labor Lines Up Behind Obama LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: New Pro-Clinton 527 to Ding Obama in Ohio LINK
ABC News' David Wright Reports: Obamania: Will He Turn 'Believers' Into Voters? LINK
ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama to Mohammed Ali LINK
ABC News' Christine Byun Reports: Clinton Says Choice Between 'Speeches' and 'Solutions' LINK
ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: McCain Blasts Obama Over Public Financing Pledge LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: More on that Pro-Hillary 527 LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Mike Elmore Report: Obama Swiped for Thin Legislative Record LINK
ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Bill Clinton: Texas or Bust for Hillary LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Clinton Campaign Sets Up Website to Push to Change the Rules LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO AT ABCNEWS.COM
Bill Clinton: Texas or Bust for Hillary
President Clinton admits Texas could be the end of trail for the Sen. Clinton. LINK
Obama on the Rise
Barack Obama's latest victories bolster his frontrunner status. LINK
George on the Delegate Battle
ABC's George Stephanopolous on the uphill battle for Hillary Clinton. LINK
American Idol Sings for Bush
American Idol Jordin Sparks performs the national anthem in Ghana. LINK
McCain Attacks Obama on Financing Pledge
McCain blasts Obama for wavering on their pledge to accept public financing. LINK
'View' Slugs It Out Over Obama
Is the candidate promising too much? Whoopi and Elisabeth take sides. LINK
Clinton Jabs Obama on Voting Record
Sen Clinton draws sharp contrasts with her Democratic opponent during NY speech. LINK
Clinton Surrogate Gets Booed
Union leader Tom Buffenbarger is jeered by the crowd while introducing Clinton. LINK
McCain on Primaries, Iraq and Age
The Arizona senator moves closer to securing the GOP nomination. LINK
Bottom Line on the Democratic Race
George Stephanopoulos analyzes the primary results. LINK
Obama Extends His Victories
The Illinois senator defeats Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Wisconsin primary. LINK
Oba-Mania
Barack Obama has transformed from candidate to cult hero. LINK
Houston: 'We've Achieved Liftoff'
In Texas, Obama spins his campaign forward, after Wisconsin primary victory. LINK
U.S. Presence in Africa
President Bush hopes to consolidate U.S. forces in Africa LINK
Huckabee's Campaign of Convictions
Ex-Arkansas governor is happy not to be photographed wearing a cheesehead. LINK
Clinton: 'This Election Is About You'
Sen. Clinton tells Ohio crowd that she understands Americans are struggling. LINK
McCain, Obama Win Wisconsin
As McCain closes in on GOP nomination, Obama wins ninth straight state. LINK
Talk Back on Vote 2008
Your thoughts on the Democratic party and the Economy. LINK
Obama Wins Wisconsin
Reaction to Barack Obama's big win in the Badger State. LINK
McCain Slams Obama Experience
Sen. McCain opposes other candidates' "eloquent, but empty call for change." LINK