Clinton and Obama back each other to beat McCain
Clinton and Obama back each other to beat McCain
Also In The News
|
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored a last-minute header to help Celtic win the Old Firm derby against Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead. |  |
Thursday, 17, Apr 2008 09:31
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the two candidates in the race to win the Democratic nomination to be the next US president, held their last debate before the crucial Pennsylvania primary next week.
But for Ms Clinton the debate backfired when she admitted Mr Obama could win the White House back from the Republicans after eight years should he win the Democratic nomination.
When pushed about Mr Obama's electability as the Democratic presidential nominee Ms Clinton replied "Yes, yes, yes". The admission will deal a blow to her hopes of securing the nomination given she has previously suggested he would lead the Democratic party to defeat.
Asked the same question Mr Obama said: "Absolutely and I've said so before."
However, both candidates refused to comment on whether they would offer the other the vice-presidential candidacy - which many view as a dream ticket scenario - should they win the Democratic nomination at the party convention in August.
Pennsylvania, with 158 delegates at stake, is a must-win contest for Ms Clinton. She leads in the polls there and hopes for a strong victory to propel her through the other states that vote before the primary season ends on June 3rd.
But Mr Obama leads in the delegate chase, with 1,643 delegate votes to Mr Clinton's 1,504. For either candidate to be declared the outright winner they need 2,025 delegate votes.
In a debate which lasted 90 minutes the first half was dominated by recent gaffes made by both candidates.
Ms Clinton criticised her rival's recent remark that working-class voters clung to guns and religion in difficult times, calling it "offensive".
Mr Obama countered that: "The problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person's statement, if it's not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death, and that's what Senator Clinton's been doing."
Both candidates have faced criticism in recent weeks. Ms Clinton over her claims to have dodged sniper fire on her arrival in Bosnia in 1996 and Mr Obama over his association with Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of his church, after clips of Mr Wright's fiery sermons were shown on the internet.
For her part Ms Clinton apologised for the first time for her comments regarding her visit to Bosnia when first lady.