Clinton Campaign says Obama’s plan to declare himself the Democratic nominee Tuesday night in Iowa is a slap in the face to the millions of voters in the remaining primary states.
(SALEM, Ore. ) - Sen. Hillary Clinton and her supporters are hoping today to pull a miracle upset in Oregon.
If she can't, she may have to face reality -- swallow her pride -- and admit that while she put on a good fight -- Sen. Barack Obama will be the Democrats' choice to take on Republican Sen. John McCain in November. Obama is expected to win the Beaver State by double-digits, while Clinton, is expected to win Kentucky -- which also votes on Tuesday -- by the same margin.
An estimated 77,000 Obama supporters jammed Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland during a rally Sunday afternoon. At about the same time, former President Bill Clinton along with daughter Chelsea, were in Salem holding a rally at Riverfront Park. An estimated 1,200 attended the event. Chelsea continued to campaign for her mother Monday in Oregon. One of her stops was at the Boys & Girls Club of Albany where she met and talked with both parents and kids. She finished the day thanking supporters at the Portland campaign office in old town.
Obama told reporters after the Portland rally when asked if he was going to declare victory on Tuesday after the Oregon vote: “We think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point and that’s a pretty significant mark.” On Saturday night during a campaign fundraiser in Portland, Obama said in order for Democrats to win in Novemeber it will require a unified Party and that means all of you have to be nice to Clinton supporters.
The Clinton Campaign fired back saying: Senator Obama’s plan to declare himself the Democratic nominee Tuesday night in Iowa is a slap in the face to the millions of voters in the remaining primary states and to Senator Clinton’s 17 million supporters. There is no scenario under the rules of the Democratic National Committee by which Senator Obama will be able to claim the nomination tomorrow night. He will not have 2210 delegates, the number needed with Florida and Michigan included in the process, nor will he have 2025 delegates, the number needed to secure the nomination without Florida and Michigan. Premature victory laps and false declarations of victory are unwarranted. Declaring mission accomplished does not make it so. Last week, Clinton won the West Virginia primary, however on Monday, Robert Byrd, the state's longtime senior senator, endorsed Obama.
According to both campaign's, neither candidate will be in Oregon on Tuesday. Clinton is expected to be in Kentucky, which has 51 delegates at stake, while Obama, is scheduled to be in Des Moines, Iowa for a rally in the state who's caucuses first established him as a viable contender for the nomination.
2,026 delegates are needed to get the Democratic nomination. Barack Obama has 1,909 to 1,718 for Clinton. That means Obama needs only 117 more delegates in the next five contests (Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana) to become the nominee. There are 260-plus superdelegates who are yet to be claimed and are not bound by the outcome of any state's vote. Oregon has 52 delegates at stake, but it is not a winner take all. Clinton is also trying to make a case that if the results of disputed primaries in Michigan and Florida are included, she would lead Obama in the overall popular vote.
According to Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll, Obama and McCain are running neck-and-neck. In Monday's poll, McCain was just ahead of Obama -- 45 percent to 44 percent.
As of Monday, 36 percent of the 2,028,254 registered voters in Oregon had cast a ballot in the state's unique vote-by-mail system. Also polls released today show Obama with an 11 point lead in Oregon, while Clinton has a massive 30 point lead in the Bluegrass State.
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Oregon Obama Campaign Watch Parties:
1. Portland
Oregon for Obama Election Night Party
Portland Obama for America Office
3016 SE Division
Portland, Oregon
Doors open 8:00 PM
2. Eugene
THIS IS NOT AN OBAMA CAMPAIGN SPONSORED WATCH PARTY
Lane County Elections and Lane Events Center host Election Watch Party
Lane County Fairgrounds
Performance Hall - Convention Center
796 West 13th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon
Doors open at 8:00 PM
3. Medford
Donnelly’s Bar and Grill
Lava Lanes
2980 Crater Lake Highway
Medford, Oregon
Doors open 8:00 PM
4. Bend
THIS IS NOT AN OBAMA CAMPAIGN SPONSORED WATCH PARTY
Deschutes County Democratic Party Watch Party
1036 NE 5th St.
Bend, Oregon
Doors open 8 PM
5. Salem
Magoo’s Sports Bar
275 Commercial St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Doors open 8:30 PM
6. Pendleton
THIS IS NOT AN OBAMA CAMPAIGN SPONSORED WATCH PARTY
Pendleton Area Obama Supporter Watch Party
Hamley Steakhouse
8 SE Court
Pendleton, OR
Doors open 8:00 PM
So far, Salem-News.com has not been advised as to Clinton Campaign Oregon watch parties.
Video Courtesy: Obama Campaign & You Tube
Video
Clinton Faces D-Day in Oregon - Obama to Declare VictorySalem-News.com