voters.
The New York senator won Indiana with just 51% of the vote, and securing 37 more delegates to Obama’s 49% of the vote and 33 delegates. In North Carolina, the Illinois senator won 56% of the vote and 61 delegates to Clinton’s 42% and 38. Mike Gravel won 1% of the popular vote. As of today, Obama has 1,845 delegates to Clinton’s 1,693, out the 2,025 needed to clinch the party’s nomination, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Clinton has 271 super delegates to Obama’s 257 out of 796.
As the race continues, there are 28 delegates at stake in the West Virginia primary on May 13; 51 and 52 delegates, respectively, in Kentucky and Oregon on May 20; 55 up for grabs in Puerto Rico on June 1; and 16 and 15 respectively in Montana and South Dakota on June 3.
Clinton shows no signs of bowing out. In her election day remarks from Indianapolis, Indiana she said, “It’s full speed on to the White House,†calling for support to help continue her journey. “Now it is on to WVA, Kentucky, Oregon, and the other states where people are eager to have their voices heard. For too long we’ve let places like West Virginia and Kentucky slip out of the Democratic column. Well, it’s time for that to change, and these next primaries are another test.â€
Clinton vowed to work her heart out over the next two week’s primaries and to win those states in the general November election. She added that she’s running to be the president of all of America, “which is why it’s so important that we count the votes of Florida and Michigan…It would be a little strange to have a nominee chosen by 48 states.†Still, Clinton gave assurances that “no matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party, because we must win in November.â€
James Taylor, who teaches religion and politics at the University of San Francisco, says, “This was the last chance Clinton had to make a rationale for continuing in the race. All we’re going to hear about is Florida and Michigan and it’s going to become about a fight on how to get those delegates counted, which is going to become an ugly situation.â€
According to Smith, however, that’s just what politicians do. “I think privately, the super delegates will start talking to Clinton and her staff and ask her to think about leaving the campaign. Or at least if she continues to campaign, to do so in a very positive way and not go negative,†he says. “In a week or so there will be public expressions of that from super delegates, particularly members of Congress who are likely to publicly say it’s virtually impossible for her to win and therefore it’s time to unite the party.â€
How easy that will be remains a question. “Clearly most Democrats are going to vote for the Democratic candidate, whoever that is. But if enough Democrats are peeled off by Republicans, that could be a