After big win, Clinton vows to push forward

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton used her big win in West Virginia on Tuesday to make her case that she has a better chance of beating the Republicans in the general election.

"I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign," she told supporters in Charleston, West Virginia.

"I am in this race because I believe I am the strongest candidate. ... I can lead this party to victory in the general election if you lead me to victory now."

With half of the results in, Clinton was ahead of Sen. Barack Obama by a margin of more than 2-1.

Clinton has faced calls to drop out of the race because she trails Obama in delegates won, states won and the popular vote this primary season.

Clinton also now trails Obama when it comes to the support of superdelegates, and her campaign is $20 million in the red.

Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communication director, said the New York senator is "in until the very end."

"We think we're going to be the nominee. We're going to make our case to the superdelegates," he said.

In an e-mail to supporters, the Clinton campaign called West Virginia a "tremendous victory."

"It's clear that the pundits declaring this race over have it all wrong. The voters in West Virginia spoke loud and clear -- they want this contest to go on."

Clinton's win won't do much to cut into Obama's lead: West Virginia had just 28 delegates at stake, and those will be awarded proportionately.

Her campaign argues that she can catch Obama in the popular vote by turning out the vote in the remaining five contests.

Clinton has also continued to tout her electability, saying she's more fit to go up against Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, in November.

"I'm winning Catholic voters and Hispanic voters and blue-collar workers and seniors, the kind of people that Sen. McCain will be fighting for in the general election," Clinton said earlier.

Reiterating a point she has made frequently while campaigning in West Virginia, Clinton pointed out Tuesday that no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning West Virginia.

Bill Clinton won there in 1992 and 1996. George W. Bush took the state in 2000 and 2004.

In addition to West Virginia, Clinton's campaign points to other swing states she has won -- like Ohio and Pennsylvania -- as they try to woo superdelegates to their side.

"They have changed some minds, but more minds have been changed right now in favor of Sen. Obama," CNN contributor Donna Brazile said.

Obama surpassed Clinton in the race for superdelegates Monday. Clinton led by more than 100 at the beginning of the year.

After big win, Clinton vows to push forward - CNN.com

Her campaign is 20M in the red,she will run long enough to erase some of that debt and then find the right time to exit.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins ..

The "presumptive" candidate just lost a state 230,000 to LESS than 100 grand?...

NOT good for a "presumptive" candidate...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Whay's glaring is something shown toward the end of the article...

In other words, if Obama is the eventual nominee, the Democrats are handing the state over to Republicans (It went for Clinton both times in the 90s)...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

It takes a little time for a "black" candidate to grow on West Virginians...
That is the sad reality in that state,people want to think race is no longer a factor. As I have said many times in this forum,I have no doubt that Obama can win the nomination but winning the general election is another story.Obama is not worried,he thinks he can win the other 56 states..

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins ..

And that's NOT including the 1 other state he hasn't gone to...AND Alaska and Hawaii which he won't go to...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Seriously, is winning West Virginia a BIG win?

Especially when something like 20% of the people ADMITTED that race played a role in their choice of candidate?