North Carolina — The Clinton Camp’s Assessment
How does the Hillary Clinton campaign assess the race in North Carolina? Here’s what Averell “Ace” Smith, who is running Clinton’s campaign here, had to say.
Smith told Trail Mix that Barack Obama starts with a large advantage here and that if Clinton were to win on May 6, “it would probably be one of the greatest upsets, probably in the last 10 years.” But Smith also said he expects North Carolina to be competitive and said the Clinton campaign will put in place “one of the biggest, deepest grassroots organizations that this state’s ever seen.”
Does Clinton have to pull off the upset to have a chance at the presidential nomination, as some commentators have suggested? Smith said no. “There’s no question that a huge upset win in North Carolina would be great for the campaign,” he said. “Is it absolutely necessary? The answer is we’re just looking to run a strong campaign here.”
But he did seem to acknowledge that for Clinton to win the nomination, she will need some sort of race-changing development to counteract the growing perception that Obama is the nominee-to-be. “That may be how it looks to you today,” Smith said, referring to Obama’s status as the apparent front-runner. “But there’s going to be a lot of things that happen between now and the next two months that can change things immensely,” Smith said.
Here in Durham, NC, the DurhamforObama people went from 30 members to 500 members in 3 weeks. They’ve registered hundreds of new voters, and organized tons of events and such. I haven’t so much as seen a “Hillary ‘08” yard sign yet—and I know that Durham would be very much in play for her. If Smith is planning “one of the biggest, deepest grassroots organizations that this state’s ever seen” then he’s about six weeks behind—Obama has 12 offices, statewide, and if there is a Hillary grassroots movement of any kind, they’ve kept it amazingly well-hidden.
Terry Mancour on 03/26/2008 (4:46 pm)
Let’s get those diebold machines up and running. They worked for hillary in New Hampshire and Harlem that I know of for fact.
ed holden on 03/26/2008 (3:46 pm)
i am in NC - Charlotte and I will do whatever i need to do to ensure Hil doesn’t win NC. he was ahead by a lot -they were virtually neck and neck a few short weeks ago and now he is ahead by 21 points. by the time i am done - it will be a landslide. hilary can kiss NC farewell!
lisa on 03/26/2008 (3:37 pm)
I USE TO ADMIRE HILLARY CLINTON, SHE TOOK SOME HARD HITS WHEN BILL WAS PRESIDENT. BUT NOW I’M JUST EMBARASSED BY HER. THE LOW DOWN GAMES SHE IS PLAYING TO GET VOTED INTO THE PRESIDENCY IS DISGUSTING.SHE IS GOING TO PULL EVERY LOW DOWN TRICK TO WIN, EVEN IF IT MEANS BREAKING UP THE DEMOCRATE PARTY. MANY SAY IF OBAMA GETS THE NOMINATION, THEY WILL VOTE FOR MCCAIN, WELL I’M SAYING IF HILLARY GETS NOMINATED BY CHEATING, I WILL VOTE FOR MCCAIN MYSELF BEING A DEMOCRATE. IT’S EMBARASSING TO HEAR ALL THE LIES SHE HAS TOLD. THIS WOMAN LIES LIKE IT’S HER JOB. THIS ISN’T THE TYPE OF PERSON I WANT RUNNING MY COUNTRY. SHE HAS NOT BEEN OPEN ABOUT HER TAXES. SHE AVOIDS DIRECT QUESTIONS UNLESS IT’S TO TEAR DOWN OBAMA. BILL CLINTONS SAYS SHE TELLS WHOOPERS, IN OTHER WORDS SHE LIES ALL THE TIME. ENOUGH SAID
Mary on 03/26/2008 (3:35 pm)
I don’t think that Hillary has a chance in North Carolina. I am a member of a statewide Obama membership and it is growing by leaps and bounds. I cannot understand how Hillary expects to win the nomination. There is no way that she can get anough delegates to win it. She would have to win almost 70% of every single state that is left to break even with Obama. There is no way that will happen because of the strength of Obama’s ground force and the multiple donations that he is receiving for support.
Thanks,
Jim McCoy
Franklin, N.C.
James McCoy on 03/26/2008 (3:32 pm)
Reading that headline gave me the biggest laugh I have had in a long time! YOU WISH CLINTON! You truly are desperate if you even WISH you could upset Obama in North Carolina! Go Obama!
Melissa on 03/26/2008 (3:13 pm)
From Ohio to Texas being THE STATES to win, off to Pennsylvania, now that Obama is moving up there, it’s North Carolina, soon it will Guam.
She’s lost.
Connie on 03/26/2008 (2:52 pm)
What? She’s going pull enough elected delegates out of her rear to finish with more than Obama? and change the public perception of her as a liar before then? LOL How?
Deanna on 03/26/2008 (2:38 pm)
I agree that Obama is favored in NC, but I am not sure why it would be such an upset if Clinton won it. The vote in other Southern states has been pretty racially polarized, and whites make up about 2/3 of the primary voters. She had pulled within 1 point just last week. So I don’t think it would be such a monumental accomplishment if she won there.
Laura on 03/26/2008 (2:32 pm)