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Clinton aides now insist losses in Texas and Ohio tomorrow will not force her to quit race
Last updated at 01:52am on 04.03.08Desperate Hillary Clinton will stay in the White House race even if she loses tomorrow's pivotal primaries in Texas and Ohio, top aides claimed today.
The former First Lady had staked her political future on wins – with even her husband, former President Bill Clinton, saying she would drop out if she lost the make-or-break contests.
But, as rival Barack Obama closed in on Mrs Clinton's once formidable leads in the two states, her spin machine has changed their tune and insisted she would not give up.
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Neck and Neck: Hillary Clinton will stay in the race if Barack Obama wins tomorrow
Her chief strategist, Mark Penn, said: "There are 16 remaining contests after Tuesday.
"There's nothing wrong with letting the people in the remaining jurisdictions have their say."
And Mrs Clinton's communications director Howard Wolfson, insised "onus" was on Obama to win Texas and Ohio as well as the tiny states of Vermont and Rhode Island which are also holding primaries.
The latest polls show Clinton retains a small lead in Ohio of just four per cent – but the margin has been continually narrowing.
And In Texas, where the New York senator once enjoyed a double-digit lead, her advantage has all but vanished and the race is now seen as a dead heat.
Some polls claim Mr Obama, the Illinois senator who currently holds a 112-delegate lead following an impressive 11 wins in a row, is even ahead by four points in the Lone Star state.
Victories in Texas and Ohio – with 228 and 161 delegates respectively on offer – would give him an unstoppable advantage in his bid to become the Democrat candidate and America's first black president.
And it was previously thought that if Mrs Clinton lost she would then step down in a bid to heal rifts within the party and allow her rival to battle head-to-head with likely Republican candidate John McCain.
Mr Clinton himself had suggested his wife would drop out after a loss, saying last month: “If she wins Texas and Ohio, I think she will be the nominee. “If you don't deliver for her then I don't think she can be."
It has been feared that staying in the race would spark a donor revolt and defections by exhausted aides, culminating with superdelegates asking her to quit for the good of the party.
"They are going to have a very hard choice to make after Tuesday if she loses Texas or Ohio," Mr Obama's top adviser David Axelrod said. "There are people in the party who are very concerned about this turning into some kind of a Bataan Death March."
But the don't-quit camp is also taking solace from a rejuvenated fundraising operation that is now competitive with Obama's.
The campaign broke its one-month cash record in February, raising more than $30 million in small online donations after Clinton announced she loaned her campaign $5 million.
Reader views (21)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Some of these pro-Obama fans need to read up on the statistical polls. Its not over till its over. Hillary will gain her momentum back that she had for virtually most of the race again tomorrow. Your fans love you! Arizona loves you! New York loves you! Florida loves you! Arizona loves you! We know Ohio is is yours! Hopefully Texas will be the next big state in your favor!
- Chris G, Phoenix, Az
Go Hillary! We conservatives want this race to go on! If I could vote Democrat in one of these states tomorrow it would be for (gulp) Hillary. Tuesday night I am going to cozy up on the couch with some popcorn and enjoy.
- Tim, Traverse City, USA
You know I used to think the world of Hillary Clinton, but if she loses tomorrow and doesn't graciously get out of the race and endorse Obama, then she doesn't care about us as a people or as democrats. She only cares about her ego!
- Laurie Geschrey, Streamwood, IL
This is my plea to Hillary: Just stop. Now. For the good of the country. Please.
Americans, like myself, do need more than just words; we need real hope to bring the country out of not just an imminent economic repression, but out of an eight year national psychological depression.
Please, graciously stand aside, and let this happen.
- Marissa, Cheshire, CT
Hillary, keep fighting! Victory is just around the bend!
- Peter Peter, Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Here's an Ohio voter hoping that I can deliver my state for Obama along with Texas, so that we can finally focus on what matters - how silly John McCain is as a nominee!
- Joey, Columbus, OH
Just because Hillary's fund raising has picked up doesn't mean she should stay in the race. If we want to go by fund raising then Obama wins once again. I think it's time for her to get serious and look at the numbers!
- Crews2me, Silver Spring, USA
Hillary deserves to win. Of the almost 300M people in the USA it is clear that only a Bush or Clinton are qualified to run the people's country. The other 200M + are just not as smart or honest as Hillary.
- Sean Miller, Buffalo, USA
God help us if either of these two get elected.
- Bill Coggins, Cinnaminson NJ, USA
The Clintons did nothing to help our country. We would have been better off if Bill was never elected.
- Ds, USA
It really doesn't matter who wins between Clinton and Obama. When voters face the reality of the choice between either of them and John McCain, they'll go with McCain's personal strength, experience and character. (Otherwise we're in real trouble.)
- Bill Coggins, Cinnaminson NJ, USA
Please, no more Hillary. I am voting Mccain if she finds a way to get the nomination just so I do not have to hear her horrible grating voice.
- Donna S, Atlanta USA
There is a lot of truth in the fact that there are other states voting. Hillary won all the big states to date. Why shouldn't she continue to run? She may still win.
- Allan, Springfield
Just what we need... 8 more years of vapid rhetoric. Obama will only win if Americans still prefer faith to logic.
- Fuiowa.Com, NYC, USA
Given the proportional representation used to award convention delegates to both campaigns, she has already lost. There's no way she can realistically win by enough votes to close the gap.
- Jeff Myhre, New York, USA
Yet another example of how the Clintons are willing to put their lust for power ahead of the interests of the party and the nation.
- Staywell, Plano, TX
By hook or by crook - she thinks (no correct that - she feels) that she's entitled to a coronation!
- Dave Olejnik, Hamilton - Canada
Hang in there Hillie, you can still do it kid!
- Damian, Pittsburgh USA
Just more pre-defeat posturing by the Clinton camp. Trying to stave off last minute defections by supporters. Can't let on that the race is virtually over, or the voters, financial supporters, and superdelegates will quickly jump ship. The giant killer will prevail. Obama '08!
- Dahveed, USA
This is false bravado. If Hillary loses Ohio and Texas she is done and everyone will know it. She would risk being an object of ridicule if she continued to campaign and would not want to risk the "Clinton legacy" in that manner.
- J F O'Connor, Manchester, CT USA
Penn wants to get some more paychecks, nothing more....
- Rob, NY, NY, USA
