Jun 3, 2008 10:00 pm US/Eastern
Clinton Supporters Not Ready For Her To Drop Out
(KDKA)
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Democratic presidential hopeful New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses her election night celebration at the Marriott Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky on May 20, 2008.
Robyn Beck/Getty Images
After a hard fought battle, Senator Barack Obama reached the magic number today, securing enough delegates to become the Democratic Presidential nominee.
However, his opponent Senator Hillary Clinton has not officially suspended her campaign, but she has publicly expressed an interest in becoming Obama's running mate. So far, his campaign isn't commenting on a possible VP.
She gave a major address in New York this evening, saying good things about Obama. But she did not drop out of the race or release her delegates.
KDKA's Political Editor Jon Delano reports that judging by the strong views of her supporters in this area; she's doing exactly what fans want her to do.
"Last night, our Pittsburgh Penguins taught us a great lesson about what it means to compete, how important it is to never give up, to play fair and to keep bringing you're a-game even into that third overtime," said Clinton supporter, Heather Arnet.
Arnet says this race isn't over until the votes are cast at the Democratic Convention. She says she also sees sexism in the push to get Clinton to concede before then.
"We've certainly never seen a male candidate being pushed to hard to give up or drop out before the race is completed," said Arnet.
Clinton supporter Nancy Patton Mills', of Moon Township, says she's not ready for Clinton to concede either.
"I think that we have to wait until the convention, and I believe that firmly," Mills said.
Mills, an elected Clinton delegate, says even if super delegates put Obama over the top for the nomination, they could change their minds before the Democrats vote at the Denver convention.
"The super delegates, they're flexible, and they can change their mind, and some of them have," added Mills.
Nothing binds the super delegates to the candidates, but Mills says she worries some super delegates are stealing the nomination from Sen. Clinton.
"The argument against Hillary from the beginning was, we don't want this stolen away from Barack Obama and given to her by the super delegates," said Mills. "Well, the way I feel now is, it's being stolen away from her and given to Barack Obama."
But can Clinton delegates never support Obama?
"If Hillary Clinton is not the candidate, I will definitely be supporting Barack Obama," said Mills. I think he is wonderful, but I think Hillary is more wonderful."
"I hope that we'll find a way for everyone to come together and I know that we will so that the party will have an extraordinary ticket going into November," said Arnet.
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