Obama camp: 'we can see the finish line'

by John McCormick

Saying it can "see the finish line," Sen. Barack Obama's campaign deployed two governors and three U.S. senators today to make the case that it is time to bring an end to the marathon Democratic presidential nomination fight.

"It's now time for the superdelegates to begin bringing this process to a close," Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano told reporters on a conference call.

Obama's supporters, however, stopped short of demanding that Sen. Hillary Clinton exit the race, even after losing badly Tuesday in North Carolina and only barely winning Indiana.

"There is sincere respect for Hillary Clinton within this campaign," said Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri. "It would be inappropriate and awkward and wrong for any of us to tell Sen. Clinton when it is time for the race to be over. It is her decision and it is only her decision and we are confident that she is going to do the right thing."

Napolitano and others echoed McCaskill.

"A decision whether to stay in or get out is for Hillary Clinton to make," she said. "I do believe it is important, however, at this point and time that the superdelegates who have not yet announced their intentions to make that clear so that we begin the process of knitting the party together and getting ready for the general election campaign."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota agreed that the decision should be Clinton's alone. "As long as this is resolved by June, I think we will be in a very good position," she said.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the Illinois Democrat now holds a 172 pledged-delegate lead over Clinton, the largest of the campaign. A similar number are still needed to actually win the nomination.

"We can see the finish line here," Plouffe said. "We are only 172 totals delegates away from the nomination."

With just 217 pledged delegates left to be won - fewer than the total number of remaining superdelegates - Plouffe said Obama is only 33 pledged delegates away from achieving the majority of them.

"That will happen on the night of May 20," Plouffe said, noting when Kentucky and Oregon vote.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said called Obama's wins on Tuesday a "giant and a decisive stride towards the nomination." He said Obama "clearly did more than he had to and she did not achieve what she had to."

McCaskill said Obama's wins were especially impressive considering that they came so shortly after a flare up of a controversy over remarks by his longtime Chicago pastor.

"He took body blows and he survived with grace, composure, confidence and frankly with the trust of the voters," she said.

Plouffe discounted suggestions that the 16-month nomination fight has hurt the party, and pointed to new voters and state organizations that have been mobilized as a silver lining.

"This has been a fierce contest, rough feelings amongst both supporter's camps, but we're going to be unified," he said. "It's going to be a race against John McCain."

Plouffe said Obama still is looking for ways to make sure the delegations from Michigan and Florida are seated at the national convention.

"It's just not going to happen that Michigan and Florida are going to be used in some way to overturn the result of the primaries and caucuses," he said.

"Ultimately, I think, the superdelegates will render the issue of Michigan and Florida moot," Kerry added.

Plouffe said Obama remains focused on winning the nomination, but is taking small steps to pivot toward a general election campaign.

"First things first, we have to continue to fight as hard as we can to secure this nomination," he said. "We also don't want to wake up the morning of June 4th or June 10 or whenever this is going to end and not be prepared."

Asked about changes in Obama's schedule or message to reflect a general-election approach, Plouffe said there will be subtle moves.

"Obviously, over the last couple of months, you know, we have been trying to turn some attention to John McCain," he said. "We obviously are going to be campaigning in some states that are going to be battleground states in the fall."

With questions of a general election campaign, Plouffe was asked whether Clinton might be a potential Obama running mate.

"All this talk is very premature," he said. "When we secure the nomination, that's a decision that Sen. Obama will need to make."

Plouffe said Obama's wins on Tuesday show his resiliency.

"Rev. Wright got more press attention last week than Sen. Clinton did around the country," he said. "He's shown a real steeliness and an ability to deal with adversity, a calmness which I think will serve the country well."

Kerry said Obama's has shown an ability to beat back the kind of Swift Boat attacks that he faced in the 2004 campaign.

"That is something Barack has already done effectively in the Internet rumors that he beat back and in other attacks that have occurred," Kerry said. "Let the Republicans be on notice: we're knowledegable, we know what to do, we're not going to stand for it and we will have the resources to able to adequately respond to whatever they undertake."

Also on the call was Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.