Clinton Calls For Unity, But Some Still Say 'No Deal'

On McCain Ads, N.Y. Senator Remarks, "I Do Not Approve Of That Message!"

by Bruce Stokes

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008


Limbering up to deliver what's expected to be tonight's full-throated rallying cry for party unity, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday tested an anti-McCain punch line.

Reacting to a Republican TV spot that uses her primary season words and her image to deride Barack Obama and his decision to make Joe Biden his running mate, Clinton declared, "I have seen those ads. And I am Hillary Clinton, and I do not approve of that message!"

The New York state delegation roared with laughter. A bit later in the day, so did the party's Hispanic Caucus.

"We are on the same journey now," Clinton told the boisterously supportive Hispanic delegates. "And I ask each and every one of you to work as hard for Barack Obama and Joe Biden as you worked for me."

Her bottom line: "We are not fighting to elect a particular president. We are fighting to take our country back."

To that end, she told the New York delegates over breakfast, "Make no mistake about it: We are united."

Not so fast, say some Clinton supporters who refuse to give up the dream that she'll win the keys to the White House this year. At midday, a march through downtown is scheduled to celebrate the 88th anniversary of woman suffrage and Clinton's presidential bid. A rally in Cheesman Park follows. The event, organized by the groups Colorado Women Count/Women Vote and 18 Million Voices, is also supported by PUMA, an acronym for "Party Unity My Ass."

"The party is telling us just to suck it up," said Diane Mantouvalos, one of the organizers of justsaynodeal.com, a clearinghouse for Clinton supporters who refuse to shift their loyalty to Barack Obama. "We say, 'No deal.' "

The Obama camp's decision to allow a roll-call vote on Wednesday night after Clinton's name is put in nomination was welcomed but did little to sooth the bitter-enders' ire. Heidi Feldman, a PUMA blogger, has even called for election observers to be stationed on the convention floor to monitor the vote.

"The roll-call vote is a victory for us," said Will Bower, a PUMA founder, "but only one step in the process. It doesn't change the overall strategy." Bower and Mantouvalos said they are redoubling their efforts to get Obama delegates and superdelegates to switch to Clinton. "There is always a distant hope that the superdelegates will come to their senses and select a stronger candidate," said Mantouvalos. "If they don't, they are going to be in trouble in November."

The push for a last-minute upset victory by Clinton masks the fact that some of these diehards are less pro-Clinton than anti-Obama. "I do not want Barack Obama to become the next president," Bower said. "I cannot validate his path to victory when it's riddled with anti-democratic methods."

He added, "We want to save the Democratic Party from itself."

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