Top Clinton supporter in Rio Grande Valley says she has little chance - debate was "turning point"

[jefferson_dem]

Top Clinton supporter in Valley says New York senator has little chance
22 February 2008
Steve Taylor

EDINBURG, February 22 - One of Hillary Clinton’s top supporters in the Rio Grande Valley appeared at a Barack Obama rally Friday and said the presidential primary was the Illinois senator’s race to lose.

State Rep. Aaron Peña, who, in print and on TV has been a leading outreach activist in the Valley for Clinton, shocked many Friday morning when he sat down with his family in the stands behind the stage at an Obama rally at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Guardian video-journalists were sitting opposite in the press riser. Contacted by phone while he waited for Obama to arrive, Peña told the Guardian he was at the event to see history being made.

“First of all my son, Aaron Peña III, is working for the Obama campaign. Second, I am here with my family to see history being made,” Peña said.

“I think last night’s debate in Austin was a turning point in this campaign. I think it will become increasingly evident very soon who is going to win this primary. While Barack Obama may not win the popular vote in Texas, the passion of his organization has an advantage in winning the important caucus delegates.”

Asked if he had now flipped over to Obama, Peña said: “I will maintain my commitment but it appears to me that the decision will be made by the public on March 4. I made a commitment to Hillary Clinton and I must maintain it. I gave my word. However, as an observer, it appears to be increasingly evident who is going to win.”

A switch by Peña to the Obama camp will come as a major disappointment to Clinton and her campaign in Texas. Clinton introduced Peña at a rally in McAllen last week.

<SNIP>

Peña has twice appeared on the Ron Whitlock Reports TV show in recent weeks as a top Clinton spokesperson.

http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=28#

[scheming daemons]

1. Smart politicians can read the writing on the wall......

Hillary's smart too.


She knows.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Fat Lady standing in the wings, warming up. "La la la LA la la laaa..."

[Bicoastal]

3. People are taking this primary SO SERIOUSLY....

...in the end, isn't it all about the better candidate to beat McCain?

[Alexander]

5. Well, the Clintons both said if she doesn't win Texas it's over.

[Coexist]

4. ouch. that was not kind of him -

if he was going to show at the Obama rally, he should've been discreet.

[rodeodance]

7. I agree, Not wise for a supporter to do this. And , my guess is that if Obama

was just hanging on, Obama folks would say the same.

[Coexist]

10. I am an Obama folk.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. With top supporters like that you don't need enemies.

Geeze. Speak of fair weather friends.

[AGirl]

16. I agree. how pathetic..:= (

[underpants]

8. Obama was pretty impressive

I haven't watched most of the debates hardly any but Barrack was great.

Smooth
confident
Likeable

He really sold me on being able to sell to other people

[Fire_brand]

9. ha ha

[greyghost]

11. Last night was the turning point for me as well...

In the immortal words of Al Davis,"JUST WIN BABY, WIN!":patriot:

[Major Hogwash]

12. Hillary's "get real" meme this past week reminded me of Roseann Barr.

And if that who she is turning to for advice, then she is done.

[catgirl]

13. Actually, she copied that from Bloomberg

[Maven]

14. Message from the Obama campaign: GIVE UP! What hope from you, guys.

Seriously, how inspiring.

[cloudythescribbler]

15. I guess my man Aaron got the check I sent ...

I must say that without some vastly reversing development (eg a mass media feeding frenzy directed at Obama like the kind they used to stop Howard Dean), HRC is toast. People have tried here on DU, even with oodles of threads on the plagiarism nonsense (notice how since last night there are MANY fewer of those hmmmmmmmmmmm) -- but it takes a whole village of well-placed media pundits to accomplish that kind of thing. Individual bloggers can provide the FODDER, but you need a large chorus to justify the lying....

And don't forget, the media started setting on Dean BEFORE Iowa, so his momentum was nothing like Obama has now.