Hillary's smarmy spinmeister: MA is "tight as a tick", Obama should be disappointed if no win in CA

[jefferson_dem]

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Andy Merten

In the Clinton campaign's second conference call with reporters in the last two days, communications director Howard Wolfson said -- at least four times -- that "the results tonight will be inconclusive."

"The results will be inconclusive. Sen. Obama will do well in some parts of the country; in other parts of the country, Sen Clinton will do well. So this will be just another step, although a large step, on the road to Denver and choosing a nominee."

Asked if there won't be momentum and bragging rights coming out of the returns, Wolfson joked: "Sure, whoever wins New York can be declared the winner."

He then went on to MEGA-spin outcomes in Massachusetts and California. According to Wolfson, Massachusetts right now is "tight as a tick," and since Sen. Kennedy has what he called a "machine" -- without mentioning the Boston mayor's machine working overtime for Clinton -- Wolfson said if Obama doesn't win Massachusetts it will be a "disappointment." In fact, Clinton has held a double-digit lead in most Massachusetts polls up until now.

Similarly, he tried to suggest that if Obama doesn't win California it will be a "disappointment" because of the Maria Shriver/Oprah endorsements and campaign events -- even though polls have shown Clinton with a solid lead in the state until now.

Wolfson said the California campaign will be close, and he suspects it will be a very late night. He pointed out that Obama has put considerable resources into California and has had great surrogates.

Wolfson also made the campaign's latest argument that Michigan and Florida delegates should be seated, and when asked about the other Democratic candidates didn't even have their names on the ballot in Michigan, he said: "I think they removed their names from the ballot because they didn't think they would fare well."

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http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/05/640519.aspx

[Skwmom]

1. California - it's called 40 percent voted early.

[Kittycat]

3. called where? and by whom? totals? link?

[madrchsod]

2. looks like the optimism is wearing thin....

this won`t be over until the last state votes and the super duper delegates decide our fate.

[cloudythescribbler]

4. Just voted Obama in MA -- Clinton campaign just lowballing expectations (I'm falling off the floor)

[chelsea0011]

7. I'm hearing a lot of support for Obama in Mass. and I'm in a fairly

conservative town. I don't think Hillary will lose but her margin will be a lot smaller than most think.

[godai]

5. Fortunately, the Clinton campaign doesn't decide Obama's mindset

Reality is closer to...it will be a major disappointment to the Clintons if she doesn't win Massachusetts and California.

[Thrill]

6. Oh Please he was down 20 points just last week there

And now he should be disappointed if he doesn't win? Not to mention a half mill of early votes already submitted. Give me a break