Primary may be end for Clinton
22/04/2008 22:44  - (SA)  

Clinton needs convincing win Clinton warns Iran Clinton tactics 'disgusting' Clinton cruising toward win Obama struggles in Pennsylvania Obama's $51m and counting... Steely Clinton slams Obama Hillary gets surprise backing Yes, Obama can win - Clinton

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Washington - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton refused to speculate about the future of her presidential campaign if she does not win big in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary - balloting that could be decisive in an increasingly nasty contest with front-runner Barack Obama.

As the polls opened for the first US state primary voting in six weeks, voter surveys showed Clinton with an advantage of five to 10 points, down from a 20-point spread in her favour when the Pennsylvania campaigning began.

With her campaign in debt and Obama leading in elected delegates and the popular vote, many party heavyweights fear continuing the struggle will damage the Democrats' chances against Republican John McCain in the November general election.

But Clinton, who has vowed in the past to take her campaign clear into the August Democratic national convention in Denver, refused to directly answer a question about what happens after Pennsylvania if she does not win a sizable victory.

"I don't think the margin matters," Clinton said in an interview on the NBC Today programme.

Clinton said on Pittsburgh's KDKA that Obama had outspent her in Pennsylvania "three, maybe four to one" and was trying to undercut her possible victory by claiming she should have done even better.

"I think a win is a win. Maybe I'm old fashioned about that," she told reporters on Tuesday. "I think maybe the question ought to be, why can't he close the deal with his extraordinary financial advantage? Why can't he win a state like this one if that's the way it turns out ... big states, states that Democrats have to win."

Obama expects to lose

Obama said he expected to lose, but narrowly, and worked to limit any gains Clinton made in the delegate chase.

"It's an uphill battle," Obama said of his effort in the state, campaigning at a Pittsburgh diner. He said polls before the voting showed a tighter race than a few weeks ago but "we still, I think, have to consider ourselves the underdog".

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