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Clinton, Obama play to a raucous crowd |
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May 3, 2008 - The N.C. Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner usually has the air of ritual. On Friday night, it reflected the aggression of the hardest-fought presidential primary race in decades. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke late Friday at Dorton Arena before a crowd of 5,000 charged-up, chanting party activists. Obama tried to hold his diminishing lead in North Carolina while Clinton mounted a late push to make the state "a game-changer." The candidates were facing their most important audience in Tuesday's presidential primary: the powerful superdelegates who could determine the nomination, and activists who must decide whether to rally to the eventual winner. For the first time in the North Carolina primary, Obama drew sharp contrasts between himself and Clinton. He said he had not accepted campaign contributions from political action committees and Washington lobbyists, or adopted poll-tested positions, and had always opposed the war in Iraq. "Real changes have never been easy," Obama told a raucous crowd. "The status quo doesn't give up without a fight. The status quo in this country are not just Republicans." Speaking first, Clinton chose not to attack Obama. Instead, she used her moment to portray herself as a champion for the middle class, promising to push for jobs, health care and an end to the war in Iraq. "If Senator Obama is the nominee, you better believe I will work my heart out for him," Clinton said. Obama offered a similar promise: "If Hillary Clinton were the nominee, I would support her in a heartbeat." By Rob Christensen Read Jefferson Jackson Dinner
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