Exclusive: Clinton Vows to Push On

Hillary Clinton is under a lot of pressure these days, but in a Tuesday interview she seemed cheery, confident and unapologetic as she talked about her determination to fight on in the presidential race. Speaking by phone from Pennsylvania, she explained why she plans to continue her push for the Democratic nomination, even as some question her chances of winning. She expressed confidence that her party would pull together in time to beat Republican John McCain, as well as a belief that the remaining contests — and perhaps some surprising shifts in the delegates already elected — would make her the Democrats' nominee.

HALPERIN: How would you describe your most likely path to victory now? What would the elements be and how would it play out?

CLINTON: Well, first I think that it's important to point out that the premise of the whole discussion that some people are engaged in is off base because this is a very close race and neither of us will reach the magic number of delegates. We're both going to be short, and when you think about the many millions of people who have already voted, we are separated by a relatively small percentage of votes. We're separated by, you know, a little more than a hundred delegates. I've won states that Democrats need to win in the general election in order to win the White House and obviously the strategy on the other side is to try to shut this race down, but I don't think voters want that. You know, there was a big surge in registration here in Pennsylvania. That seems to be happening in other states that are in the upcoming contests. Millions of people still remain to vote and to have their votes counted, so I think it's exciting and I find it very positive for our party. We're going to bring a lot of people into this race. Yesterday in Montgomery County I probably had six women tell me that they had changed their registration from Republican to Democrat to be able to vote for me, and I'm sure people are doing things to get prepared to vote for Senator Obama. I think this is all really good. And there's additional problems of Florida and Michigan, because I still don't see how the Democrats don't figure out a way to make sure their votes are counted. And I don't understand what Senator Obama was afraid of when I agreed and the DNC signed off on a re-vote in Michigan and he said no. So we're just going to keep this process going through these next contests.

You often talk about this need for balance in life and in policy and in politics. Are you now balancing all the reasons you just gave for going forward and having other voters vote with the word that some people are putting out that going forward is hurting the party? Are you balancing that or are you all on the side of your first answer?

Well, I obviously take that into account, but I just don't see any evidence of it. You know, it is clear that there's a lot of excitement and energy in this campaign. The people who are supporting me sure don't want to see it over. They tell me that all the time, that they want me to keep going. They want me to keep fighting, so this will all work out. We're going to have a unified Democratic Party and we'll go into the fall in a strong position to defeat John McCain.

You said earlier today at your press conference that we'll wait to see what happens in "the next three months." Does that mean that your assumption is, however these remaining contests turn out, that the race will go at least for the next three months?

Well, that certainly is what I anticipate. I think the elections that are yet to come deserve to be held because the people from Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico to all the others that are waiting in line deserve to be heard. And I think that's part of the good. You know, I remind a lot of people that my husband didn't formally wrap up the nomination until June and when he did he was behind both President Bush and Ross Perot. You know as well as anyone how dynamic elections are and how fluid they are, and I think that we're going to win in November and once we get our nominee chosen we're going to have a very vigorous campaign to make sure that happens.

Is there anything more important for the superdelegates and the voters who are still to vote, anything more important for them to look at besides electability, the ability to beat John McCain in November?

Well, I think who will be the best President is another element, but there's a lot to be excited about here. I think that there is unprecedented excitement in the Democratic Party. Now obviously people choose sides and they feel passionately about whichever one of us they are supporting, but it's still going on and I see nothing that suggests to me that the people in the states yet to vote are anything other than thrilled to have their voices and votes be part of this process. Look at what's happened with Pennsylvania registration. Its just shot through the roof, and it happened because, you know, people individually, with some encouragement from each of our campaigns, got up and said, you know, "I want to be part of this." And I think it will help both of us, and I think it will, more importantly, help the Democratic Party.

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