From the NYT …
Mrs. Clintonâs advisers had hoped that the uproar over inflammatory remarks made by Mr. Obamaâs longtime pastor that has rocked his campaign for a week might lead voters and superdelegates to question whether they really know enough about Mr. Obama to back him. Although it is still early to judge his success, the speech Mr. Obama delivered on race in Philadelphia to address the controversy was well received and praised even by some Clinton supporters.
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No less important, the campaign hopes that Mr. Obama will have been battered by five rough weeks that raise questions about his past, including the pastorâs incendiary comments, that would underscore Mrs. Clintonâs warning to Democrats that they were rallying around someone who was untested and unvetted.
âThe superdelegates are not going to really decide until June,â Mr. Penn said. âHeâs just going through a vetting and testing process that didnât happen a year ago and is now happening. The whole vetting and testing process will make a big difference.â
It is in the interest of Mrs. Clintonâs campaign to portray the contest as being highly competitive. Her campaign is intent on combating Mr. Obamaâs efforts to pick off superdelegates. And it is increasingly concerned that any sign that the window is closing could lead a Democrat like Al Gore or Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step in and urge Democrats to back Mr. Obama in the interest of unity.
In truth, in interviews, Mrs. Clintonâs advisers said that task was tough and growing tougher and that the critical questions were what would happen with Florida and Michigan and the possibility of developments involving Mr. Obamaâs relationship with his spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.
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Mrs. Clintonâs advisers said they had spent recent days making the case to wavering superdelegates that Mr. Obamaâs association with Mr. Wright would doom their party in the general election.
That argument could be Mrs. Clintonâs last hope for winning this contest.