WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Hillary Rodham Clinton, defying electoral math stacked against her, is urging supporters to ignore predictions that her White House bid was over. Barack Obama, meanwhile, was reaching out to top Democrats who could help seal a historic nomination well within his grasp.

Clinton spent some of Thursday in West Virginia - the next battleground and where she is favored to win - telling supporters that she had faced similar pressure to withdraw before she went on to win New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania's primaries.

"I'm running to be president of all 50 states," said Clinton, who would be the nation's first female president. "I think we ought to keep this going so the people of West Virginia's voices are heard."

But, smarting from a crushing loss in North Carolina and a narrower-than-expected win in Indiana on Tuesday, the former first lady also sought to stave off further defections among longtime supporters who saw the pace of the race turn decisively in Obama's favor.

Obama, on the cusp of making history with his bid to be the country's first black president, made an impromptu appearance in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

It marked his latest effort to woo Congressional superdelegates since Tuesday's contests, which positioned him within striking distance of the party's White House nod in a race that has polarized Democratic voters and raised concerns about unity before the November presidential election.

The latest contests leave Obama with 1,849.5 delegates to Clinton's 1,697, with 2,025 needed to win the nomination. With just six contests remaining and 217 elected delegates at stake, it is mathematically impossible for either candidate to secure the necessary number. This makes the support of the roughly 800 superdelegates - party officials and lawmakers free vote as they chose - vital.

The first-term Illinois senator was surrounded in the House by well-wishers calling him "Mr. President" and reaching out to pat him on the back. The glad-handers included a few Republicans, as well as Clinton supporters.

But the 46-year-old, whose historic and protracted race with Clinton has riveted and frustrated Americans, was quick to note that he faced a formidable adversary.

"Our goal is going to be to try to be to bring the party together as soon as possible," Obama said after his visit. "But we still have contests remaining, and so in no way am I taking this for granted. We're going to have to keep on working."

About a third of the undeclared superdelegates are members of Congress. He picked up two more superdelegates Thursday.

"My main message is that whichever way you want to go, the sooner that superdelegates make their decision the sooner we will have a sense of who the nominee will be and sooner we can focus on John McCain," Obama told the Fox News Channel outside his Senate office.

The Associated Press has contacted nearly 100 undeclared superdelegates - out of roughly 260 - since the Tuesday elections and has found that many see Obama as the likely nominee, but are reluctant to make a public commitment until after the final states hold their votes June 3.

"There are no undecided superdelegates, there are really only undeclared superdelegates," uncommitted Democratic National Committee member Edward Espinoza of California said in an interview with AP Television. "And what many people have to deal with in this process is grappling professional and political interests when they make a declaration."

Obama has focused more intently on Republican John McCain in recent weeks.

On Thursday, he accused McCain in a CNN interview of "losing his bearings" for repeatedly suggesting the Islamic militant group Hamas preferred Obama for president.

That brought an angry response from McCain's campaign, which accused Obama of trying to make an issue of McCain's age. Age is a touchy subject for McCain, who turns 72 in August and would be the oldest person to be sworn in as president if elected.

Meanwhile, Clinton continued to press her case that she was the candidate most equipped to defeat McCain in November, though her new comments about race dogged her following an interview with USA Today published Thursday.

In it, Clinton cited an Associated Press article which found that "Senator Obama's support among working, hardworking Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."

"There's a pattern emerging here," she said.

Obama's campaign did not respond to the comments, which generated buzz in the liberal blogosphere.

On Thursday, Clinton was campaigning from West Virginia to Oregon, redoubling her efforts to curtail Obama's momentum, as her once-powerful candidacy stumbles amid financial woes and defections by supporters.

She has repeatedly vowed not to drop out before June. But as the race drags on, fears mount that it could affect party unity, costing Democrats their best chance to reclaim the White House after almost eight years of Republican leadership.

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:50 PM MST on Sun., May. 11, 2008 re: "Polls show voters drift to Clinton ahead of next primaries"

Steve K. said:
All you non followers of the news and give your ill willed remarks about Obama, then why don't you run for Pres. and let's see how well you would do against the lying Clinton's whom until they ran against a Bi-racial candidate use to be black (Bill), now all the hard working, no college, white people in W.Va are pulling her way! See Black church she already forgot about you! FYI..I'm a no college white in TX (Go Obama)

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11:04 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "Obama wins 2 more superdelegates; Clinton keeps campaigning"

Examiner Reader said:
12:13- If we all knew that, wouldn't we all be voting for her. please do not speak for me.

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12:13 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Polls show voters drift to Clinton ahead of next primaries"

Examiner Reader said:
I believe Senator Clinton Has shown to be the hardest and stronger candidate for our Country to be our President and lead us out of this mess in which we are. She has the right qualifications for the JOB and we all know that under her leadership we will be back stronger then ever.

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7:44 AM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008 re: "Polls show voters drift to Clinton ahead of next primaries"

Alex said:
Hillary should use her "testicular fortitude" in proposing solid solutions to our ailing economy and not on devising gimmicks to trap blue-collar workers or in stretching diversions (like R. Wright) to the extreme!

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9:29 AM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "Polls show voters drift to Clinton ahead of next primaries"

Examiner Reader said:
Hey Rhonda, Obama is running positive ads in Oregon and he is way ahead in every Oregon poll. I am in Oregon. Do not believe "Rhonda."

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9:26 AM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "Polls show voters drift to Clinton ahead of next primaries"

Examiner Reader said:
"the Illinois senator's former pastor who called from the pulpit for God to damn America for it's treatment of African Americans." This journalist is a long-time hack. Bad reporting from Iraq. Bad analysis here and the illiterate use of the contraction "it's" rather than the possessive "its."

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6:15 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "Clinton and Obama question each other's qualifications"

Examiner Reader said:
They question each other's qualifications. This is news?

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9:14 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008 re: "Clinton, Obama press for advantage ahead of pivotal primary"

Ronda in Oregon said:
Through false advertisement and news media reluctance to report truth people believe Barrack Obama may win future states. Everyone wants to be on a winning team thats understandable. To get more accurate information out BO is not winning in OREGON even though he is running negative ads. The Pope Hope is true hope not this stuff that others are trying to get American people to believe. Wouldnt it be nice if 1st time voters voted intelligently instead of the "cool way".

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7:01 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 20, 2008 re: "Clinton, Obama press for advantage ahead of pivotal primary"

Examiner Reader said:
I imagine one can only take so much abuse before one must start hitting back. Obama has shown remarkable restraint under the barrage of negativity that Clinton (& now McCain) has slung at him. I'm actually glad to see him take a stance. After all, he is fighting for me, & for you, to make this country a better place for ALL Americans, not just the rich ones.

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8:06 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Clinton Proposes Plan to Keep Jobs in US"

Examiner Reader said:
which class of taxpayer is she going these billions of dollars from?

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1:57 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader Just the Truth said:
Well a vote for Obama or Clinton is a vote to continue to provide social services....and that means cradle to grave health care for illegal immigrants. Not sure we could depend upon McCain to do otherwise! Bush refused to close the borders despite overwhelming national demand and concern for our national security. JOB#1 on the job description of a U.S. President. This swarm is strangling our emergency rooms and educational systems countrywide. We cannot support the world at the expense of our children's future.

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1:19 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader-Steve Tamas said:
I like Obama. He's fare & honest. I don't like senator Hillary nor Bill. I'm one of the victim of Pres. Clinton. I lost my job. I lost about $75,000.- on stock market. This healthcare is just another way to rob the public.

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12:15 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader Just the Truth said:
The Clinton presidency,(that would be Bill), seems always to have been viewed more favorably abroad than here at home. Hillary has cloudy recollections of her tenure as first lady and based upon her latest Bosnian "memories",seems to think she really was co-president. Delusions of grandeur it would seem. Obama is a novice but a consumate politician who spins his msg. of hope into political gold and leaves voters waiting for the next installment shouting "Yes We Can!" The ? is...can what? The die is cast and McCain will be the Rep. cand. and the democrats have 2 potential candidates with nearly identical voting records and political experience. Personal attacks are all that's left for them to talk about. John Edwards will happily fall into bed with either of them if asked! What this country needs are fewer politicians and more statesmen (women). Our fault, we've been breeding "political animals" and then ripping them to shreds in the media for entertainment. Who would want this job?

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12:08 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader said:
I can't jump on the "Democrats for McCain" bus quickly enough. The other two candidates have become a circus act.

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9:30 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader said:
Obama and Hillery should step aside and let John Edwards win, or else all proud dems are screwed with a pub.

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7:40 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader said:
Great minds think alike.

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7:39 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader said:
Who would let the democratic partie hold primaries early in the season without a great leader? Demorats are fools. Thats it I vote pub.

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7:34 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Dorothy said:
to MDbluehen: There is not such thing as an 'independent voter" surveys have shown that independent voters vote REPUBLICAN ALMOST 70 PERCENT in each election! so much for being IV! But i do agree, i' a life-long democrat and man these two big egos are going to MUCK up our chance! If this happens, I WILL VOTE REPUBLICIAN from now on

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7:13 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

MDbluehen said:
As an independent voter, I want the democratic campaign to continue all the way to the convention floor. Then, we will see the true colors of the democratic party. Will they broker a candidate of their choosing or will they submit to the will of the electorate. My guess is that the cronies will ignore their constituent base and push Hillary on us. In which case McCain will easily win. The convention will show once and for all the corruption of the democratic party and maybe will pave the way for a new, truly, "peoples' party"! If the democrats didn't want to race to the end of the primary season, then why cry foul when so many states chose to hold their primaries early in the season?!!!

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6:08 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader said:
If one democratic candidate soes not conceded teh race, you are sure to have a republican president. One Clinton will be running for a different office without Bill someday, 2. obama is a crook. 3. McCain is an old fart. That leaves only one man standing to take responsiblity for our Country? You do the Math. Who needs these candidates? I will not vote this year, because it is a bad football game that was creted by BUSH and foolish parties.

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5:22 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Examiner Reader re RICH STAN said:
Don't mess with your HOPES Rich Stan..... I'm not a Hillary supporter and frankly I'm sad to say don't believe we have a really strong choice in a candidate for president,Democrat or Republican. In a nut shell though Rich Stan, your "Mrs." message is deeply offensive in more ways than I can possibly explain in this forum and certainly in ways that it appears that you could understand. You're living on lotus leaves RS, content to put your country in inexperienced, untested hands and relying hope, making you a hopeful misogynist. Please say you're not thinking of running for office yourself someday RS. You're correct, we do need our country back.

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10:53 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 29, 2008 re: "Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running"

Rich Stan said:
Mr.Obama says that Sen.Clinton CAN continue. He is smart, he does not say, that she should. She should not, I agree with many others. BYE, BYE, take care of your family MRS.Clinton. Do not mess with our HOPES, please. We need our Country back.

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12:08 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Obama Coasts to Victory in Miss. Primary"

ori said:
barack obama's campaign is not about black vs white, it's about wrong vs right. campaign tactic by hillary clinton et. el., to include veteran geraldine f., is to turn the democratic nomination process into a hate-filled contest based entirely on race. this is traditional campaigning for both democrats and republicans. barack obama provides an alternative to divisive customary party politics. the obama candidacy is determined and committed to remain above the frey and unite all americans, and millions of us have decided to help him. we will win in penn!

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10:19 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Wins Mississippi Democratic Race"

justavelli said:
it really amazes me how some parts of America is so racially divided, and worst still that someone living in these times wherein the world is so globalized can chose to make blatant racial comments G.F whatever her name is,Obama is winning tis election not because he is black or white but becoz he is has risen above racial lines to be the inspiraton for the younger generation.Why do i find it absurd that Clinton is increasingly trying to undermine Obama with her arrogant comments and proposals,Go America win this election, i support Obama but i want to see the US back on its feet and the same old people can only help if there is a light ontop 2 show them the way.

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8:28 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Coasts to Victory in Miss. Primary"

Race card flies! said:
Just read how Geraldine Ferraro said Obama was lucky to be black and a male...if not, no one would care about the change he represents. Stick to the issues, Geraldine, and stop counting on a past of American stupidity--particularly one which contributed to keeping you (Ferraro) out of office.

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5:59 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama, Clinton Battle in Mississippi"

Examiner Reader said:
Hillary is not in second place. Obama cheated in South Carolina before the primaries there with his henchmen accusing Bill Clinton of being a racist. That was a lie. It jumpstarted his campaign, but you know....it is not nice to tell a lie. Things have a way of coming back to bite you. Hillary tried to be nice and let that go, but you can't let a lie go. Obama brought racism into the campaign at the beginning. Hillary has managed to refrain from it.

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1:35 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama, Clinton Battle in Mississippi"

Examiner Reader said:
If Hillary gets the nomination, i will vote for McCain. She will do anything to win the election, she is destroying the democratic party..

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10:22 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Hopes for Win in Mississippi"

Demo for McCain said:
If Hussein wins, then it is democrats for McCain. At least he will put forth an effort to protect Americans and not hide behind a racist church.

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10:20 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Hopes for Win in Mississippi"

Get Jackson Out of Any office said:
Jackson is not even fooling anyone. We know he puts those wreaths on people's graves to get attention for himself.

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10:19 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Hopes for Win in Mississippi"

FEAR said:
The Obama camp has instilled threats of bodily harm into people if they do not vote for him. does he even know this - or is it win at any cost or the loss of any life. People need to know that this is happening.

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10:16 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Obama Hopes for Win in Mississippi"

GO CLINTON said:
Teamsters for Hillary Clinton everywhere in the country. Wake up and smell the coffee. Just because you are one color does not mean that the person of the same color is the best candidate. Mississippi, it was a Clinton and a Bush who sent you aid when you had your natural disasters. It was not anyone else. So, pretending that it was will not erase that it wasn't

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6:34 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Obama Looks to Miss. for Momentum"

Examiner Reader said:
I am glad to see that my native Mississippi finally has a seat at the national decision-making table. As for Florida and Michigan, if the national party is going to rescind its decision, it should pay for holding the balloting for a second time.

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9:24 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Obama Regains Ground in Texas Caucuses"

Arkimsa said:
Has Hillary ever been a president before?..NO Is there any decision about national security, economy, etc that can be attributed to her during Bill's tenure..? No Is Bill going to make decisions for her if she's elected?..NO As fisrt lady, did she participate/contribute in government similarly to say...Condi..? No So where the hell did she get experience from??!!

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3:30 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "McCain Seals Nod; Clinton, Obama Joust"

Examiner Reader said:
the more comments i read here,the more im convienced american simi humanoids are in the 95 percentile of bone stupid.

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7:46 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Obama Regains Ground in Texas Caucuses"

Examiner Reader said:
Obama nor the other candidates negotiated treates etc. but they have more experience dealing with friendly and hostile countries. Obama stopped talked about his vision. I listened to most of his speeches and he didn't say anything of substance It's such a shame that Americans are snuffing all his rhetoric

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10:47 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Clinton hints at sharing ticket with Obama"

Examiner Reader said:
Texas caucuses are full of cheating going on . The democratic party is a mess with caucuses, FLorida and Michigan problems. The democrats won't win this November .

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8:04 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Clinton Hints at Shared Ticket"

fed up said:
why is it that every time i hit the agree or disagree botton nothing happens. Is this a liberal paper?

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8:02 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Obama Regains Ground in Texas Caucuses"

fed up said:
Bottom line we have no one running that is worth a good crab. We are about to see things get worse if that's possible.

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3:42 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Clinton Wins Texas, Ohio; McCain Clinches"

Examiner Reader said:
Was there a legitimate reason for AP reporter David Espo to mention Sen McCain's age and not the ages of Sens Clinton and Obama? Once again AP show that AP does not stand for A-Political.

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11:43 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Obama regains lost ground in Democratic race"

Provocateur said:
In regard to 8.08 a.m. I see the right wing "swift-turbanners" are at it again.. LOL!!!

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9:19 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Clinton hints at sharing ticket with Obama"

American Patriot said:
Well Ohio you have done it again, screwed the country. Last time you elected BUSH and we have all paid the price for that and of course no ohioans want to talk about that. Now Clinton says she may consider Obama as VP. Does that tell you anything and she is losing. Ohio has a terrible record of voting in candidates that are bad for our country. Well I guess they have nothing else to do, they sure dont have Jobs. Thanks to Bill Clinton..............

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9:18 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Clinton Hints at Shared Ticket"

Ndepth said:
Well she should have plenty of time to get the documents turned over showing what she did for 8 years in the whitehouse as well as her tax return for 2006 or will she still be too busy running for president, as she accused Obama of doing.

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8:08 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Clinton Hints at Shared Ticket"

Examiner Reader said:
I am delighted about the results of yesterday's elections, but am aghast with the above article wherein it is hinted that Ms. Clinton might consider running with Hussein Obama as her vice-president. If she puts that man who has a very questionable background on the ticket as her running mate then she will not under any circumstances receive my vote.

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6:07 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Clinton, Obama Vow to Go On"

Examiner Reader said:
I never thought I would be rooting for Hillary. But after the NY Times and libs ruined the Republican primary. And after listening to these "followers" of Obama. Scary!! I thought "followers" was a religious term. So what exactly are the tenets of this murky religion that we may all have to deal with very soon.

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5:55 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Obama, Clinton Duel in Ohio, Texas"

True! said:
I would love to see an investigation of the Latinos voting in these elections and I bet a majority of them are not even legal in this nation. This govt. has come to the point for political power they have sold Americans down the drain, allowed illegals in here, and are now letting them vote, when they should NOT be! I would love to see an investigation of this go out! There is NO way Reagan granted approximately 3 million amnesty back in 86, give or take, their population then was around, maybe 3 million, and in 20 years they go from 10 million (and I am being generous), to over 46 million! No WAY! African Americans been here for hundreds of years and haven't did that in 20 years. That tells your right there that corruption is in play and Latinos, not all, but many are getting benefits of citizenship, without being a citizen!

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