Published: May 08, 2008 11:44 pm         

Former president tells Fairlea supporters, ‘Your vote matters’

FAIRLEA — About 200 people gathered at the West Virginia State Fairgrounds Thursday to hear former President Bill Clinton stump for his wife Hillary and list the reasons she should be the next Democratic nominee for president.

The latest polling data shows Hillary Clinton with a commanding 29-point lead over Sen. Barack Obama in West Virginia, despite some claims by pundits that she should concede the nomination and drop out of the race.

In Fairlea, there was a mixed reaction among the crowd about whether Hillary should fight on or drop out.

Eighty-three-year-old Blanch Cayles of Rainelle said she will be voting for Clinton regardless of the delegate count.

“I’m going to be voting for Hillary even if the race appears to be over,” Cayles said. “But regardless of who the nominee is, in November I will be voting for a Democrat.”

B.J. Gudmundsson said the delegate count is a moot point because “all states deserve” to make their choice for who should be nominated.

“There are many women here, including myself, that have waited their whole lives to elect a woman for president,” Gudmundsson said.

Clifford Curry of Ronceverte said he was “still undecided” but wanted to see the ex-president in person.

“Because Mr. Clinton is my hero, and when I was in the Navy, I thought he did a great job.”

Harold Sponaugle of Frankford believes Hillary can still be the Democratic nominee.

“I don’t believe that about her not being able to win, and I hope that Mr. Clinton will give us an explanation about it.”

During his speech, Clinton did not specifically mention the current political debate about whether his wife should drop out, but alluded somewhat to those growing concerns.

“We have got to get a big percentage of folks to vote,” Clinton said. “And don’t you let them discourage you and tell you that your vote won’t count. Your vote matters.”

In the Democratic nomination process, delegates are won by a percentage of total votes cast in their favor. Currently Obama leads Clinton 1,851 to 1,688 in the delegate count.

Brenda Elmore of Ronceverte said if every state has not been counted, then Hillary should stay in the race. Besides West Virginia, Kentucky and Oregon are the only states left with primaries. About 130 delegates are at stake in those three contests.

“All of the Democrats will come together in November and support the nominee,” Elmore said. “I don’t think there is any hurt in her staying in.”

President Clinton hammered home all the reasons Hillary should be the nominee — her health care plan, Senate experience and better domestic policies — but some in the crowd believed the time will be coming soon for his wife to stop running.

“I’m voting for Obama because I don’t think she can win,” said Betty Burford, who brought along her son, Ves, and granddaughter, Carolina. “I don’t think she can win the nomination now.”

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com