Obama warns seniors on Social Security
By MIKE GLOVER
Associated Press
May 19, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Her mood appeared to brighten by the time she arrived for a rally at Western Kentucky University.
''Now, my opponent said the other day he wasn't coming back, so I've got the whole state to myself,'' Clinton said, sounding happy not to be sharing the Kentucky spotlight. ''What a treat.''
Obama, the front-runner for the nomination, has begun casting himself as the inevitable nominee and using his time to distinguish himself from McCain as he pivots toward the fall campaign. He has scheduled appearances later this week in Iowa and Florida, two key swing states.
He underscored that speaking with reporters in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, saying he'll use the Iowa visit as another way to focus on November.
''We thought it was a terrific way to kind of bring things full circle,'' said Obama. ''We still have some contests left but if Kentucky and Oregon go as we hope, then we think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point and that's a pretty significant mark, that means that after contests in every state, or almost every state and the territories, that we have received a majority of the delegates that are assigned by voters.''
He declined to declare victory.
''It doesn't mean we've declared victory because I won't be the nominee until we have a combination of both pledged delegates and super delegates to hit the mark,'' said Obama. ''What it does mean is the voters have given us a majority of delegates. Obviously that's what this primary and caucus process is all about.''
During the meeting with seniors, Obama was asked why McCain seems to have avoided the enormous press scrutiny the Democrats have gotten.
Obama said McCain has benefited from a Republican nomination process that ended early while the Democratic race continues. He said the attention both candidates receive will grow more intense as the race settles into an Obama-McCain contest.
''It's very understandable that the press has focused on myself and Senator Clinton because it's been a pretty exciting race,'' Obama said. ''The fact is that the press will submit him to the same scrutiny they are giving to me.''
''People will lift the hood and kick the tires with John McCain, just like they do with me,'' he said, who traveled Sunday with his wife, Michelle.
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Associated Press writers Julia Silverman in Portland, Ore., and Sara Kugler in Bowling Green, Ky., contributed to this report.
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