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Feb 11, 2008 11:30 am US/Mountain
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Hillary Cool, Collected Despite Numerous Losses
Confident Ohio, Texas Primaries Will Turn Things Around
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
She has lost a slew of contests and may lose more before the week is over. Is Hillary Clinton losing momentum to Barack Obama?
Clinton's supporters once thought she'd have this race won by now. Instead, her campaign is in deep trouble.
After losing four out of four races to Obama this past weekend, she's fallen behind in the delegate race, CBS station WCBS-TV's Andrew Kirtzman reports.
"I commend Sen. Obama on his recent victories, but if you look at the states that are upcoming I am very confident," Clinton said.
In fact, she could find herself a loser again Tuesday night.
That's when the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia hold their primaries. Clinton may only have a chance in Virginia.
Some Democratic insiders feel she made a giant error by allowing Obama to build up better operations in this month's caucus states.
CBS News now has Obama ahead with 1,134 delegates to Clinton's 1,131.
On Sunday she replaced her longtime campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle.
"This was Patti's decision," Clinton said.
But the hour is growing late.
"Maybe they can get it together but Obama has more money, a bigger base of supporters -- his momentum is growing," political strategist Joseph Mercurio said.
For the Clinton camp, March 4 can't come soon enough. That's when Texas and Ohio hold contests. The two states are friendlier territory for Clinton.
"We always knew February was gonna be a good month for him," Rep. Gregory Meeks said. "March is gonna be a better month for us."
The peril is that Obama's momentum could take on a life of its own and super delegated pledged to Clinton could start to defect.
"If you are a super delegate, you've given one of the candidates your word and I'd assume no matter how much pressure you're under you're sticking tight, because your word is your currency in this business," NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.
Super delegates are elected officials and party leaders who can vote at party conventions.
Meanwhile, Clinton and Obama are courting former candidate John Edwards for his endorsement. He won 26 delegates before he dropped out. And every delegate will count in this race.
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