Area Dem leaders say Clinton will not quit

By BRETT DUNLAP
PARKERSBURG — With only a few weeks left in the primary season, both local and state Democratic leaders believe Sen. Hillary Clinton will stick it out until the end, even as Sen. Barrack Obama solidifies his growing lead.

Some have said it is time for Clinton to step aside and for the party to unite behind Obama. However, Clinton has vowed to fight on.

‘‘She has the right to continue if she wants to,’’ said Walt Auvil, chairman of the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee.

Clinton won West Virginia in Tuesday’s primary election, but most analysts are calling it a symbolic victory as Obama has the majority of pledged delegates and received the endorsement of former presidental candidate John Edwards and possibily the delegates he has already secured.

However, Obama’s defeat in West Virginia as well as Ohio and Pennsylvania underscored his weakness among blue collar voters who will play a major factor in the November General Election, some analysts said.

Auvil said the West Virginia victory has had an impact in that Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have both been referring to it in their comments as they continue to campaign.

Tom Vogel, executive director for the West Virginia Democratic Party, said, with only about three weeks left of primary elections, many in the party feel it is best to let everyone who wants to vote to have the opportunity to cast their ballot.

‘‘This is the first time in a very long time that every state would have had an opportunity to really have their say in the presidential primary,’’ Vogel said.

Edwards decision to back Obama is not good news for Clinton, Auvil said, adding he was a strong supporter of Edwards and the campaign platform he ran on, believing it dealt with the issues that mattered to West Virginians, including health care, trade and jobs.

If the 20 or so delegates Edwards has gets switched over to Obama, those gains might cancel out any gains Clinton got in West Virginia, Auvil added.

‘‘The final decision about whether she stays in or goes is up to Hillary Clinton,’’ said Jean Grapes, executive director of the Wood County Democratic Party. ‘‘Right now, I think she believes everyone should have the chance to vote.’’

However, with Obama’s growing lead and delegate support, Clinton will have to make a decision, she said. If that decision to to step aside, Grapes believes Clinton will support Obama and help to unify the party for the November election.

‘‘There are still a lot of people who want to see her on the ticket as the vice presidental candidate,’’ Grapes said.

Grapes hopes this election will swing West Virginia back to a Democratic blue state after being a Republican red state for supporting President Bush.

She said the state had a stronger economy under President Bill Clinton and many people still remember those times.

‘‘We had factories and employment here that we don’t have now,’’ Grapes said.

Vogel said Clinton’s victory in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania showed she was still a major force within the Democratic Party.

He also believed that Clinton would help to unite the party through eventually supporting Obama if he becomes the clear favorite candidate within the party.

‘‘We believe he can carry those same states Hillary Clinton beat him in,’’ Vogel said. ‘‘The Democrats will come together.

‘‘When the voters look at the issues, we feel they will choose the Democrats over the Republicans. They realize we can’t have four more years of the policies we have had. It all bodes well for the Democrats in November.’’