Vote 08: Clinton wins California

NEW YORK (KABC) Clinton's wins Tuesday night, as of 11 p.m. PST:
American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee

Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton were up early Tuesday to vote in her adopted home state of Chappaqua, N.Y.

In the past few weeks Clinton's national lead over Senator Barack Obama has been shrinking and the campaign has pulled out all the stops.

Senator Clinton answered questions Monday evening through a first of its kind Internet Webcast. She then made an appearence on David Letterman's "Late Show." Clinton's voice was raspy from the ragged pace and she joked about her weariness.

On "Good Morning America" Clinton talked about the uncertainty of Super Tuesday.

"I think that it is unprecedented. We are all kind of guessing about what it is going to mean because it has never happened before. Obviously I want to do as well as I can. I am encouraging people to come out and vote in the Super Tuesday states. Right now I am ahead in both the popular vote and in delegates and I hope I stay there. There is a lot we are going to find out about how this works today. That is both what is intriguing and somewhat mystifying because none of us really understand the impact of all of these contests on one day will be for any of us," said Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Barack Obama spent the morning in Boston. He has nothing on his public schedule except Tuesday night's public celebrations in Chicago.

Obama also made the rounds on the morning talk shows before flying back to Chicago. On "Good Morning America" he responded to the Clinton campaign's recent suggestion that he would make a good vice presidential nominee.

"I am running for president and I don't think Senator Clinton would be willing to accept the vice presidency. I think it would be presumptuous for me. I think right now we're in a pretty fierce contest. I think we're getting way too far ahead of ourselves when we start talking about vice presidential candidacies but I can tell you this, that's not something I'm running for," Obama said.

In every early contest voter turnout has reached historic proportions. At two Manhattan districts it was also heavy.

New York has a majority of registered Democrats. Many voters are aware of the historic importance of Super Tuesday.

"It does feel different and I had a really hard time making up my mind this morning," said Richard Aumiller, a voter.

"It's huge that in the first time in history we have strong contenders, one of whom is a woman and another whom is African-American. The turnout is important," said Tanya Cochran, a voter.

"I think it is a critical election to change the direction of the country in a major way from the awful Bush years. And I think it is incredibly exciting to have Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama running. It is a terrible choice to have to make," said Craig Capps, a voter.

Eyewitness News reporter John North and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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