Politics on the Hudson

RICHMOND, Va.—As the results from the Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses came in from Washington state, Nebraska and Louisiana Saturday, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama were focusing on the next battleground in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Early results showed lopsided Obama victories in Nebraska and Washington state. And by the time Obama took the stage at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond he also was declared the victor in Louisiana.

An estimated 6,000 Democrats gathered for the dinner, which Gov. Tim Kaine said was double last year’s attendance. The dinner was reminiscent of the 100 Club Dinner that Democrats had in New Hampshire a few days before their state primary last month, with both crowds highly energized and enthusiastic to hear the presidential candidates.

In New Hampshire, there were more candidates. Obama had the final word and brought the house down.

Clinton spoke shortly before 9 p.m., striking a unity theme for Democrats and their need to come together to take back the White House.

She pointed to the vision of America’s founders – many of them Virginians—that we are all created equal and entitled in to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“Neither Sen. Obama nor I nor many of you in this room were fully included in that original vision, but it was the beginning of an extraordinary journey,’’ she said, referring to the work of abolitionists who worked to end slavery and suffragists who fought for the right of women to vote.

She also touted herself as best qualified to run against Sen. John McCain.

“If I become your nominee, you’ll never have to worry about me being knocked out of the ring because I do have the strength and experience to lead this country,’’ she said. “And I am ready to go toe to toe with Sen. McCain whenever and wherever he desires. I am ready to make the case for the Democratic Party from universal health care to making it clear that once again America is ready for business in the rest of the world. The era of cowboy diplomacy will be over. I am ready to make your case because your voices are the change we seek and together we will take back the White House.’’

When Obama was introduced around 10:20 p.m. to deafening cheers from a clearly pro-Obama audience.

“The stakes are too high and the challenges are too great to play the same old Washington games with the same old Washington players and expect a different result,’’ he said. “People want to turn the page. They want to write a new chapter in American history.

“And today the voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast, from the heart of America, stood up to say yes we can.

“We won in Louisiana. We won in Nebraska. We won in Washington state. We won north. We won south. We won in between. And I believe that we can win Virginia on Tuesday if you are ready to stand for change.’’

Obama also struck a unity theme, repeating his pledge that he and Clinton were friends before their campaign and he expects they will be afterward.

Obama argued he would be a better candidate for Democrats against McCain, citing recent polls that show him doing better than Clinton in a head-to-head match against the Arizona senator.

He said Democrats have “a choice between debating John McCain about who has the most experience in Washington, or debating him about who’s most likely to change Washington. Because that’s a debate that we can win.’’

Clinton campaigns Sunday in the northern Virginia community of Manassas followed by a visit to the southwest corner of the state in Roanoke. She ends the day with a late evening event in Maryland.

Obama also will be in northern Virginia Sunday—in Alexandria—followed by a campaign event in Virginia Beach.

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