In what has to be the most stark and direct attack Hillary has made regarding Obama's General Election chances and attempt at persuading Superdelegates, she has finally put it on the table.
ABC with the scoop.
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Bill Clinton are making very direct arguments to Democratic superdelegates, starkly insisting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., cannot win a general election against presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Sources with direct knowledge of the conversation between Sen. Clinton and Governer Bill Richardson, D-N.M., prior to the Governor's endorsement of Obama say she told him flatly, "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win."
Richardson, who served in President Clinton's cabinet, disagreed.
At a rally in Oregon, standing next to Obama, Richardson insisted, "My great affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver," but he added, "It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting among ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall."
I know many will be outraged, but I'm actually glad this is out there. Of course, I'd like her to put this out there herself instead of sources (and explain exactly why she doesn't think he can win), but there you go. This is of course on the heels of Bill Clinton's California tirade which was apparently brought on by a question regarding Bill Richardson. Big update: Here is a photo of a red-faced Clinton at that California meeting:
Via Politico. Someone may want to diary this.
Richardson has of course now pushed back on Carville and Bill on their reaction to his endorsement. Additionally, we also have the now well-publicized attempt by Harold Ickes to use Jeremiah Wright to persuade superdelegates.
Video here.
Update: Mark Halperin of time says what some of us are surmising is the reasoning for her statements to Bill Richardson.
Make of that what you will.