Clinton urges supporters to ignore calls for her to quit

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Clinton urged supporters Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast.

The former first lady raced into a long West Virginia-to-the-West Coast campaign day, declaring she would move forward with her presidential effort and insisting anew that she, not Barack Obama, would be the stronger Democratic candidate to face Republican John McCain in November.

At a rally under the dome of the West Virginia Capitol, Clinton dismissed calls for her to drop out as ''deja vu all over again.'' She said she had faced similar pressure before going on to win in New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

In an interview with USA Today published Thursday, Clinton said, ''I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on.'' She cited an Associated Press article ''that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hardworking Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.''

''There's a pattern emerging here,'' she said. AP

An Evansville, Ind., primary election poll worker was caught on camera chanting Obama's name and calling the polling place ''Obama's house,'' according to a local TV station that filmed the remarks.

The Vandenburgh County clerk said the Tuesday incident will be reviewed by an election board in a few weeks.

''A formal complaint has not been made,'' County Clerk Susan Kirk said. ''Fox News brought it in. They didn't complain, they just asked if that is appropriate and, of course, that's not appropriate.''

WTVW-FOX7 filmed the poll worker engaging in a conversation with a man. It is unknown if he was a poll worker or a voter. The woman is shown saying to him, ''This is Obama's house.'' The woman also is seen chanting Obama's name and asking who in the location is voting for the Illinois senator. The station's report also has been linked to the popular YouTube Web site.

Indiana law states that no one can solicit votes or electioneer within 50 feet of a polling place.

Scripps Howard News Service