Clinton communications czar Howard Wolfson is predicting a draw on Super Tuesday and says his boss will end the day with an overall lead in delegates -- largely thanks to her fierce lobbying for non-democratically-selected "super delegates" before the primary season started.
Unlike delegates apportioned by primaries or caucuses, super delegates -- often elected officials and party leaders -- are free to sign on with the candidates of their choice. Clinton has enlisted about 100 more than Obama.
In a striking departure from the campaign's optimism a month ago, when Clinton aides were staking all on Feb. 5th, Wolfson downplayed the 22-state results in a conference call with reporters.
"The results will likely be inconclusive...I don't think either side will win appreciably more delegates than the other but its possible either side could win more today...It's just another step on the road to Denver," he said.
On the same call, Clinton pollster Mark Penn predicted that Obama might win most of the primaries between now and March 4th, excluding Ohio. Penn said the raft of contests in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, "clearly favor Obama more than us."
The pair also demanded four more one-on-one debates with Obama -- while denying it was a ploy to get free media for a endangered candidate short on cash. Clinton has signed on for a Fox debate in D.C. on Feb 11, despite boycotting a previous debate sponsored by the right-tilting network earlier this year. She's also agreed to later one-on-ones sponsored by MSNBC in Ohio, CNN in Texas and an offer for an hour-long one-one-one conversation between the candidates from ABC's George Stephanopolous this Sunday.
Wolfson said Obama hasn't agreed to any of them yet; Calls are in to his campaign.
--Glenn Thrush