Clinton fights on as Obama pulls in the crowds

Hillary Clinton, who has feasted on adversity in the Democratic presidential primaries, is rejecting calls from some key Barack Obama supporters to drop out of the race for the good of the party.

The former first lady’s campaign declared she will stay until the last state primary votes are counted, even if it means what some Democrats fear will be an ugly public battle at the August national convention.

Former President Bill Clinton, underscoring his wife’s determination against statistically long odds of overcoming Mr Obama’s pledged delegate lead, said in California a “vigorous debate” was good for the party and those who want to see the former first lady quit the contest should just “chill out”.

“We’re going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say,” Mr Clinton said.

A crowd of about 20,000 was chilled as supporters waited in cool temperatures for Mr Obama to speak on the campus lawn at Penn State University, where the Illinois senator agreed that the tough campaign was healthy if frustrating.

“As this primary has gone on a little bit long, there have been people who’ve been voicing some frustration,” Mr Obama said.

“I want everybody to understand that this has been a great contest, great for America. It’s engaged and involved people like never before. I think it’s terrific that Senator Clinton’s supporters have been as passionate as my supporters have been because that makes the people invested and engaged in this process, and I am absolutely confident that when this primary season is over Democrats will be united.”

After Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy last week became the first leading Democrat to openly call on Mrs Clinton to abandon her bid and back Mr Obama, the front-runner said Clinton should stay in the race as long as she wanted.

He also said he had not talked to Mr Leahy before he issued his statement on Mrs Clinton leaving the race.

But Mr Leahy’s sentiment is shared by many activists worried that a drawn-out nominating contest only bolsters Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain.

Other Obama supporters have echoed that view while stopping short of asking Mrs Clinton to withdraw.

As Mr Obama crossed Pennsylvania, which votes on April 22, he pounded his message of reform and said again that Mr McCain was running for US President George Bush’s third term.

Mrs Clinton trails Mr Obama by 1,624 to 1,499 in national delegates, including both those pledged as a result of state primaries and caucuses as well as superdelegates – elected and party officials who can vote for whomever they wish.

Mr Obama picked up one more superdelegate endorsement Sunday, from Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.