Clinton fights on, digs deep into pockets available (1st Lead)

May 7, 2008, 15:29 GMT

Washington - Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has loaned her campaign another 6.4 million dollars, an aide confirmed Wednesday, sending another signal of the former first lady's intent to fight on for the party's bitterly-contested presidential nomination.

After her 14-point loss to Senator Barack Obama in North Carolina and razor-thin victory in the Indiana party primary, television pundits said Clinton's chances have faded even more.

In recent contests, Obama has raised substantially more money than Clinton and has significantly outspent her.

But Howard Wolfson, a Clinton campaign spokesman and strategist, told MSNBC that Clinton will fight on in the divisive battle, and that the 6.4-million-dollar loan could lead to future loans.

'I don't rule out her giving more,' he said.

Last month, within 24 hours after the New York senator's strong victory in the Pennsylvania primary, supporters poured 10 million dollars into her campaign coffers. Earlier this year, after a string of losses to Obama, Clinton had loaned her campaign 5 million dollars to her fight for the presidency.

With only six races left in the campaign for the Democratic nomination, Wolfson conceded that Clinton, 60, needs 'to do well in West Virginia' against the African-American senator from Illinois next Tuesday.

But Wolfson insisted that Clinton's win in Indiana showed again her ability to appeal to the 'working class voters that often abandon the Democratic Party' and who are needed to beat Republican Senator John McCain, 71, in November 4 general elections.

'The fact that she won Indiana at all shows ... she is able to win in Senator Obama's backyard,' Wolfson said. Obama's home state is neighbouring Illinois, and Obama himself in weeks past had called the Indiana outcome a 'tiebreaker.'

Some of the country's top elected Democratic delegates, who could have the final say in the nomination, are clearly worried how Clinton and Obama, 46, will manage the final phase in one of the country's longest party nomination battles in history.

South Carolina Representative James Clyburn, the country's highest-ranking elected black official as majority whip in the House of Representatives, continued to sit on the fence Wednesday, insisting he would remain 'neutral.'

Clyburn seemed to relish the prospect of the continuing battle, answering a reporter's question about whether Clinton should drop out of the race with 'absolutely not!'

He said the Obama-Clinton match has kept voters engaged in the all-important decisions about Democratic battles for state legislatures, other state offices and US Congress that are also on the ballot in many states.

But he warned that a conciliatory tone in the coming six contests was key to keeping the party together as Obama and Clinton supporters make increasing threats that they would rather vote for McCain in November or not vote at all if their candidate is denied the nomination.

'The person who comes in second has the ability to keep everyone together,' Clyburn said. 'The way the candidates conduct themselves in the final weeks is key to keeping people on board.'

Clinton's campaign aide Wolfson repeated his candidate's vow to have the Michigan and Florida delegates seated at the national party convention in August in Denver, Colorado. The Democratic National Committee is to meet May 30 and 31 to decide whether to seat the delegates, after it had barred their participation because the two states held their primaries earlier than dictated by the national party.

Clinton had a strong showing in both primaries, even though she abided by party rules and did not campaign there. However, in Michigan her name was the only one among the major Democratic candidates to appear on the ballot.

But Wolfson also conceded it will be a tough fight, with Clinton still lagging in the overall delegate count.

'I don't know how this is going to play out' until its over, Wolfson said.

In the quest for the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the Democratic nomination, Obama led by 1,743 to 1,606 for Clinton before Tuesday's result, according to a count by website realclearpolitics.com. North Carolina had 115 and Indiana 72 delegates up for grabs.

With only 200 delegates left in the six electoral contests remaining after Tuesday, both campaigns have turned to persuading nearly 300 undecided super-delegates - Democratic elected officials and party leaders - who could still potentially swing the nomination in either candidate's favour.