Mason City, IA - Barack Obama's leadership team was in Iowa this weekend. They're plotting a strategy for a general-election campaign. A growing number of people are asking if it's time for his opponent to go. Democrat Hillary Clinton is in West Virginia, rallying support for this Tuesday's primary. Even with a win, the delegate numbers do not favor her winning the nomination. Senator Clinton's supporters are urging her not to bow out of the race. But many are concerned: is there a risk of damaging party unity and hurting the eventual nominees chances this fall?
KIMT News 3 spoke with several people who voted in Iowa's January caucus. Since then most of them have closely followed the race between Clinton and Obama and many of those first voters said they don't think the party will suffer if the campaign continues.
Clinton and Obama are both Democrats, but that's where the similarity ends for many voters
"He says we need to change the way people see us," said Andrew Hampton of Barack Obama.
"She's smart, she knows what she's doing, and she'll be for the people," said Carol Joyce of her candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Who ever they're for, supporters are passionate about their candidates and their differences.
"I certainly did, I caucused for Obama," said Hampton proudly.
"I'll vote for Hillary Clinton," proclaimed Joyce.
Clinton placed third in Iowa to Obama and has run a strong race ever since, but are the delegate numbers impossibly stacked against Hillary Clinton's quest for her party's presidential nomination? Should she step down?
"I don't think she should back out, because she'll make a good president," said Joyce.
But if there isn't a graceful exit strategy, some worry the democratic party could be dangerously divided.
"A lot of people have expressed anxiety to the possibility that were creating division namely between those who have supported Barak and those who have supported Hillary," said Hampton.
Yet Hampton doesn't see a parting of the party as a real possibility because he believes most Democrats will unify behind one of the candidates for November.
"Who ever comes out we will support them 100%," said Hampton.
"I would vote for Obama, if I had to," admitted Joyce with a laugh.
Political experts worry that important time and firepower that could be trained on Republican John Mccain is being wasted in this long primary fight. The Democrats we talked to seem unconcerned and they still have a favorite for the oval office.
"Well, I think Clinton will take it over. She's for the poor people as well as for everyone else," said Joyce.
"We will appreciate this smile and the man behind this smile and say, "we're ready,"" said Hampton while holding a picture of Obama.
Very few Democrats we spoke with said they'd consider voting for Republican John McCain if their chosen candidate didn't get the Democratic nomination.
