Clinton fails to congratulate Obama after second election night in a row

Via CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby: "For the second election night in a row, Hillary Clinton failed to acknowledge or congratulate Barack Obama after he won the day in dominating fashion."

"On Tuesday in El Paso, hours after Virginia had been called for Obama, she stuck to her 'Texas campaign kickoff' message and did not stray from an energetic, Lone Star-themed stump speech," Hamby wrote. "She did mention Obama by name, only to chide his health care plan.

"On Saturday night in Richmond, Virginia, Clinton spoke to a crowd of thousands at the states annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner, but she ignored Obamas quartet of blowout primary and caucus wins that day as well (Obama also won the Maine caucuses the next day)," he added.

Extending a courtesy call to the victor is common practice for presidential primaries as well as the general election. Hamby notes that Clinton congratulated Obama and John Edwards after their first and second place finishes respectively in Iowa. Obama lauded Clinton for her victory in Obama.

But it appears, as of now, that tradition is done.

Or is it?

"You go on," Clinton said Wednesday, one day after suffering lopsided losses to rival Barack Obama in Maryland, Virginia and Maryland. "Some weeks one of us is up and the other is down, and then we reverse it. ... It's a long and winding road."

Speaking to reporters after a rally with hundreds of supporters in a convention center here, she acknowledged Obama's victories, something she did not mention at a huge rally in El Paso Tuesday night.

"I want to congratulate Senator Obama on his recent victories and tell him to meet me in Texas," she said. "We're ready."

Following his Tuesday victories, Obama now has a 26 delegate lead over Clinton  1,224 to 1,198, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press.

(with wire reports)



