The Morning Roundup

Fox News's "Fox and Friends"

Robert Novak, on McCain's chances in a "bad year for Republicans": "It's not a bad year, a horrible year. They lost another Republican seat. ... For McCain to be hanging around about even with Obama means that Obama is a really weak candidate. I think he's a weaker candidate than Hillary. I didn't think so at first. ... Because he should be way ahead of McCain right now, who is not running a terrific campaign, who has not solidified his conservative base. But there's a lot of opposition, a lot of suspicion of Obama. ... [Clinton] looks like she's a stronger candidate against McCain, but they cannot nominate her. She's not going to get nominated, because in the first place they risk alienating the African American vote."

On a McCain running mate: "Well, he's gotta name somebody who's younger than he is, which isn't hard at all. And he's gotta name somebody who's more conservative than he is, which isn't hard either. ... The names that I hear talked about...is Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota, and they talk about Rob Portman, the former congressman, former Bush cabinet member from Ohio."

Former Florida Democratic Party Chair Scott Maddox, on superdelegates not announcing yet: "A lot of folks are just watching this thing all the way 'til the end." On the West Virginia primary: "It changed my mind with the fact that I think she should stay in the race." On Clinton possibly hurting party: "Absolutely. That's the problem. I noticed a different tenor in her speech last night. If you watch Senator Obama...he's already gearing toward the general election. As long as Senator Clinton does the same, we'll be okay as a party."

*Fox News noted that 10 years ago today, "Seinfeld" aired its final episode.

MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

Tucker Carlson: "What does it say that voters in West Virginia consciously voted for a loser?" On Jeremiah Wright affecting Obama down the line: "Of course it's going to play a role. ... This is a huge issue, fair or unfair. ... But this will resonate from now until the first week of November." On Democrats' leg up in the general: "Any Democrat is favored to win. Dennis Kucinich would be favored to win if he were the nominee. It's just one of those years. ... I just think that this candidate, Barack Obama, the most impressive guy I've ever watched, is actually weaker than we're giving him credit for being. ... It doesn't mean he's going to lose. ... But he is not as strong as he seems to be."

Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson, on the math: "Let's talk about the math of a 40-point win in West Virginia -- that's a lot of math. ... We had a huge turnout...and they voted overwhelmingly for Senator Clinton, despite the fact that they were told this race was over. We think this race has got a lot more life in it, and we're going to go the distance." On Kentucky and Oregon: "I don't concede Oregon. ... Senator Obama is favored there, the polls show that. The polls show us with a narrower lead in Kentucky than West Virginia." On a transformation of Clinton in the last few months: "The process is, I think, helpful. I mean, it's a long process, it's probably too long a process. But it does give you a sense of these people as they evolve and grow over time, throughout the process in front of our eyes."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: "I think this primary has been wonderful for the party and great for the country. ... We've got about two or three more weeks, and it will all be over with." On the tension in the Senate for Clinton if she loses nomination: "This isn't the first time we've had a senator that didn't come out right in the campaign for president. ... The Senate is a real family, it really is."

NBC's "TODAY"

Andrea Mitchell on Clinton's victory speech: "She was feisty, she was defiant...told her supporters she's more defiant than ever to stay in this race until it's over...She is saying she's in it until June 3."

Tim Russert: "It's a massive victory, it doesn't change the map." On why West Virginia didn't unite behind the presumptive Democratic nominee: "No one is saying to Hillary Clinton 'Get out of the race,' they are saying 'the math doesn't add up.'" On whether the results spell problems for Obama in November: "It raises real concerns, it highlights vulnerabilities for Barack Obama...He will. keep his focus on Oregon this week, three-fourths of his message is going to be directed at John McCain."

ABC's "Good Morning America"

George Stephanopoulos on the impact of Clinton's win, "It's a big boost for Senator Clinton, big psychological boost...the problem is it doesn't change the fundamental math...Of everything at stake he only needs a third of the remaining delegates, the math is still working for him...She's running what they call the 'Eleanor Roosevelt strategy,' she's talking to all the women out there who've been supporting her and saying she's going to stay in the race for them." On exit polls showing only 3 in 10 white voters would vote for Obama over McCain, "This shows a real problem for Barack Obama, these are white working class Democrats who say in a general election, we're not going to go for you."

Watch the video here.

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Roundup)



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