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Clinton says she's like Rocky, won't quit race

BY CRAIG GORDON | craig.gordon@newsday.com

April 2, 2008

WASHINGTON - Maybe she forgot how the movie ends.

Hillary Rodham Clinton Tuesday compared herself to fictional Philadelphia fighter Rocky Balboa -- invoking that famous underdog's never-say-die spirit to say she won't cut short her presidential bid.

"Let me tell you something, when it comes to finishing a fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit. I never give up. And neither do the American people," Clinton told a meeting Tuesday of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

Clinton has come under growing pressure in recent days to quit her nomination quest in the face of rival Barack Obama's lead among delegates, as Democratic bigwigs fret about a fractured party.

But Team Clinton has rejected such entreaties -- husband and former President Bill Clinton told Democrats to "chill out" and let the voters decide. Pennsylvania's primary is April 22.

Clinton compared ending her campaign to the famous scene of Rocky jogging up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

"Can you imagine if Rocky Balboa had gotten halfway up those art museum steps and said, 'Well, I guess that's about far enough,'" she said.

Never mind that in the movie "Rocky," a badly outmatched Rocky Balboa has a gutty performance but ultimately loses the championship fight. Also put aside that "Rocky" writer-actor Sylvester Stallone likes Republican John McCain.

In her speech, Clinton promised to create 3 million new jobs as president through investments in public infrastructure like roads and bridges.

Meanwhile, Clinton's campaign manager, Maggie Williams, compared calls for Clinton to end her campaign to the Florida recount in 2000, an episode that still infuriates many Democrats.

For his part, Obama said he won't add to the Clinton-should-quit chorus. "Senator Clinton should stay in the race as long as she wants," he said.