First and most importantly - this was to say thanks and give us an update as to what's going on with the campaign.  AND to make it crystal clear that she's still out there fighting for the right to represent our party in the general election - to go up against John McCain and win this thing for us so we see a Democrat being sworn in next January.

She started out by telling us how grateful she is for our support on line, and for all of our efforts on her behalf.  She said this is an incredibly important election and that there's so much at stake after 7 and a half years of Bush's presidency.  She said our voices make a real difference.

We engage others here.

We make the case for her here on the blogs.

We help get her message out and none of that is lost on her.

She talked about how she's still out there campaigning in the upcoming states.  She's in Oregon now and was getting ready to take part in a town hall event hosted by KGW Newschannel 8 in Portland, OR.  This was originally presented by KGW as a debate to both Hillary and Obama, but he declined as he has for any recent suggestion of a face to face debate with Hillary.  Hillary - always ready to face off in these events, accepted the invitation and as a result of her readiness to discuss the issues, will have a full hour of air time with undecided voters in Portland.  She seemed to be really looking forward to that event.

She also reminded us of something that's been mentioned a few times here on the blogs, but that we're not seeing all that much of on the teevee, and that's that they've finally acknowledged that - after her BLOWOUT of a win in WV (my word not hers - hey she won by 41% of the vote!) she's retaken the lead in the popular vote.

By some 50,000 votes.

She hopes to finish out the primaries on June 3rd with that lead intact.  I think she'll pull it off too (especially if her supporters get out there and make calls, knock on doors and help get her supporters to the polls).

She said she's determined to continue doing all she can to make sure that the people's wishes are carried out by seating all the delegates from Michigan (my home state) and Florida.  It's hard to believe that the rules trump our long-held dedication to including as many folks in the electoral process as possible.

She also noted that - as of her big win in West Virginia, she's won states that represent 300 electoral votes.  Her opponent has racked up wins in states holding 217 electoral votes, and that his were won in states that are about as red as you can get.  She has a cushion - he has a significant deficit

In other words gang...

IT'S THE  MAP - NOT THE MATH!

We need to focus and ask ourselves one simple question - who is the strongest candidate against John McCain in the fall.  She said that she will win, whereas her opponent could win the fight against McCain.

This next bit is for the rest of you Hillary fans out on the blogs - folks who've taken the heat out here on her behalf.  She said she deeply regrets the insults that we've had to put up with in supporting her - and that she appreciates all our efforts gang.  She said this too shall pass, and noted that it's a perverse form of flattery when they spend that much time and energy trying to tear us down, when what we need to be doing is trying to figure out how to swear in a Democrat on January 20th.

So take heart my friends

Then they took questions from a few of us and in response to one from another blogger (Armando I think) she pointed out that in states where they held caucuses and then primaries, Obama took the states in the caucuses by large margins - and the press and media covered them big-time.  But later when they held primaries in Nebraska and Washington, where she didn't spend a dime or campaign at all, the vote was within 2 or 3 points.  Jeralyn has more info on those primaries HERE.

I was lucky enough to ask a question.  The minute I said "Hi Senator, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today, my name is Alegre..." she seemed to recognize me right off the bat and had a warm "Hello! How are you?" for me as I swung into my comment / question.  

I told her that I'm sure I speak for millions of her supporters when I say that we're in this fight as long as she is, and that I hope she takes this all the way to the convention.  We need to hold a vote so people go on record and tell the world where they stand.

I also told her that Michigan and Florida are a priority for me and my family back in Michigan, and that we're doing all we can to lobby for the seating of ALL of the delegates from those states.  That I'd be there with my two young children, asking the Rules Committee to make sure Grandma's vote is counted and that her voice is heard.

Hillary thanked me for my attention to MI & FL and talked about the importance of making sure everyone's voice is heard.  Gang it was as if we were just chatting away on the phone.  I wasn't the least bit nervous.  I followed up and told her that in the 24 years I've been in DC, and of all the candidates I've volunteered for over the past 35 years, SHE is by far the most inspiring.

I knew there were other folks on the call and that I'd probably rattled on long enough so I didn't say half of the things I wanted to say.  

I was fortunate enough to shake her hand before and you think of all the things you want to say leading up the event - just in case you got the chance.  Like thanking her for all of her hard work over the years on behalf of special needs kids, or for the amazing example she sets for our daughters by shattering that toughest and last glass ceiling.  

Of course when the big moment finally arrives and you're face to face with someone you've admired for years all you can think to say is "hi yeah I'm Alegre and I write stuff about you and your campaign on the blogs" Duhhhh!

Never as eloquent as you want to be right?

So if you're reading this Hillary, please know how much your work on behalf of working families like mine means to me.  That your work on behalf of children with special needs has changed the lives of millions of kids and their families for the better.  And that the example you're setting today - in this fight will change the lives for girls like my daughter for the better - and forever.

Please don't ever let up.  Keep fighting for us and we'll keep fighting for you.  Because I think you understand like no one else just how much we need you in that Oval Office.  You'll do great things once you reach 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  And we'll do all we can to help you get there.  

By the way gang - if you want to see her win this thing... well you know what to do!