Clinton is making a big push in RI

A report that her campaign is prepared to face the end (knocked down here) and the jumping of her superdelegates to Barack Obama notwithstanding, Hillary Clinton is making a stepped-up effort to win Rhode Island's March 4 primary. Case in point: an additional campaign event tomorrow, in addition to a fundraiser at the home of US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and her afternoon speaking appearance at Rhode Island College:

Senator Clinton will discuss with patients, nurses, and doctors their struggles with the health care system and her plan for bringing health care to every Rhode Islander. The roundtable discussion will take place at 5:00 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. Due to limited space, this event is not open to the public.

Sunday, February 24

Doors Open: 3:30 p.m. EST
Event Begins: 5:00 p.m. EST
Hillary Clinton Hosts a Health Care Roundtable
El Paisa Restaurant
598 Dexter Street
Central Falls, RI

This event is a three-fer for Clinton: 1) It allows her to be empathetic and to focus on her strong knowledge of health-care issues; 2) Staging the event in predominantly Latino Central Falls, at a Latino restaurant, is a not-so-subtle effort to win Rhode Island's coveted Latino vote; 3) In addition to points 1 and 2, the event is meant to gin up her support among working-class Rhode Islanders, some of whom have a sharp dislike for Obama.

Obviously, if Clinton can win Ohio and Rhode Island on March 4, winning two out of four would be much better than one out of four, and it would allow her to claim a tie coming out of the day. Texas is a dead heat at the moment, Clinton leads in Ohio, and Vermont is leaning for Obama.

While a poll cited on this blog earlier today showed Clinton to be holding an eight-point lead over Obama, there is no guarantee that this will hold up. Obama has broad support in this one-time bastion of Clinton support, so Hillary is wise to leave no stone unturned during her visit tomorrow.