Clinton prepares to claim momentum from Florida victory  All major cable networks have now called the Democratic contest for Senator Hillary Clinton. But the Obama campaign remained dismissive of Clinton's proffered victory.
Watchers of the Democratic contest in Florida have spoken of a "shadow campaign." Because the state's delegation to the Democratic National Convention has been voided for breaking party rules about the order of the primaries, the Democratic candidates were not permitted to campaign in the state. But Senator Hillary Clinton has trumpeted victory in the state after polls closed, noting high turnout among the state's Democratic voters.
But Obama surrogates were dismissive of Clinton claiming any boost from the state's contest.
"Speaking as somebody who's been through this process and won the Democratic nomination I know that what this race is about and what it is ultimately about is delegates," said Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in a conference call hosted by the Obama campaign earlier on Tuesday. "Delegates is what senator Clinton and her campaign have described it as being about, certainly that's the fight that most people are saying it is framed as today."
Kerry added, "The bottom line is that Florida doesn't offer any delegates, it is not a legitimate race, it should not become a spin race, it should not become a fabricated race."
Still, Clinton is trying to create some artificial momentum heading into Super Duper Tuesday to cancel out the boost Senator Barack Obama received from his win in South Carolina.
Clinton appeared in south Florida on stage with local surrogates such as Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and Senator Bill Nelson. Declaring victory, she promised to have the state's delegates seated at the DNC this summer.
 
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