Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Rodham Clinton (web|news|bio) urged cheering supporters on Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast. The former first lady declared she would move forward with her campaign and insisted anew that she, not rival Barack Obama (web|news|bio) , would be the stronger Democratic candidate to face Republican John McCain (web|news|bio) in November. At a rally under the dome of the West Virginia Capitol, Clinton dismissed calls for her to drop out, calling the situation "deja vu." She said she had faced similar pressure before going on to win New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

"I'm running to be president of all 50 states," Clinton said to cheers. "I think we ought to keep this going so the people of West Virginia's voices are heard."

In contrast to the confrontational comments she made in speeches leading up to recent primaries, Clinton's only mention of Obama was to say next Tuesday's election would be a test for her and the Illinois senator. She did highlight her strengths with various voting blocs through the primaries, an implicit comparison with her Democratic foe. She said the states she has won and the voters she has attracted are essential if the party is to beat McCain and claim the White House.

"We need to bring back hard-working people to the Democratic Party," the New York senator said. "I'm winning Catholic voters and Hispanic voters, blue-collar workers and seniors. People Sen. McCain will need in the general election."

She added, "Some call you swing voters. I call you Americans."

Exit polls in Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday showed Clinton continuing to dominate Obama in attracting support from whites, particularly white men, and voters who lack college degrees. An average of 57 percent of whites have backed the New York senator in Democratic primaries since Super Tuesday on Feb. 5.

West Virginia's demographic makeup of white, older voters favors Clinton. During her appearance Thursday, she offered the same populist pitch she began making in the closing days before Indiana and North Carolina.

She renewed her call for a summertime holiday for the federal gasoline tax, with oil companies making up the difference, a proposal that many many economists - and Obama - have dismissed as a meaningless pander.

The West Virginia rally was the first event in Clinton's exceptionally busy campaign schedule Thursday. She also planned appearances in South Dakota and Oregon.

Written By BETH FOUHY

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