The American Spectator

Mark Penn, Clinton’s chief strategist, seemed to be suggesting this in remarks he made in the spin room following the debate.

“We’re looking to be successful in both [Ohio and Texas], and we’re going to the convention,” Penn said. He reiterated later, “If we’re successful here, it will be a tremendous reversal of the momentum you’ve seen.”

I asked Penn if by “successful” he meant winning Ohio and Texas.

“Well, let’s see, you know, there are many ways to judge success,” he replied.

For a follow-up, I asked him whether he would set the bar for success ahead of time. Otherwise, whatever Clinton does, the campaign can go back after the fact and argue that it was a “success.”

Penn moved the goal post further. “Well, you know, this process doesn’t end with these states, it continues on to 16 states,” he said.

But whatever her goals in the short- or long-term, Clinton didn’t help herself Tuesday night.