Los Angeles: Hillary Clinton has insisted she could still win the Democratic nomination, and ducked a question on whether she had predicted her rival Barack Obama could not capture the White House.

"I know I can win, that's why I do this every day," Clinton told reporters after landing in Burbank, California, on a fundraising trip.

"I am in it to win it, and I intend to do just that." Clinton also sidestepped questions about a report that she had personally told New Mexico governor Bill Richardson that Obama could not win the presidency, before he endorsed the Illinois senator last month.

ABC News cited sources with direct knowledge of the conversation as saying " Barack Obama cannot win Bill, Barack Obama cannot win."

Clinton said she would not talk about private conversations, but if true, the report would signal that her camp is now making blunt arguments to top party figures about Obama's prospects in November's general election.

Richardson is one of nearly 800 Democratic superdelegates, party officials who will decide the nomination, as neither candidate can now reach the 2,025 threshold of elected delegates in their intense nominating fight.

"I have consistently made the case that I can win, because I believe I can win," Clinton said. "Sometimes people draw the conclusion I am saying somebody else can't win."

Clinton aides said their camp was not arguing Obama would lose a general election to Republican John McCain, but cited matchup polls, which had her running strongest against him in bellweather states Florida and Ohio.

Source : PTI