House Speaker Thomas Foley rejected what some have called the "new math" of the three-way presidential race, saying Democrats should build a broad-based coalition capable of securing a majority of the vote.

Foley, D-Wash., appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," also defended Democratic presidential contender Bill Clinton after the Arkansas governor angered some party leaders by criticizing a black rap singer for her remarks on the Los Angeles riots."I'd aim at getting 51 percent of the vote. You do that through a broad coalition of Democratic supporters," Foley said. "We've had over the years a whole host of people that made up the Democratic Party. It's not one factor, one wing, one segment. It's a very broad coalition but it's a majority coalition in my view and should be."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said the "new math" of a three-way presidential race meant the party might only need 34 to 40 percent of the vote to win, making the traditional Democratic base of support more important than ever in securing the presidency.

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