Prominent Clinton Supporter Thinks Obama Will Win The Nomination

Political Wire:

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton, spoke at St. Mary's college in Maryland last week and offered a very frank assessment of the state of the Clinton campaign. A Political Wire reader emails a summary:

"Townsend said she expects Sen. Barack Obama to win the Democratic presidential nomination and that Clinton is finished. She believed that the Wisconsin results demonstrated that Clinton's coalition (voters over the age of 50 and those earning less than $50,000) had fallen apart. When asked why the Clinton campaign had failed, Ms. Townsend had plenty of opinions and she placed significant blame on Bill Clinton and his racially tinged statements in South Carolina. She also felt that Clinton made a tactical error in making "experience and inevitability" her central campaign themes. Townsend argued that Clinton had little more experience than Obama and far less than candidates such as Senators Dodd and Biden. Additionally, making the inevitability claim hurt her when she lost Iowa... Townsend then lamented Clinton's decision to go negative and question Obama's readiness. She said that she called the Clinton campaign and advised that they 'go out on a high note' but her advice was politely dismissed."

Read the whole story: Political Wire

Comments

[gnoice]

Fluffy as it may sound: I hope, in spite of the divisiveness of the comments posted on all these blogs, that we all come together regardless of the outcome and work together to get the Dem party in office. May the best person - or the one whom we decide for - win!

[Suprshrink]

I could not disagree more. As a Kennedy, perhaps she feels she must side with Obama through the back door. I don't think Clinton should "back out" gracefully or otherwise. Many of us have supported her emotionally and financially and I for one do not believe that she is out of gas. Perhaps Obama should consider giving up his race to the White House.

[swdemocratforchange]

Are you kidding....Kathleen Kennedy Townsend has been one of Hillary's more ardent supporters and even she can read the writing on the wall!!!! She's been on MSNBC a bunch of times talking about Hillary's achievements and plans for America.....but America is speaking and you're not listening and neither is Hillary!

[NikkiT]

KKT should be ashamed of herself. With supporters like these, who needs enemies.

Her own Uncle Teddy had no problem fighting all the way to the delegation floor to try and strip Carter of his nomination.

Hillary Clinton needs to stay in this race to give those of us that HATE barack hussein obama a choice.

Why should she drop out?

If she does, then women like me will simply re-register as republicans and support mccain.

I say stay and fight Hillary, fight for the sake of the party.

America needs to know the truth about BHO and the media has not done it's job exposing his ties to Nation of Islam and Ralia Odinga, not to mention the Tony Rezko debacle.

Once the media is done tearing him apart over that - we will all be wishing we had Hillary back.

[rich3324]

You just don't get it, do you? Put down the big gulp troll and back away from the computer.

[nailohi]

Please, reregister as a repub, and don't let the door hit you on your hate-filled way out!!!!!!!!

[OneAmerica]

Have you seen her when she's angry? I wouldn't want to say anything but yes either.

Reminds me of the movie, Devil wears Prada!

[Mollye]

This does not speak well for KKT. What a turncoat.

[lilibet]

Agreed! Is KKT caving into her uncle and her cousins? That sort of attitude is what destroys campaigns. She would be a little more plausible if she would be out in TEXAS campaigning for Hillary like her uncle is doing in Texas for Obama.

I have to say, I'm really disappointed in Kathleen.
I visited her father's office when he was Attorney General and I admired one of Kathleen's childhood drawings that hung on the wall behind RFK's desk.

[Lostskeleton]

From one bad campaign to another. KKT ran for Governor of Maryland and lost to Erlich. She ignored the black vote in vote rich PG County (my county) and put some old ex-Republican on her ticket. She didn't even go to PG until 3 days before the election. The Black vote was depressed and we got 4 years of Erlich. Thank God O'Malley learned that lesson. I liked KKT and voted for her but she ran an awlful campaign just like Hillary has. So Hillary should listen to one who knows.

[ButterflyWeed]

HRC's campaign started out on the wrong foot by spinning *high negatives* into a positive *most experienced*. Average voters replied, "if that's the code talk, we'll go for the new guy."

A year later, she still still struggles with her own high negative ratings. Who said, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted?"

[SeanGardner]

Its over.

[brooklyncitizen]

"This must be the first presidential candidate in history to devote so much energy to preaching against optimism, against inspiring language and — talk about bizarre — against democracy itself. No sooner does Mrs. Clinton lose a state than her campaign belittles its voters as unrepresentative of the country. "

Frank Rich editorial on NYTimes...great read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24rich.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[jsinclair]

I disagree with Rich about Bill's role--I think Hillary has been incompetent even without his bumbling. And toward the end he, imo, unfairly diminishes Obama's real skillset.

But, overall, yes. Brilliant editorial by Rich. He nails it.

[snowcat]

excellent aritcle:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-vogel/the-clinton-meltdown_b_88211.html

[DoninJoisey]

I am not one of those calling for the Clintons to pack it in (well, I do feel Bill should shut up) - it is their right to pursue their dream - but I am disturbed by the depths they've stooped to.
I am glad the usual smear crap doesn't seem to be working this time - that must drive them nuts!
She's screaming - "who do you believe, what I'm telling you, or my record?"

[petethexman]

The sole reason that the mudslinging politics as usual isn't working is that Barack Obama simply refuses to acknowledge it. There were times during the debate in Austin TX when I was screaming at the TV to deliver a knock-out punch, but he wouldn't. In response to the "all hat, no cattle" remarks -- as well as the "change you can Xerox" slur --he could have dispatched of both by saying, "Well here's an original quote you can use: 'It's time for more cattle, less hat . . . and no more of this BULL.'"

In the political races I was involved with in my life, I chose to stick to issues and not be drawn into the cheap-shot politics as usual. But Barck Obama is doing that while running for the presidency. Of course his candidacy is one of monumental historic significance, but the most important aspect of his success might very well be the fact that he can win without having to resort to cheap shots. It could very well be a turning point in our democracy. I just hope that Clinton is talked into quitting with grace and not destroying Obama and with it our chances of retaking our democracy.

[vsign]

Kathleen - Obama won Winconsin because there was same day registration. It was also an open primary for republicans and independents to vote democratic. Same day, remember. Obama is scamming the system within the democratic party.

Obama also did a tour of all the mega-churches and his youth movement are christian right fanatics turned Obama-mites. All the churches in Winconsin played a significant role in Obama's win there.

Obama is a tele-evangelist, unpatriotic and a woosee!

[slow2]

vsign,

Wrong, on all counts.

Obama is not a televangelist; he is in fact a great speaker who can speak at rallies, at churches, on the floor of the Senate.

If you have issues with churches, and with those who speak in churches, then you might not be particularly happy with Billary and their ingratiating themselves in the African American churches. Which they do.

Don't know how you define patriotism -- perhaps you use the same definition as Cheney and Bush -- and am not sure that "woosee" is a word with any definition.

At any rate you need to do some interviews with old, young, black and white non-religious and religious persons who are working in their towns and neighborhoods to elect Obama.

You might learn something about people and politics.

[jsinclair]

He's none of the things you claim.

Take a look at Frank Rich's editorial (also linked above). Warning: the truth hurts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24rich.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I love how Rich points out the media has gone EASY on Clinton (not harping on her missing tax returns or donor list like they did the phony "plagiarism" charge).

Or how they relentlessly portrayed Giuliani as a "loser" for 6 losses, yet keep spinning Hillary ready for a comeback and nomination after 11 straight losses.

CNN played endless clip of her speeches all weekend, calling her "Senator" Clinton and only occasionally mentioning "Barack" Obama.

[lilibet]

Obviously uninformed. The media made your leader,Obama, their Crown Prince in Waiting after Iowa, They have been since then promoting their CHOSEN ONE, and like you, denigrating Senator Clinton.

[stoprollingover]

Totally free ride for Clinton on the television today.

[OneAmerica]

Winning with Republicans and Independents? Sounds like a great General election strategy.

[chin075]

Unpatriotic? You wouldn't happen to get your clues on how to attack Obama from the media, Hillary's and McCain's campaign, do you?

[lilibet]

AMEN to that!

Republicans, knowing they already have their candidate, are voting in droves, as in Wisconsin for Obama because they think he will be easier to beat in November.
That is why I fear so much for Texas.

[ajbb]

She is not a true supporter to do this. This is obviously her attempt to get on what she believes is the winning side. A true friend and supporter would not do this at this time. She is showing her true character and I would say this no matter who she had originally supported.

[AgathaX]

By this definition I think Hillary will find that she can count her true supporters on her fingers and toes.

[lilibet]

Go to hillayclinton.com and see if you still believe that.

[BrooklynLager]

There's nothing in her statement that isn't completely correct though.

[slow2]

BL,

As usual, good observation and quite positive. Ms Townsend did state the obvious, but, she was accurate; maybe b/c of her experience (oh lord the E word again...).

[chin075]

A true friend wouldn't tell you when you're sinking and making a fool of yourself? Sounds to me like the opposite would be the case. Plus, I didn't see anything in the post about her trying to join the Obama camp and pretend she'd never endorsed Hillary. Kathleen was simply observing what she saw... ah, forget it. People will always read into things whatever they wanna read into them, regardless of what's actually there...

[UNCLEJOE]

Hillary voted for Iraq War. That's enough to disqualify her to any public office.

[chin075]

She didn't vote for the "war", per se... she voted to authorize the use of force. And only because she was hoping it wouldn't be used. Or that it would be used, but not in a war. Or that, if a war was waged, it would be fought the right way. Or maybe... ahhh, forget it.

[lilibet]

Get your facts straight. Just because your leader says so, doesn't make it so. Find her speech to the Senate Floor October 10, 2002 and find out what she really voted for.
I'd quote it for you, but my cat's sleeping on one of my arms, so its a little difficult typing with one hand. Make an effort and find out for yourself.

[Jedi007]

I was a John Edwards supporter (still am). At least he exited with class and didn't employ a scorched earth policy. The Hillary machine is feeding lines to McBush and Barack will have to defend against them. I think most Edwards supporters have moved directly to Obama. The way Hillary has been acting makes me think she needs to be checked for a bipolar disorder. One day it is one thing and the next is something else. For a while I thought she had improved from her past...

[BeeOplentee]

No, Hillary isn't suffering from bipolar disorder. She is merely acting like a female. That's how they act.

[lilibet]

That is the MOST HONEST SEXIST STATEMENT I have as yet read.