Hillary Clinton: Barack Obama Can't Win

UPDATE: Mark Halperin is reporting comments from an anonymous Clinton official:

"Bill Richardson is clearly embarrassed that he broke his promise to them. He should come out and tell the truth and admit that he told both Clintons that Obama wasn't ready and can't win."

ABC News reports:

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Bill Clinton are making very direct arguments to Democratic superdelegates, starkly insisting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., cannot win a general election against presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Sources with direct knowledge of the conversation between Sen. Clinton and Governer Bill Richardson, D-N.M., prior to the Governor's endorsement of Obama say she told him flatly, "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win."

Keep reading.

Watch the segment from ABC News.

Comments

[standforpeace]

Definition of a hater -- someone who stands around loudly proclaiming (or sneakily whispering) that you can't win even while you're busy doing it.

[cadbury]

People seem to totally forget that primaries are light years away from the general election. Anyone remember Ned Lamont? He beat Lieberman in the CT primary and then got killed by him in the general. Same principle applies here...Just because Obama wins the primary does not mean he is necessarily able to win the general. Liberals love him. Independents and moderate Dems/Repubs are turned off by the whole Wright thing. It's very possible (maybe even likely?) that Obama will be the next Humphrey/McGovern/Mondale/Dukakis/Kerry. And that would be a terrible shame.

Sadly, Clinton herself is now damaged goods as well. However, IMHO Clinton/Obama definitely would still be hard to beat. (Obama/Clinton might work, but probably not as well.)

[MichaelTenery]

This is a projection. Most polls show he picks up independents and even republicans but Hillary does not.

[Lap48]

As you've noted, the same applies to Hillary. Centrist Dems in Ohio and Pennsylvania may love her but will Inds and Reps show her the same love?

It doesn't look good. Most Repubs detest Sen. Clinton and as other posters have made the point,, will be stoked to turn out against her in a general election...especially, now that she's gone so scorched earth that her negatives are even higher than they have been. The Inds who've voted in the open Primaries favour Obama. There's a split between the two when it comes to Inds who've switched to the Dems (Repubs who've switched favour Obama).

Upshot: her chances are even "worse"--if you buy this whole doomsday dem scenario--than Obama's. So, if you're going to go down with the [electoral] ship you might as well do it knowing you've got young, enthusiastic supporters to man other electoral vessels.

You want to know what I think? I think Repubs fear the Wild Card that is Obama's general election candidacy [hence, all this trollery here and on other liberal blogs like salon and dailykos to discourage Dem turnout in the fall].

[Lap48]

(conclusion)
I think the Clinton campaign apparatus, besides its inherent "old politics" cynicism, has no faith in the American people, the American people who've turned out in droves to energise the Dem Primary season and are hobbled by their own views of race and change....which is ironic, really, since both Clintons and many people in their organisation are boomers who came of age in the sixties debunking the Old Guard [now termed the "Greatest Generation"] for their hidebound views and refusal to hope.

Know what's funny? Your hybrid, especially with Clinton on the top of the ticket. By the analyses we've each brought to the table, that baby (in either variation) would be like putting lipstick on a pig.

[Lap48]

Sorry, "the American people who've turned out in droves to energise the Dem Primary season and are hobbled by their own views of race and change" should read "the American people who've turned out in droves to energise the Dem Primary season, and are hobbled by their own views of race and change..."

Ahhh, for want of a comma.

[dawlishgal]

Lamont lost the general election because the Republican Party in CT endorsed Lieberman (his reward for having been a Republican wolf in sheep's clothing and Wm. F. Buckley's personal choice to get revenge on Wiecker for being too liberal). And what Democrats still voted for Lieberman did so because he played a role in keeping the military bases there from closing. It is too bad he still has six-plus years to go, because I doubt that the Democrats who voted for him would do it again any time soon.

Of course, Obama could lose because the Democratic Party might endorse McCain, but how likely is that?

[profmsf]

Then I guess McCain is a shoe-in because HRC's McCain-lite act won't work. The Hanoi Hilton will top Tuzla Airport 100% of the time. Win or lose, Obama will have long coattails, largely because of the fundraising he will bring to all levels of the party. Even when Bill was in offfice, the Clinton coattails looked more like tank tops.

[dawlishgal]

NO coattails at all, and before two years had passed, the Clintons lost congress.

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Hmmmmm, I wonder who this "annonymous Clinton official" might be? Chelsea?

But it doesn't matter WHAT BILL RICHARDSON TOLD HILLARY...he said after listening to Barack Obama's speech "A more perfect Union" that is what helped make up his mind. and now he is supporting him as a Super Delegate (along with a whole bunch more)!

[za2008]

*** ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS COMMENT ***:

- Is it a prediction:

Barack Obama Cannot Win = Barack Obama WILL NOT Win

- or an expression of determination:

Barack Obama Cannot Win = Barack Obama *MUST NOT* Win

?

[devild1nosaur]

Don't ya just love that gutsy, cohesive leadership and fair play in the Democratic Party?

[Kalima]

Hillary is still running and I didn't receive my chocolate, cream filled eggs after you
left?
Please tell me to sleep, my tank is empty,almost.

[Kalima]

This was for AdLib but different location. 4th time today.

[AdLib]

Since certain people are intentionally misrepresenting what Obama said about race (exposing their own prejudices):

OBAMA: "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

And later:

OBAMA: "The point I was making was not that grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn’t. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn’t know, you know, there’s a reaction that’s been bred in our experiences that don’t go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way, and that’s just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it, and what makes me optimistic is you see each generation feeling a little less like that, and that’s powerful stuff."

The prejudiced cherry pick to twist the intent and justify their inner fears and insecurities about blacks. It is very clear that Obama was dealing with the race issue, personalizing it from both sides so as not to demonize people on either side.

[MichaelTenery]

Thank you for providing the full quote. It makes the quote mining going on here moot. We can now read the full context and be immunized from what they are saying as it now makes no sense.

[GLBorchert]

Can't win?? Obama has already raised almost $240 million, more than any candidate in history.

Can't win?? Obama has won primaries or caucuses in 30 states.

Can't win?? More people have voted for him this year than for Hillary or any other candidate.

Can't win?? Far right-wing Republicans are so worried about running against him that they are trying to subvert the primary process by having their reactionary faithful crossover to vote for Obama's opponent.

Can't win?? What most of America knows is that he's already won the nomination, and will readily win the general election in November.

[cowman]

He also has more donors than anyone in history I do believe.

[GravitonX]

Obama is beating TWO Clintons at the same time. I doubt McCain will be much of a problem.

No one saw it coming. Obama is a Phenom.

[justobserve]

Hit the nail on its head!

[Janney]

3 Clintons. Hillary, Bill and Chelsea! 3 to 1 and Obama has already won!

[GravitonX]

The Clinton campaign is running out of air.

[GravitonX]

Desperation smells like a wet fart.

[vincealy]

Hillary best argument as to why she is the only one who can beat Mccain- Here Bosnia adventure. The Clintons can they be trusted. It really is a 3 act play You can fool.......You can fool...... The current act for the Clintons .... You can't fool all of the people allof the time

[englishprof]

What Hillary says Mr. Richardson said has absolutely no credibility with me. She is desperate, as is her husband.

[hubbstan]

Same here. Both Clintons have lies on records and they think we don't remember the fact and still believe when they lie again. At least Richardson still say nice things about the Clintons but what did the Clintons do to their loyal long time friend once he disagree with them on the nation's behalf? Mean. Remind me Bush people - 'you are either with us or against us' and awarding incompetent loyal friends to important positions.

[josephjsalas]

All this coming from the new Dr. Seuss Character-"Hillary Hoo?"

[profmsf]

Hillary should play Gollum in the stage production of Lord of the Rings. Just make up a ring with a nice image of the White House on it. I would pay Broadway prices to hear her scream "Must have my Precious! Nasty hobbit stole My Precious!"

[joeby22]

You Clinton supporters are a true reflection of Hilary Clinton and her campiagn which is dishonest, non-realistic, racist, and spinsters. It's because of ignorant White Clinton supports, Pennsylvania is getting a bad reputation. For all u simple minded Clinton backers, she doesn't lead in the popular vote, states, or delegates; "SHE CAN'T WIN". Why can't anyone see this ? What planet are we living on? Hilary is destroying what's left of the Dem Party. And, remember if Clinton Supporters decided to support Mccain in the General Election...you'll be electing Bush the 3rd... And when it's all over Hilary and Bill Clinton have money, good benefits, and jobs, and they will not suffer from the economy, the people will! Oh yea, and to all you racist Clinton Supporters, Obama has won a majority of (Red States) which normally wouldn't vote for Black! So this weak argument that Whites won't vote for him...you're WRONG again...lol

YES WE CAN 08!!

[ApolloniaCreed]

Why would you antagonize Clinton supporters? Way to win em! Why not just argue why your guy is a better choice and how he can win... Alienating supporters in your own party seems counter intuititive, no?

[ATLiberal]

not to mention counter productive.

[MichaelTenery]

I agree. Which is why when Hillary and her surrogates say say that it doesn't matter about state such and such because "it's a black state" or "it's has a bunch of kids" or "it is filled with latte sipping liberals."

My subjective opinion is that it is demeaning and counter productive since she will want those votes if she is the nominee. it is a tactic I have come to expect from right wingers who discount wins by dissing those who were involved in the win and play up victories by saying their the important ones. It is terribly destructive for the long term health of any party.

This is why I hope if you are a Clinton supporter you demand her campaign stop demeaning and discounting democratic voters. If Obama started dissing white color workers and over 65 retirees then I'd be posting all over the place he needs to retract those statements.

[NorVaGal]

You know that works both ways, Apollonia. Why would Clinton and her supporters antagonize Obama supporters? It appears that counter-intuition is not limited only to Obama's side. It will take a coalition of diverse voting blocs to win the general election. Neither democratic candidate can win without the solid support of their opponent's supporters. You might want to practice what you preach.

[skepticalindenver]

Two possibilities:

Billary is telling the truth. So what? This indignation coming from a pair that has eventually thrown every friend or colleague under the bus when it suited their politics.

Billary is lying. Wouldn't surprise me. We can all remember the finger wagging righteous indignation "I did not have sex with that woman."

The reality is it doesn't matter. This is politics. People can change theri mind or alliegences if their opinion of a situation changes and it is quite within reason. You're done Hillary. Well done as a matter of fact.

[justobserve]

Bill was telling the truth! In the second paragraph, Bill meant : Hillary is "that woman"