Clinton Faces Steady Erosion Of Support

With the Pennsylvania primary only days away, the New York Times delivers a look at the challenges the Clinton campaign faces with regards to maintaining support among past supporters and increasing its fund-raising capabilities.

Former Supporters:

After nearly two decades building relationships with a generation of Democrats, Mrs. Clinton has recently suffered a steady erosion of support for her presidential campaign from the party stalwarts that once formed the basis of her perceived juggernaut of "inevitability."

Some of it is just business, practical politicians putting aside ties to the Clintons to follow the will of the voters in their states or making a calculation about who seems best positioned to win.[...]

But there is something more wrenching at work as well, a reckoning of whether the Clintons, on balance, have been good or bad for the party. It has the feel of a very personal testing of loyalties to a former president who once always seemed to be adding to the "Friends of Bill" list, and to a sitting senator who, if not so driven as her husband to win over everyone, used her fame to help elect other Democrats.

Fund-raising:

Senator Barack Obama is swamping Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with television advertising in their prolonged battle for the Democratic nomination, putting fresh pressure on Mrs. Clinton's fund-raising machine to find new sources of money to help her keep pace.

But her big-dollar fund-raising apparatus that was once the envy of the political world is encountering obstacles as many of those in its regular networks of donors have reached the maximum on their personal contributions or grown tired of the relentless press for donations.

The campaign is actively hunting for new wellsprings of cash, while tapped-out donors who want to give more are contemplating financing independent efforts on her behalf that are not bound by contribution limits. So far, however, the independent efforts have been halting at best.

Comments

[formerobamarobot]

I enjoy the banter of good debates so I got up this AM and read some of this sites comments.
What is discouraging is discovering this is not a "regular" people site, it is an obama cover up site!
The comments made this morning in favor of Hillary are gone!
Unfortunate that some people can't THINK for themselves. Rather, like children they are given screened material. I don't expect this to be posted as it might wake some of you up and make you THINK!!
China screens the material its citizens read and see on the internet.
Is the Huffington post the same type of internet "Rag"
Not news or common interest but directed interest?
May God Bless America as we seem to have lost our way.

[SMP]

I am thinking that you need to wake up....

I ,for one, will not vote for a habitual liar and bully (slang for "fighter") , who thinks HER playground is the White House and our lives. period.

[GingerB]

http://www.TaylorMarsh.com

All Hillary, all the time. You'll love it there.

ps... The internet is teeming with political sites. If you think people here don't avail themselves of those other places for their information, too, then you have another think coming.

[BlackLeatherRain]

Obama cover up site? Please offer your evidence. Of course, you HAVE NONE.

You see many people supporting Obama here because Obama has the majority of liberal/pr­ogressive/­left support in this country, and this site caters to the left side of politics. The corresponding thing would happen if Clinton was pulling the majority.

[ElPerro]

You're looking mighty cute in that tin foil hat. Better keep an eye out for those black helicopters, you know they're coming for Hillary's supporters next.

[dajay]

I thought they already came for the Obama ones.

[BIllyDelyon]

Get a grip, no one is pulling "Pro Hillary" posts off of here....

I still see the same clintonistas posting..

[drzoon]

no kidding. but it is typical clinton crying stuff.

its like when they complain about al the money barack is raising..

well... go raise a lot of money then! just like barack.

or... too many barack comments on here? you know what to do

[JAsonMA]

An open letter to Hillary supporters­... pass it on if you wish.

I think the biggest misconception HIllary supporters have of Obama supporters is that we are against their movement. That somehow Obama supporters are anti-woman.

But the one of the reason Obama supporters are so dedicated and sometimes intense to a fault, is to show HRC supporters that we are all fighting for the same thing. That we are in no means against them. We are just looking at the same problems from different point of view.

From a HRC supporter perspective, they believe she is experienced and can go into washington and play the game and make things right.

From an Obama supporters they believe that change is this country is not the take of politicians alone, but through co-operation and hard work of people. The concept is you do not leave the work for others, you have to go out right now and work for that change. That is why his supports are so involved and continue to draw in more people that want to take an active role in shaping their futures. People that were once cynical about government are now understanding that each and every individual has his/her role to play in improving America and that is where the excitement is coming from.

Same team with different approaches.

[ElPerro]

The only thing that Hillary has done for the "women's movement" is to prove to the world that a woman can be just as much of a slimey crooked scumbag as a man.

Equality achieved!

[ElPerro]

It appears that The Clintons have a few "Plumbers" of their own:

Barack Obama's Allentown office was burglarized this week, and multiple laptops and cell phones were stolen, an Obama campaign aide said today. A police spokesman confirmed the incident, but couldn't provide details today because reports are kept in the department's records depository, which is closed weekends.

An Obama aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "a couple" field laptops were taken out of the office at 1233 Linden St. The computers have demographic information that the campaign uses to target voters. "A couple" cell phones were also taken, the aide said.

[sheperdess]

OBAMA SUPPORTERS GO TO POLITICO AND VOTE IN THIER POLL NOW

[Aleka]

I dont see any poll but a loaded one where the only answers allowed are "the media is objective" or "the media favors obama".

There is no "the media are fuktards trying to influence the election" option.

[ProfessorDuh]

Find anything interesting, Mrs. Nixon... er, Clinton?

[AnnieinOR]

God will smite me for this, but I think their fires (Clinton HQ) in different states were done by their plumbers as well

[drzoon]

in case anyone missed it. Hilary Clinton is about as right wing as you can get and not lose your dem card! if it were not for lieberman.­.. she would take the whole enchilada.

its why she has no problem voting for a stupid war.

its why she has no problem with creating another war with her "middle east umbrella" (the most dangerous idea to come out of ANY campaign)

its why she and bill have no problem with sending YOUR JOBS overseas.

if... for one moment you think she cares about YOU... then please take a step back and re-assess what has happened not only over the past 15 months.. but the past 35 yrs.

[rabprevent]

I TOTALLY AGREE THAT HILLARY'S TACTICS WILL NOT ONLY COST HER THE NOMINATION, IT WILL COST HER HER SENATE SEAT AND WE ARE WITNESSING THE END OF THE CLINTONS WITH REGARDS TO POLITICS.
SHE BEST PRAY THAT SHE DOES NOT LOOSE PA HAS THE EMBARASSMENT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
DID I MISUNDERSTAND HER COMMENTS DURING THE DEBATE IN WHICH SHE ADMITTED TO LYING VS. MISPOKE " I SAID SOMETHING THAT I KNEW NOT TO BE FACTUAL AND SAID IT ANYWAY".
IS THAT NOT ADMITTING TO LYING VS. MISPOKE?

[AnnieinOR]

here's a hint friend, people tend to not want to read posts all in caps - they feel as if you are getting in their faces, and yelling at them, and while we may agree with your statement, you will lose your audience, unless you unlock your CAPS LOCK... just letting ya know. kay... ;)

[GingerB]

Good morning, Annie. : )

[JFyfe]

So what?? If someone in the blogosphere writes in caps, is it going to hurt anyone? I dont think so. It is not the same as someone yelling in your face in the real world. It is just a bunch of capital letters. Who cares? I read whatever is written when I am reading blogs whether it is capped or not. Some of you seem to take this just a little too seriously.

[GingerB]

Please, stop shouting at us. Thanks.

[rabprevent]

CAN ANY CLINTON FAN REALLY STATE THAT OBAMA HAS RUN A MORE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN? HONESTLY, HIL AND BILL HAVE BEEN THEIR OWN WORST ENNEMY AND HAVE PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION.

I WOULD LIKE AN HONEST ANSWER FROM HILLARY'S FANS,
HAS SHE RUN A BETTER CAMPAIGN?
WHO HAS BEEN MORE NEGATIVE?
WHO HAS DONE MORE DOUBLE TALK?
WHO HAS TOLD MORE LIES?
WHO HAS SEEMS WILLING TO DESTROY THE PARTY FOR THEIR OWN SELFWORTH?
WHO HAS WHINE MORE?

[neoprimordial]

If there is something wrong with your keyboard, please say so. Otherwise, please stop typing in all capital letters. It's like you're yelling and it's incredibly boorish. Please stop.

[JFyfe]

I really wish you people would quit being "elitist bloggers" and dissing people who happen to write in caps. Who cares? Grow up. Some of the comments on blog sites are much more boorish than the use of caps by folks who may not know the "etiquette" some of you have created out of nothing.

[RanTheMan]

While I agree 100% with your post, my eyes are now hurting from all the yelling.
You can give CapsLock a rest now.

[AnnieinOR]

you're asking a lot from people who overlook her dishonesty and double standards.­..good luck getting an answer - and if you do, please look me up, and provide the results of your survey ;)

[sniperfire]

from my google
TopNews
'Vast right-wing conspiracy' leader's paper backs Clinton

[AnnieinOR]

While I realize there is absolutely nothing funny in that, why do I find myself giggling? She's sold out her party - it actually started the day she uttered those famous words: John McCain has the experience to be CiC..." the beginning of the turn to the dark side is complete..­. Long live the Emperor (ess)- NOT!. Jedi Obama rulez!

[rollingdivision]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106606/Gallup-Daily-Clinton-46-Obama-45.aspx
Obama continues his slide and downward trend in Gallup's nationwide Democratic presidential preference poll.

[Aleka]

One poll is not a "downward slide" LMAO.

wishful thinking much?

[AnnieinOR]

In their dreams!

[BIllyDelyon]

They couldn't get enough of that poll last night!!!

LOFL..

Classic..

Seriously Classic...­.

[mishte]

You mean one poll with one percentage point, right?

heck of a stretch to call it a trend or a slide or relevant. IIrc, Obama holds the advantage (+8.5 points over Clinton) in RPC national average of daily tracking polls (which should always be taken lightly).

Taking one poll with one percentage point and calling it meaningful is like pointing to a single cloud on a sunny day and calling it stormy.

[RanTheMan]

LOL!! How many Clntonistas are going to celebrate this "news"???

Sorry rd, this will have ZERO bearing on the race for the nomination. The majority of those Dems have already cast their votes in the primaries, and we all know how that has turned out for Hil-liar.

[GingerB]

"The Democratic nomination results are based on combined data from April 16-18, 2008. For results based on this sample of 1,241 Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points."

For all you know. Obama may actually be leading (as he is in other national polls). But if you want to take a supposed one point lead in favor of Hillary Clinton as something to cling to, enjoy yourself.

[Sparklez]

Well go look at the Newsweek polls too

[PensacolaTiger]

Better go read the latest:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106609/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Holds-Slight-47-45-Advantage.aspx

The peeling away of national Democratic support for Barack Obama seen this past week may have run its course.

[MartinEdwinAndersen]

DISPATCHES FROM THE GROUND WAR ...

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS ...

"Vast right-wing conspiracy" leader's paper backs Clinton

PHILADELPHIA: Could it be the "vast right wing conspiracy" is having second thoughts?

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was endorsed Sunday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whose owner and publisher, billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, personally funded many of the investigations that led to President Clinton's impeachment in 1998.

It was one of a handful of endorsements the New York senator has received from Pennsylvania newspapers before the state's primary Tuesday. Most of the state's major papers have endorsed Barack Obama. ....


HILLARY COULD STEAL THE OLD BUTTER-NUT COFFEE SLOGAN--"RICH, BUT NEVER BITTER"--EXCEPT IT WOULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CLINTONS HAVE BECOME SO RICH IN SO LITTLE TIME...

AND WHY THE PEOPLE SHE USED TO EXCORIATE AS FANATICAL EVIL RIGHTWING CONSPIRATORS PREVENTING HER AND HER HUSBAND FROM DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK ARE NOW SUPPORTING HER!

[RanTheMan]

"HILLARY COULD STEAL THE OLD BUTTER-NUT COFFEE SLOGAN--"RICH BUT NOT BITTER"
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­_

Well, she could. But in keeping with the rest of the words that come out of her mouth, only half of it would be true.

[GingerB]

Richard Mellon Scaife and Rupert Murdoch, both Hillary fans.

Yeah, that persuades me to back her, too. Not.

[ElPerro]

And now for some good news:

Democrats Leading McCain in “Purple” States
Hold 47% to 43% leads in states decided by five points or less in 2004

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106579/Democrats-Leading-McCain-Purple-States.aspx

[ElPerro]

Hey Hillary, still want to play the "Guilt by association" game?

"Hillary Rodham Clinton was endorsed Sunday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whose owner and publisher, billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, personally funded many of the investigations that led to President Clinton's impeachment in 1998.

Scaife spent $2.3 million to fund a series of articles by The American Spectator magazine that dug into Bill Clinton's behavior as governor of Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton famously defended her husband at the time, saying the allegations were part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy" heavily funded by Scaife."

[rollingdivision]

It's not guilt by association. Rather, it's continuing to associate with bad characters well after they have been publicly identified as bad, in other words inaction and poor judgment. And we're not talking about relatives who you can't choose. Wright for twenty years, Rezko after his name was plastered on the pages of the Trib and Sun Times as the subject of bribery and federal charges, Ayers even though he wrote a book detailing his terrorist activities. Guilt be association, no guilt by deciding to continue to associate with bad actors.

[dugan45]

Yeah, but Ayers got their attention. The President, Pentagon, and CIA brought an end to the Vietnam War. I ask you, who was the bigger offender against civilization: those who headed the agencies where the bombs went off, or David Ayers, who gave slapped them to get their attention?

[ElPerro]

He served on a charity board with a number or people, including Ayers. And Ayers gave a whopping $200 to his state reelection campaign in 2001. So that "association" is much to do about nothing.

Obama's law firm was hired to put together a deal in 1995 for Rezco to convert an old nursing home into low income housing. Obama spent 32 hours on the project. Rezco donated $2000 to Obama's State Senate race that year. Rezco held a fundraiser for Obama in 2003. In 2005, Obama bought part of Rezco's lot so that he could have a larger yard. Rezco was not indicted until October 2006. The indictment has nothing to do with Obama or any of their mutual interests,

No politician rises to national prominence without having some shady associates. I don't care if you're a democrat or republican. But in the pantheon of shady friends, Obama's are rather benign

[partyofone]

Willl his association with the dispicable Clintons do damage to Scaife?

[dugan45]

Scaiffe founded "The American Spectator" specifically to act as an attack dog against the Clintons. Then, he began funding the magazine so that it could continue to run. Ever hear it's editor-in-chief, Emmet Tyrrell, on C-SPAN? He's a total dork, and viewers let him know it each time he's on.

[dugan45]

On second thought, I should have written "toilet dork."

[partyofone]

I guess Scaife saw much earlier in the Clintons what much of the nation is just discovering. Maybe he was asking then: Are the Clintons dishonest, opportunistic, self-serving, serial liars who sell their influence to the highest bidders for personal gain at great peril to the nation?

[partyofone]

The Scaife endorsement is interesting. He's got money, as does Rupert Murdoch, something the Clinton campaign NEEDS, $$$ = friends for life.

But he article says that Scaife "personally funded many of the investigations that led to President Clinton's impeachment in 1998" ...a real stretch. Bill Clinton led to his impeachment in 1998 by irresponsible behavior and lying under oath. Scaife did not pay for that. Get real.

[iLogos]

Pres. Clinton did the deed, but Scaife uncovered them and then put them in the public arena feigning moral outrage, knowing that people would bite.

[mishte]

NO ONE beats Clinton in the "guilt by association" game. It always surprises me when she uses it as a strategy against her opponents, which is child's play in comparison.

I guess she's called in enough favors or bullied enough clout to keep most of hers from being introduced­/re-introd­uced.

AND, she's also lucky that people tend to assume that just because a scandal is no longer front page news it must be resolved somehow. Plus old stories aren't as "exciting", so people don't care as much. Few of Clinton's (if any) scandals have been resolved.

This also helps in the charade that Clinton has been "vetted" when nothing could be further from the truth. The questions have been vetted, but none of the answers...­.

[simplify]

Its really sad. She doesn't even realize she is destroying herself. Sad indeed!!!

[ProfessorDuh]

It amazes that I used to like the Clintons. After all they've done to ruin this country for their own political gain, the sight of them turns my stomach now.

[partyofone]

The sad truth is that the Clintons have always been the Clintons. They have not changed, except to become more powerful, wealthy and greedy. Public perception has changed about them. We are wiser as a result of having lived through the Bushes and the Clintons and now video documentation reveals who the real liars are.

[SharonB]

There are a lot of people who feel just like you do.
I am ashamed that I ever defended them to friends and family who said I was blind.
I am astounded that there are still people who think that she is a champion of feminists and will be an ethical president.

[JFyfe]

I also used to like them ..... before New Hampshire and South Carolina. What kind of saddens me is that I even dislike Chelsea because she is connected to them. She now appears to me to be a smug spoiled little rich girl. Did you see the pans to her face on the ABC Debate? That look on her face was the last straw. This whole family needs to please go away and allow something new to take form.

[Dustee]

Hillary Robot Clinton doesn't care about those kinds of things as long as she can WIN!!!

Robots have no feelings at all about anything.

[AnnieinOR]

I saw a remark last night on WaPo that said their was a professor in Canada that says that Hillary is an example of the female sociopath.­.. I'll look for the comment.

[sniperfire]

greed & power will change most anybody, the weaker the person the more apparent

[AnnieinOR]

great observation: one of the reasons that people may enter into politics with the best intentions and the longer they are in it (Clintons and JMcsame) Obama is not perfect, but the least tarnished and drunk with power.

[thebeerdoctor]

It seems that this is a bad dream that you can not wake up from. Senator Clinton's assertions become even more ridiculous because there are audio and video archives to disprove their validity. So at this point it comes down to inane criticisms about pastors, flag pins, and who the Illinois Senator must denounce. in order to be approved by the Senator from New York. Putting aside all matters of policy, just ask yourself: which of these three bozos is running the best campaign?

[Catharsis]

Absolutely. It's not even necessary to look at the issues at this point.

[VA2008]

Chris Mathews just stated that he "believes he knows what Rendel is up to" and that Hillary will win by a large margin.

If this happens, everyone in Ohio and Pennsylvania who lost jobs or has spoken out against NAFTA deserve everything Hillary will bring to them.

Please Pennsylvania, vote for the person who will no flip flop on issues....­..Hillary has changed her stance on many issues depending on which state she is in.....ple­ase don't be fooled again.

[eurydice]

The only thing Chris Matthews believes or knows is what he sees through the bottom of a liquor bottle. He is clueless and it's time to go. Maybe he can be a houseboy for the Carville/Matalin household.

[marymansour]

I think, though Matthews admits to being a reformed alcoholic, he suffers more from issues of favoritism and wanting to always jazz up the dialogue on his show. His maddening way of interrupting is guests makes him nerve wracking.

[simplify]

Chris Mathews and all the ditto heads are still living in the politics of the 80s and 90s. They dont have a clue.

[Aleka]

After the slap ABC just got from over the debate - not even the people, but the journalists, you'd -think- they would clue in that the people want some truth and less spin, but no....

[Sparklez]

It wouldnt surprise me


I mean, when you draw crowds of 40,000 thats how it is

[sniperfire]

hey listen, only 30,000 jobs were lost on her watch as NY senator. whats the big deal? just because she ran and got elected by promising big job growth. why would Americans do the sensible thing and vote for anyone but Clinton. why? because we are not sensible, the majority (well, kinda) voted g w bush twice.
sad

[drzoon]

exactly. lets be honest... its not like ohio and penn created a silicon valley and created millions of jobs with all that "brain power" they are hoarding!

i will never get it. where the modern middle class constantly votes against their own interest. makes no sense to me at all. they would rather watch their towns die.. and their kids NOT do better than themselves­... than STOP OLD TIME POLITICS.

those states will get what the deserve if they vote for either Hilary or Mc Cain. and if they don't ... the they have turned the page

the younger generation has to take their state back and move beyond the divisive old crap their parents have trapped their state(s) in. they have to tell their parents to let go... and let them take a crack at digging their generation out of the hole thats been dug for them over the past 30 yrs.

[JFyfe]

Good post. I also have no understanding about why people vote against their own economic interest..­....they are 'values' voters I suppose...­......as well as having some other attributes. In my country we have a 3 party system. I have voted for all 3 parties at one time or another...­.....but I often vote strategically to try and prevent a majority. Whenever one party wins a majority here, the super corruption sets in. It seems to keep them a little more honest when they have to compromise to stay in power. We have a Parliamentary system. I think it is also a fact that it is much easier for female leaders to come to the fore in a Parliamentary system. Maybe that is why the Clinton feminists are so adamant...­.......it is such a rare phenomenum to see a female candidate get this far in the USA. (PS I am a non-Clintonian feminist and baby boomer).

[moda31]

serving the country as best you can is more important than loyalty to the individual. i can understand how the clintons would feel disappointed that people they included in their administration are siding with their opponent, especially given their long odds in this race. however, the anger that leads to every "defector" being characterized as judas is a bit frightening & should be kind of embarrassing for them. when the current administration uses government jobs to secure favors people are outraged at the corruption and cronyism, the "you owe me" sense of entitlement described here is really no better. the responsibility of appointed officials should be to serve the country and honor the office they've been given, not to be forever indebted to whoever appointed them. as for the fundraising, while the obama machine isn't perfect it's a huge step in the right direction, & deserves credit for developing such an enormous base of committed citizens doing their small part to support the campaign. they took a risk, especially considering the established machine they were up against, but it paid off for them. they might spend insane amounts of money, but it's money that a million+ ordinary people have willingly given them, freeing them to use every available avenue to get their message out (they had a full page ad out in our campus paper last week for christ's sake). it will be exciting to see how this bottom up model shapes how politics is conducted in the years to

[CindyKay]

Very well Said moda31 , I couldn't agree more.

[dugan45]

Yes, well-said, indeed. A few points:

1. The recently found and translated authenic, early-Christian manuscript of The Book of Judas informs us that Christ asked Judas "to betray his identity to fulfill the prophecy and liberate his soul to ascend to heaven." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5327692. For other links, go to http://www.google.com/search?q=the+book+of+judas&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF.

Hillary herself through her own speech and behavior and her husband's, too, as evidenced by Bill Richardson's and other Clintonite superdelegates' comments as to why they will vote for Obama indicates strongly that Hillary asked them to turn away from her, the ultimate reason being they want a leader who will place us on the ascent.

2. Every time Hillary or her handlers do something stupid, ridiculous, misleading, hyperbolic, or deceitful, Obama's supporters contribute to his campaign. Hillary is our best recruiter for campaign donations. Given the average donation is $93, we can see Obama through the primary and beyond.

[Dustee]

You are absolutely correct! After the debate, I gave some more money to his campaign - and I didn't have that included in my budget. I guess now I'll be able to stay on my diet this month.