Obama Strategy To Beat Clinton: Ignore Her

Barack Obama hasn't managed after months of political combat to force Hillary Rodham Clinton out of the presidential race, so he's about to try another approach: ignoring her.

Confident that he has built a near-impregnable lead, his campaign aides said Wednesday that Obama would begin shifting his focus toward the general election. Obama still plans to campaign in states that remain on the primary calendar -- he is to appear in Oregon over the weekend -- but he may also start showing up in states that are considered important in the November contest: Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. (All three have held their Democratic primaries.)

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Felicty]

I still contend that Hillary will 'lose it' on stage one day and eat a live rat on stage.

Make the popcorn, kids. This will be fun to watch.

[iBgood]

Good strategy. She is becoming unhinged and it's time to walk away and focus on more pressing matters.

[chrissy22]

THE ONLY PPL THAT SUPPORTS BARACK OBAMA ARE EGGHEADS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS OUCH THAT HURTS COMING FROM SOMEONE THAT CANT OPERATE A GAS STATION COFFOE MACHINE

[uglybetty]

....nor spell it !!!!

[newshawk14]

This is probably not an unreasonable strategy. Faced with the prospect of Obama winning the
nomination, Hillary seems increasingly irrational and self destructive. I think his main concern
has to be what is good for the democratic party, and his chances in November.

[VOTER]

HILLARY CLINTON, WHO?

[GingerB]

Nice thought, but her ego won't allow it. There's no ignoring Hillary. She'll make sure of that.

[drblack]

I know I do. Clinton is done..she is only staying in the race so she can continue to get money and not have so many debts.
With all the money she gets from lobbyists she should be fine without taking advantage of her pasionate supporters.

[Ariesjill]

I don't think this version of ignoring should be taken literally. In this case---and it is total BINGO---HE'S FINALLY GETTING ONLY BY FEEDING HER non existent power.....does she have any at all.

I think this means he gets what all her desperate flailing speaks.....and now he is taking it for what it really is. BELOW HIM.

Each time, in recent days I hear him REITERATE historical props re the 'formidable" Clintons....I get and it heartens me.....he is emerging in these pro forma compliments....more and more what he also is technically: LEFT HANDED. also centered and elegant as hell.

[BP]

There's no point in insulting anyone. But there's every point in pointing out the truth.

The truth is Hillary has her power prioritized above everything else. She can be cold and calculating one moment, gasp with way-over-the-top expressions/exasperation the next, lie the moment after, and then down shots to fake a redneck chic, call for gas tax holiday, fake moral outrage on flag burning, tote a gun, blurt out "obliterate" B*sh-style all in one breathtaking succession instant.

I'm sorry. I know we need to reunite. But, as a person, as a politician, Hillary disgusts me. Merely watching her maneuvering and calculating and recalibrating makes me exhausted and disgusted.

I once again apologize for the truth.

[tbone99]

The best strategy is just to let her hang herself , which she seems to be in the process of doing.
Let her supporters see for themselves where she is willing to go and many will be discouraged on their own and go to Obama if they are not made to feel like assholes by his supporters.If Obama is running as the presumed nominee we can start to shine some light on the Repugs & McCain , who is skating to the W.H. right now.

[BigBagel]

Right ignore her. Then trying ignoring the guy scratching his nails along the blackboard. Go ahead. Do it.

[tbone99]

Obama has always had his eye on the ball, it's his supporters that seemed compelled to keep kicking a candidate that's already down and t's not a pretty sight.They need to remember we need all the help we can get to win the general , and H.C supporters are Dems too. However continued abusive name calling
and contempt repells possibilities of cooperation.

[Jaradan]

I'm gonna start following his lead. Ignoring her will keep my blood pressure down. Thankfully, HRC ignored Barack up until Iowa. That's what helped us.

[Gma11]

I think that's an excellent idea, Jaradan.

[RichLiberal]

Seems like a smart strategy for Obama, since every time he engages her directly, such as in a debate, he loses. As he does in the base Democratic state elections as well.

[nomobull]

the only people that believes ghe lost debates are the msm and sold this idea to her supporters some of whom bought it.

[TrueIndy08]

hahahaha.... all I can do is LAUGH and at.... now I am IGNORING you as well!

[cog1000]

I agree: it's a rude headline. Seems like the rhetoric should start ratcheting down. It's about unifying the party now. She ran a really tough campaign and she could be a huge asset to Obama in GE and the next few months. If Obama supporters and media start beating up on her now, her supporters will be harder to reach and any hope of reconciliation may backfired. Political blog posters and their comments should be gracious and recognize (despite her campaign tactics which I deplored) her value to the party and future battles.

[08timefortruth]

So you think whatever she says is ok and Obama supporters should just ignore it all huh?

You mean comments like "Obama cannot get "hard working whites" right?

You seem to be so worried about what HER supporters think yet you have no regard the the people she just insulted. Not only did a whole lot of "hard working white" people (Iowa ect) vote for Obama but it is doubly insulting that she insinuates those non-whites that vote for him do not count and are not equally hardworking.

So explain again how only Obama supporters are "beating up" on anyone.

[tbone99]

Hear , hear! There is no gain to be had by continuing to insult H.C supporters or H.C herself.

[nomobull]

that should work both ways

[tbone99]

Not really, when it appears that Obama will be the likely nominee.At a certain point you have to ask- whats the motivation ?

[Countdown09]

cog1000 - "If Obama supporters and media start beating up on her now, her supporters will be harder to reach and any hope of reconciliation may backfired.

I agree we can't stop what the media does but PLEASE Obama supporters, as tempting as it may be to attack back when we see angry comments against Obama at this point from Hillary supporters-- it's important we take a pass, continuing to fan the flames will not help him get elected. NOW if there are republicans on here attacking Obama by all means take your shot!

[nomobull]

oh please i see nothinh wrong with saying chill but only if the same standard is applied to both sides enough of the double standard,

[FLA1]

This is the right idea. The media and the Clinton campaign have been saying this without saying it, but now the Clinton campaign is explicitly saying that Barack Obama cannot get the white vote. This is a bad strategy for her - 1) she has insulted states that she assumes she does not need, 2) she has insulted black voters, 3) she and Bill have insulted younger voters, and 4) the campaign has insulted latte-sipping voters, whoever they are. On the other hand, she has explicitly made the argument to vote for me because I am a woman and it would be historic. Obama, on the other hand, has said vote for me because WE will unify this country. A very different message and one that I think will be easier to heal whatever divisions have been caused by a difficult Democratic primary. I wonder if Clinton will have as easy of a time unifying Democrats after all she has said and done?

[youcannotbeserious]

thats the only thing I believe in what Obama says.
He should ignore her, so she could rack up more votes.

People continue to vote for her because she's the Rocky, the underdog. They continue to be clueless.

Big surprise coming in June and it aint pretty for Obama. stay tuned

[08timefortruth]

You cannot be serious!!!!!!!!

[Gma11]

The $109,000,000 underdog.

Life is tough, huh?

[abby4ever]

This is the best strategy, if it means starting to spar with McCain over issues and halting any debates with Hillary over the same---or over anything, for that matter. Just pretend she isn't there, not to be rude or mean or to madden her, but because for all practical purposes, she is finished anyway. It's time for Obama vs. McCain.

[Truthfighter1]

Check out latest news on cnn.com Political Ticker. Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein threating the DNC with Funds.

WASHINGTON (CNN) " Hillary Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein threatened to cut off contributions to congressional Democrats unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embraced his plan to finance revotes in Florida and Michigan, three officials familiar with their conversation said.

The more this goes on the more Obama looks better and better, his notion of Washington needs a change looks more and more better every day when you have Hillary pandering gas tax cuts and her main money fund raiser trying to bully the DNC trying to buy the nomination. What the hell is going on here??

[meltingpot101]

As long as he doesn't ignore the states that still have an opportunity to vote, I think it is very smart.

[bessie1]

I think you are being extremely naive. There is a hidden message in that statement.

[1question]

Does Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton see a distinction between the good of the Clintons...the good of the Democratic Party and...the good of the country...!?!?"

I"ve had enough of the lies, distortions, and distractions. I need a President who understands the value of truth and credibility.

I think the next POTUS needs to be "exceptionally elite "and...then some.

[Dlukes]

He is focusing on the bigger picture. Senator Obama has now become one of the most powerful politicians in America. His donor list gives him the leverage to claim success among the Democratic party, whether he is given the nod or not. If the superdelegates vote in her favor he can continue to bring the parties together as a strong political presence in the Senator. His political career is not over, it has just begun. But Hillary's political future is debatable. I am not sure he is ignoring her, but he is preparing for the battle with the republicans if given the nomination.

[AxmxZ]

I hope she doesn't end up bullying him into taking her on as VP.

[olivia]

She doesn't have the clout to bully, but I wouldn't put it past her to blackmail him.

She is in bed with the neocons and Karl Rove. She may have another card to play. I think I know what it is. Let her play it, if she doesn't the neocons will. Let's get it out there.

[ThunderclapNewman]

After her racist comments about "white voters" she shouldn't even be invited to the inauguration.

[Opus007]

Great plan. Actually I like the way Obama is handling Clinton. I thought he speech Tuesday was really moving and he was very gracious to Hillary.

So now the OCD media is finally off Reverand Wright and on to the Clinton death watch while McCain bumbles around aimlessly.

Thank God for the Internet!