Hillary Clinton 2012 Robocalls Surface In Multiple Battleground States

WASHINGTON -- Over the past 24 hours, a number of voters in a not-insignificant number of states have received robocalls laying out just what a horrific mistake Democrats made in not electing Hillary Clinton as their nominee in 2008.

The call, sponsored by a mysterious organization "Run Hillary 2012," urges recipients to sign a petition encouraging the now secretary of state to run for the White House in 2012. In doing so, they promise a progressive utopia.

"America would be better off today if Hillary Clinton was our president," the script for the call says. "The Wall Street robber barons would be jailed, young people could afford college and find jobs and six million homeowners wouldn't face foreclosure. We need to change our course. Please sign our petition to draft Hillary Clinton for president."

The angst and regrets of diehard Clinton supporters are not new to Democratic politics. After the 2008 primary concluded, PUMAs (which originally stood for "Party Unity My Ass") sprouted up as both an ode to the former first lady and a collective effort at political denial. Over time, it became a whimper. Obama won over the vast majority of Clinton backers.

Since then, there has been no shortage of chatter about a Clinton resurgence. Buyer's remorse over Obama has fed some of it. But the main thrust hasn't centered on replacing the president with his one-time competitor, but rather putting Clinton in the vice president's slot. Even Clinton loyalists have found it all somewhat silly (save the Doug Schoen types).

And yet, there are clearly some people not willing to let go. According to Shaun Dakin, an anti-robocall advocate, Run Hillary 2012 has now made calls in New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Colorado. It appears to be the first formal 2012 campaign function undertaken by an ostensibly pro-Hillary group -- not counting the occasional fundraising email from a Clinton ally asking for money to help her retire her 2008 campaign debt.

Due to the fact that these calls are being placed in battleground states (with the exception of New York, Clinton's most recent home), recipients and observers have inferred nefarious motives. Guesses as to who the culprit is fall into one of two categories: dead-end Clinton backers or Republicans hoping to stir up some trouble.

So far, however, there is essentially no solid information about the group. Dakin notes that there is no "electronic trail." The website, RunHillary2012.net, has been registered by proxy, and the robocalls have no caller identification. There is no contact information to be culled either, and efforts by HuffPost to get on the organization's email or petition list have so far failed.

Comments

[Patrick Daisley]

05:12 PM on 12/24/2011

AN excellent strategy for the democrats in 2012 will be to place Hilary (Obama/Clinton) on the ticket.The objective is to win,and guarantee Obama's re-election.That combination will defeat any "duo" the Republicans put forth.After the victory celebrations President Obama and Vice President Clinton together must cogitate "what and how" the 2016 Presidential election will unfold.

[traveler1062]

04:58 PM on 12/22/2011

I find it ironic that the first ad before the Newsy video is from Shell Oil promoting using gas energy. This from some of the biggest money-grubbers in the world who want to control everything. Huffington Post is there no lower level than this? And, after another Op-ed piece is a Citibank credit card ad from one of the richest companies in the world and one of the bail-out kings from taxpayer money. Huffington, we know where your prejudices are!

[tiredofwaiting]

12:23 AM on 12/22/2011

Heads up New Hampshire Voters! Watch this video and help make Herstory!

http://youtu.be/tWFSiKSJJVk

[Ferol]

05:50 PM on 12/21/2011

As of yesterday, you can add Washington State to the list.

[jacksonofboo]

04:56 PM on 12/21/2011

whoever from the teaparty wants to assassinate Obama, you should be hung drawn and slaughtered and get Bachmann out of the picture too ...

[sophie M]

04:48 PM on 12/21/2011

do you actually think anything would be different?
(under a Hillary rule)

[party-of-one]

08:35 AM on 12/22/2011

Different? Unfortunately YES, but it is scary to think about.

I believe we would be deeper in Iraq, instead of out, have an even larger commitment in Afghanistan, be at war with Iran, even with use of tactical nuclear weapons, and be close id nor already at war with North Korea.

And Occupy Wall Street would likely have been relocated to Guantanamo to satisfy her re-election bundlers.

[tobimaro]

02:35 PM on 12/21/2011

This seems to harken back to the PUMAs, but I think that they got over the "Hillary losing to Barack" thing back in 2008. I'm wondering if it's some shady front group trying to create friction in the Democratic Party. It's not going to happen.

[tiredofwaiting]

02:01 AM on 12/22/2011

we will not be good little democrats in 2012
draft Hillary!

[party-of-one]

01:03 PM on 12/21/2011

It may well be Republicans, but my bet is on the forever bitter Clinton backers who are itching to see Obama defeated, irrespective of the damage to the nation.

Bill Clinton is also stirring divisions is his comment/no comment style. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-obama_n_1162833.html?ref=media&ir=Media

The Clintons campaign tactics in 2008 were inspired by Bush-Rove and this rebo calling would be consistent with that.

Simply speaking to the “what if” issue of Hillary Clinton as president, I believe we would be deeper in the war in Iraq not out of Iraq, deeper in Afghanistan, at war with Iran, and throwing nuclear threats at North Korea. She is a major hawk, obsessed with proving she is “tough.”

[Heather Fowler]

12:58 PM on 12/21/2011

We got one of these last night (upstate New York) and were were like... Wuh? I mean, sure, if I had to do it over again, I'd get behind Hilary, but that's neither here nor there.

[Rixar13]

12:35 PM on 12/21/2011

"So far, however, there is essentially no solid information about the group. Dakin notes that there is no "electronic trail." The website, RunHillary2012.net, has been registered by proxy, and the robocalls have no caller identification."

What is in their Kool Aid?

[Wm Hunn]

11:26 AM on 12/21/2011

I got an email within the last 10 days from Hillary's 2008 campaign still looking for money.

I she still can't pay her campaign debts from 2008, there is no chance she could run even if she wanted to.

[party-of-one]

01:09 PM on 12/21/2011

Interesting. Couldn’t she “loan” to herself $50 million or so to get started from funds funneled to Bill as “speaking and consulting fees” by foreign interests, then “forgive the debt”? been there

[icapricorn]

11:13 AM on 12/21/2011

All the hallmarks of a Republican scheme (yet another one) to depress the vote for Obama:

"So far, however, there is essentially no solid information about the group. Dakin notes that there is no "electronic trail." The website, RunHillary2012.net, has been registered by proxy, and the robocalls have no caller identification. There is no contact information to be culled either, and efforts by HuffPost to get on the organization's email or petition list have so far failed."

[party-of-one]

01:11 PM on 12/21/2011

But Clinton strategy in the 2008 primary was very Bush-Rove, as well.

[AishaK]

11:12 AM on 12/21/2011

I'm guessing that this is a GOP ploy to confuse and create uncertainty among the Democrat voters. Maybe they're hoping some will stay home if Ms. Clinton doesn't run.

[party-of-one]

01:13 PM on 12/21/2011

Far more progressives would stay home if she does run, don’t you think? She is a warmonger.

[tiredofwaiting]

02:02 AM on 12/22/2011

you are uninformed

[Almondo]

11:03 AM on 12/21/2011

The clown car is running on empty and none of the clowns can even begin to stand up so this is all the right wing has left.

[Blue Pup in PHX]

10:33 AM on 12/21/2011

Oh come it's Carl Rove or Gingrich...that's too easy...next