Everyday Voters, Not Celebrities, Rally for Hillary

If you turned on a TV in the days before the voting began in the Super Tuesday states, you would have thought that Barack Obama was headed for a landslide. On every cable news channel, and on the nightly network news, as well, there were reports of crowds gathering around the country to cheer on the Senator's campaign. Flip on one channel and there was California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, joining her cousin Caroline Kennedy and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey in Los Angeles to sing the praises of the Illinois senator. Push another button on the remote and there you would find Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, joining Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at a rally in Boston. Still on another channel, you could catch Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro and former senator and presidential contender Bill Bradley, flanking the candidate in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, all urging Garden State voters to get "Fired Up!"

What you didn't see in those TV reports or in the cheering crowds were the millions of ordinary Democrats who didn't manage to get on television but did go to the polls and vote. These are the voters whose lives and livelihoods depend on the outcome of this year's election -- the voters who care more about real results and a better economy than celebrity endorsements. They're the folks struggling to make ends meet, the people who have been hurt by seven years of a president who just doesn't care about them. And millions of America's working families turned out on Super Tuesday, just as they have in earlier contests. They handed election victories to Senator Hillary Clinton all across the country including a stunning upset in Massachusetts.

These are the voters who are working paycheck to paycheck, trying to make ends meet while health care, energy and food prices continue to climb. These are the folks who work hard and play by the rules and are trying to get ahead. They are the people in America who feel invisible, who feel that no one really cares about their problems. Celebrity endorsements and a candidate with a rock star persona are not what motivates them. Rather, they want a candidate who has solutions to the problems they face day in and day out, who hears their concerns and speaks for their interests. They have found that candidate in Hillary Clinton.

That's why when the votes were tallied late last night, Senator Clinton emerged victorious, including huge victories in New York, California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Senator Clinton's message is working, in big states and small states, in red states and blue states. She carried states from coast to coast, from Liberty Island to San Francisco Bay. Even in states where she trailed in tightly contested contests, such as the bell-weather state of Missouri, Senator Clinton demonstrated that she can appeal to rural as well as urban voters. She carried 110 of the 115 counties in the "Show Me" state.

Senator Clinton's victories in New York, California, Massachusetts and New Jersey are tremendously important, because all are reliable blue states that Democrats must win to gain a victory in November. While the media may focus on celebrities and endorsements, the voters on Super Tuesday and in earlier contests this year have focused on issues, substance and solutions. In the states most important for a Democratic victory, they have chosen Hillary Clinton as their candidate. Delegates at the Democratic Convention will do the same.

Comments

[WilliamTravis]

That's a silly thing to say. Obama has BUILT HIS CAMPAIGN on support from everyday Americans. Since this race began Hillary has been framing herself as the establishment, experienced, almost incumbent candidate. This is just another example of Clinton's constant repositioning. Obama's "Change" message works better than her, questionable, "experience" message? All of the sudden she has "35 years of change". Including her 6 at Wal-mart in the middle of it's union busting monster phase. Her "I'm ready to do this on day one because of my Washington experience" message falls a little flat? All the sudden she's the scrappy outsider underdog. She's taken more money from interest groups than either republican front-runner and she's married to the most powerful man in the democratic party. And Barack is supposed to be the establishment candidate now? How flatly ridiculous! He's built his whole campaign off of a grassroots movement, his campaign is filthy rich off of INDIVIDUAL contributions. From everyday Americans.

[NC4Obama]

So dizzy so much spin.

[sjl106]

The mass is running to Hillary, as they should the future of this country is at stake and a rock star isn't qualified.

[trevor01]

I kept thinking, "exactly" as I read your post. We aren't looking for the next coming or even hoping for it. What we want is intelligent leadership informed by reality and experience. I've been looking forward to your post since I started reading HuffPo months ago. Thank you!

[DoninJoisey]

Compared to the double-digit percent lead Hilly had just weeks ago, coming to parity is quite amazing.
Without the superdelegates, Hillary is dead.
"the times, they are a-changin'"

Look at Minnesota, over 90% white:
Obama 141,110 67%
Clinton 68,047 32%

[lejac]

Thank you! What a breath of fresh air this is after a day of reading total spin.

[clevelandchick]

I despise when people imply that 'celebrities should just entertain us and not give us their opinion'. My opinion is as valuable as theirs and vice versa.

Celebrities are ordinary every day voters. When any American votes they are ordinary every day voters. It's the one thing that equalizes and should unite us all.

And PUHLEEZE, I saw just as many celebrities in the audience for Hillary at the last debate as were there for Obama. Are you kidding me with this 'Obama is a Hollywood Liberal' tired Republican talking point b.s.?

You aren't helping Hillary's cause at all by using tired old divisive GOP talking points against her opponent Mr. McEntee. You are turning off many voters who want to vote for a Democrat regardless who gets the nomination.

[AnninCA]

Obama needed momentum, so the rock star approach was fast and could be bought.

People I know who vote, however, are usually more interested in substance.

This year is wierd because of the iflux of non-Dems. I gather they don't care about that.

[PeaceChristBwithU]

You think these normal, everyday people would send her some checks. I mean hey, if all these obscure, humble everyday people really support Hilary, why do they not send her small donations that add up to large numbers? Because her people don't support her enough to inconveinence themselves to attend rallys or give funds. It is Obama who is building a campaign on small donations. Hilary is the default candidate of the uninformed and the disengaged. But that's okay - she has people like you and a personal forture. She can keep this up, right? Or can she?

[ac1]

Shocking. Just wait, Oprah will return, and remind women it's okay to change our minds. Thanks for that. The media goes out of its way to tout Obama's wide appeal, while neglecting the fact that Hillary's appeal is just as great and consistent - except for young white males (what's that about?). Amazingly, she did pretty great among youth voters in CA, not to mention exit polls show that voters approve of her and Obama equally- despite the Obama spin otherwise.

[AnninCA]

What's too bad is that her message has importance for AA voters, too. But it's clear that race is calling that vote.

[Bertrude]

Yeah well tel her ral life supporters to fork over some cash, because Obama's does.

[sonofloud]

Great post!