Unity Too Cute by Half?

Michelle Obama and Senate hopeful and former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen are holding an event today in Manchester, aimed at getting Democratic and independent women in New Hampshire to support Obama. That's a good strategy. Senators Obama and Clinton are holding a manufactured, non-retail, dog-and-pony show tomorrow in Unity, N.H., that might hurt as much as it helps.

It's not because New Hampshire voters won't turn out-- they will. It's not because they don't want to see Senator Clinton or Senator Obama-- they do. But strategically, Obama does not need to overtly court Clinton voters in New Hampshire. Obama needs the independent voters who thought he had a lock on New Hampshire and used McCain to send him a message to view him as a real change candidate. New Hampshire indies will look for the Party Nominee that better embodies and communicates change.

The Unity event is a Democratic red-meat event. That's fine during the primary cycle, but now it's time to move to the middle. New Hampshire is small, with only four electoral votes, but it can make all the difference as a battleground state. Al Gore, for example, would have been the 41st president if he'd won here, something that should have been achievable once Bush beat McCain for the nomination in 2000.

Speaking of President Bush, he knows a lot about how manufactured, non-retail, dog-and-pony show events go over in New Hampshire. Voters showed him loud and clear that nothing replaces a handshake and a look in the eyes to get a vote in New Hampshire.

Comments

[justobserve]

It's enough already about the Clintons. Obama should not bend over backward to please them or their supporters. If she really has 18 million supporters, they would have donated two bucks each to clear her debt already. But she obviously doesn't have them now so the Clintons should pay for their own decision to incur more debt when it was clear they can't recoup it.

[Lexie]

Standing up with Hillary Clinton IS going to the center. The people who prefer her are more conservative. It doesn't matter that they are doing this now. Most people are involved in summer and are not paying attention. Democratic political junkies will enjoy it. So what's the harm?

[Shrapnel]

Bill Clinton says Obama will have to "Kiss My Ass" for my support.

London Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2211812/Bill-Clinton-says-Barack-Obama-must-'kiss-my-ass'-for-his-support.html

[justobserve]

This link is fake? If it's real then it just meant to provoke. Bill should be out of the picture right now. No more Bill.

[StillAmused]

Yeah, right.

Let's line up all the brain-dead narratives, imagined attacks and invented controversies from the primaries and sautee them for the next five months, just in case one or two voters haven't gotten their full serving of toxic soup.

That'll accomplish a lot more than two Democrats getting past the prelims, dusting themselves off and standing together with a combined army of 40 million voters.

Good idea.

[leftcoastliberal]

To vote for someone because he or she looks you in the eye and shakes your hand is (how to put this diplomatically?) incredibly stupid. Any fool can be friendly, the point is to elect someone with brains, judgment, and good moral sense.

[lafrance]

i find the whole thing silly. Never before have I seen a candidate have to jump through hopes like Obama is expected to and all the salve the monumental egos of the Clintons and their rabid supporters. and neither will appreciate one iota anything anyone does because Clinton and her supporters feel they are owed constant attention.
it's such a farce and simply demeaning to presidential campaign.
Instead, her supporters should be helping Hillary with her debt and if they so overwrought by the campaign then, take a trip to the bookstore and get Politics for Dummies and learn about it. It's not about feelings and talking about them.
They all need to grow up and get over it.
And let Obama run his campaign like a adult and like it's suppose to be. If they can't take that too bad.

[mikekev58]

I voted for Hillary and personally I wish she wouldn't stand next to this man. But she's a loyal Democrat, and yes she does need help paying off her campaign. That kind of thing has been done before.

And the post and responses to the contrary, Barry has his work cut out for him with many of us who voted for Hillary.

I know you people don't want our votes, but he does.

"I know I'll get her voters..."

If you earn them, Barry, if you earn them.

[grumpygranny66]

mikekev58: Instead of venting your bitterness and hate of seeing Obama next to Hillary, why don't you send her a check... She should not have to be asking for help from her supporters to help pay off her debt... You people are ALL TAKE AND NO ACTION.......


Watch and see!!!!! As soon as Barack send us e-mail that he need financial support, we immediately respond...


So all you folks that have been trashing Barack, SHOULD DONATE TO HILLARY OR STFU.....

[walk0nwalls]

Could you guys please update your complaints? It's been months now, how long do you intend to keep a grudge?

There's a whole new, more legitimate reason (FISA) to raise issue with him so why are you beating the skeletal horse?

[WFV]

But she's asking you to support him. What more do you need?

[rubyrubyruby]

Unity? Fat Chance!

[grumpygranny66]

rubyrubyruby:Donate to your supporter to help her with her debt, instead of posting your hate;;;;;;

[dct1999]

Come on Ms. Donahue; you can't seriously believe that the Unity rally is about NH voters. The event will be meaningful for many voters across the country. Your cynical take is not a universal one.

[several]

"The Unity event is a Democratic red-meat event. That's fine during the primary cycle, but now it's time to move to the middle. "

No, it's not time to move to the middle. Moving to the middle and triangulating worked for Bill Clinton SIXTEEN YEARS AGO.

Gore an Kerry lost (or rather barely won but for the 'errors' in FL and OH) by moving to the middle. The time for triangulation is past.

Bill Clinton moved the middle toward the right. It's time to stand on principal and move the middle back to the middle by standing up for progressive principles.

Standing for what you believe in motivates more independents than wishy-washy pandering to those in the 'middle' has ever done.

[LaFilleEnRose]

Excuse me. Did Obama say this unity show is the only campaigning he's gonna do in NH? While you may be right that he does need to shake a lot of hands, why do you think this one event eliminates all that.

[bazokbros]

This to me an example of WAY over-analyzing this event and what it means to the voters. Again it's 4 months out and we have about 2 more months of general posturing of both candidates, but I don't see where there's a hidden negative message that will be taken away by voters.

Candidates kiss babies and sell apple pies, this isn't much different and basically try to promote "We are the World" all the time.

[JimR]

Agree that meeting in "Unity" is just too cutesy. Gag me.

Ooh, I know, how about when they take the stage together, they play "Ebony & Ivory"?

[DwH]

There is noting at all wrong about showing a united party, despite what some 'pundits (anyone with a laptop, apparently) may deem. Really, in America you are now damned by one side or the other within minutes of making a decision.

This is such a benign event, a welcome one, and it is not distracting from the message: A united Democratic party will win in November.

Please, enough with the overanalyzing, dismissive punditry. Why not get a job with a campaign and put some of that critical thinking to positive use?

[JimR]

"There is noting at all wrong about showing a united party, "

Never said there was.

"Really, in America you are now damned by one side or the other within minutes of making a decision."

Oh, get over yourself...

"Please, enough with the overanalyzing, dismissive punditry."

Please, enough with the hypersensitivity. All I said was it was too cutesy to hold it in Unity, N.H. I stand by that. PUKE!

[mcole]

i tell you, over-analysis of every single thing obama or billary does..its so tired..and yet they wont do some real reporting

[JMBrodie]

Yeah, it's corny. But I still like seeing them on the same side.

I think she'd make one hell of a Supreme Court justice.

[PKSSK]

I agree that the Unity event is just that, an event to show party unity. You're right Jennifer, Obama needs to spend time in NH to shore up the independent and mod conservative voters who are disgusted with the economy, lack of health care and Iraq war, which requires the human touch to confirm that he understands and feels their pain. I would not automatically assume that NH is a McCain state, especially since he has alligned himself with many of the Bush economic policies and his health care policy is serverly lacking.

[NotMcCain]

Hurt? Are you kidding? This event is symbolic (like the town) and can ONLY help.

The Democratic party will be completely energized seeing Hillary and Obama together, in unity, on the same stage in front of a big and enthusiastic crowd.

What a fantastic photo-op. CNN may even cover it!

[DwH]

I can't wait to see them together, and to se the party united against the republicans. Thanks to both campaigns for this event.