Ground Report: Clinton Campaign Aimless in Texas
"This is pretty much last minute," Hillary Clinton says to the room full of true believers in a union hall in Houston. "My good friend, your congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee, we were in New Orleans together, and she uh, she said to me, uh, late last night, 'hey Hillary Clinton, you gotta, you know, get over to the southside of Houston. You gotta come to Houston.' I find [myself] accustomed to do whatever Sheila Jackson would do." So on a bit of a lark, apparently, Hillary and Sheila Jackson jaunt from New Orleans to Houston for an impromptu Saturday night mini-rally. Both women are hoarse. Lee, in that matriarchal Maya Angelou way, appears indefatigable. Clinton is animated and bright, with a rosy-cheeked tubercular glow and the glitter of exhaustion in her eye. After a day berating Barack Obama ("Shame on you!") in Cincinnati and making an eleventh-hour appeal to African-American leaders in New Orleans, Clinton still hasn't had enough. The small throng in Houston greets her lustily. Clinton, from fatigue, sounds punch-drunk, but she seems happy, genuinely happy, to be with these Houston supporters.
"It would really be wonderful to have two presidents in the same bed," the Baptist preacher Moderator Williams says by way of introducing Hillary Clinton, who has taken the stage with a small entourage of African-American leaders--not that this show of solidarity means anything to this working class white and Hispanic crowd, all of whom already are ardent fans. And surely this is the last time Moderator Williams, who also brags that he has 150 ministers "under my control," will have the opportunity to share anything with Senator Clinton. But she laughs, seemingly amused, at his remark. "I've never quite stopped to think about that 'two presidents in a bed' before. I guess this is how politics makes for strange bedfellows."
Hillary Clinton says she's been "thinking about strong Texan women," and that leads her to Barbara Jordan, and to a promise to fund NASA and a bit of reminiscence about "when I wanted to be an astronaut all those years ago." For twenty-five minutes she rambles through her February stump speech, every sentence interrupted by wild applause. And then she's gone, after promising that "we'll have a really big event [in Houston] next week." She has yet to see southside Houston. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall just inside the 610 Loop isn't really anywhere--just like the Clinton Campaign this Texas weekend. If there is a strategy for winning here, it is not apparent. The late-night rally is pointless--almost all the crowd has already voted--and even counter-productive. Tomorrow is a phone bank outreach, but having waited in line for three and four hours to see Hillary, many of these women will feel that they've done their job for Sunday, having gone to church Saturday night.
While Hillary has spent an hour in Houston, Saturday her husband has scheduled six campaign appearances from Corpus Christi to Killeen to El Paso. This is a brutal regimen, and perhaps partly for reasons of finance, all the rallies are outdoors, one on a hike & bike trail, the last four in various shopping center parking lots. Both Hillary and Bill Clinton, and even Chelsea, who spoke in Edinburg and Brownsville before joining her mother in Houston, are working South Texas again and again, as if, on the one hand, they plan to make a stand there, and on the other, they don't quite trust the allegiance of their base. Geographically, this strategy, if it is one, looks like a retreat.
The turnout numbers for the first three days of early voting here may have something to do with the difference between Obama and Hillary's campaigns. In South Texas, which is almost 90% Hispanic, the turnout has been half again to twice as high as in 2004. In Dallas, Houston and Austin and their suburbs, however, Democratic primary turnout has been from 400 to 800 percent of 2004. These state senate districts are widely believed to be Barack Country.
At the same time this weekend Barack Obama, having left Texas after a rally of 30,000 people Friday night in front of the state capitol in Austin, has used his surrogates to fan out through the state, both to act as place-holders for him, until he can get there himself, and to lay down markers for a presidency. Federico Pena, a native of South Texas and Bill Clinton's former Energy Secretary, has held town hall meetings in San Antonio, Laredo and El Paso, ostensibly on energy and immigration. Several of Obama's foreign policy advisors have been conducting panel discussions in Fort Worth, Waco, Austin and San Antonio. Senator John Kerry has spoken about health care and Veterans' issues in Galveston, Brownsville and Del Rio. These kinds of events, which Obama has been sponsoring at least as far back as the fall, give the lie to the accusation that his policies are light on substance. On the other hand, these "discussions" are tailored to Obama's temperament, in that they are carried out in his name but he doesn't actually have to sit through them. Likely these meetings are a harbinger of several aspects of an Obama presidency and a warning to mid-level Obamacrats on how they would be used.
Midday Saturday, John Kerry, along with state senator Rodney Ellis, who is campaigning for Obama here, and various proponents of VA reform were the guests of Frontera de Salud, a group of University of Texas Medical School residents and nurses that runs free health clinics in South Texas. The Galveston forum was sparsely attended, and the hope--palpable in the participants who are trying to change the VA--that they would really attack the issues was not fulfilled. John Kerry, having returned from Afghanistan only hours before, had a hard time turning from a jet-lagged account of a near failure of his helicopter up on the border with Pakistan to the fortunes of Barack Obama. In the end, however, he made the switch; like two weeks before in California, he spoke with the spirit and suppleness and ease he should have brought to his own presidential campaign. But Kerry didn't have much time to give the medical community in Galveston, and soon the event was over. The leaders of Frontera de Salud (not endorsing any candidate) rushed to encircle state senator Ellis. "Don't you want to talk to Senator Kerry?" Ellis asked, laughing. "No, no, we've been waiting to see you," they replied, for Frontera de Salud needs state funding. Beyond that, the group wanted Rodney Ellis to convey to Barack Obama that they would like a seat at the table on health care. And so a small piece of the foundation is laid.
This was the day I was trying to get a sense on the ground of the Hispanic vote. Hillary events here can have the atmosphere of cult goddess rites, so it was bracing to speak with people like the UT residents who may vote for her but retain a measure of perspective. Juan Martinez, a third-year resident in cardiology from South Texas, talked to me for a few minutes. He had the news from his family down in Cameron County. "I heard Hillary Clinton had to put out the call and bus in students to fill the stands," he said.
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I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO INFORMED IN VOTING AS I AM THIS TIME AROUND. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING BOTH DEMS AND AT FIRST I WAS THRILLED HILLARY WAS SO AHEAD. HER BEHAVIOR HAS MADE ME SICK, AND I FEEL EMBARASSED WITH HER ATTITUDE AND WORDS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS. IF OBAMA CAN MAKE SO MANY PEOPLE LISTEN TO HIM, AND FEEL MOVED, HE CAN WINE AND DINE ALL THE ONES GEORGE BUSH HASNT BEEN ABLE TO. HE MAKES PEOPLE LISTEN. HE GIVES A SOLUTION. THIS MAN HAS MOVED HALF A COUNTRY TO WANT TO VOTE. YOU GOTTA SALUTE THE GUY.
See that key on your computer marked "caps lock"? Push it.
I voted for Hillary in the Texas primary, but I have to say, that rust colored pantsuit is just awful.
"tubercular glow"? For Gods' sake.
morale must be plummeting among the ranks in her campaign. filling in the stands appears to be about as easy as pulling teeth.
She did it in IA @ the JJ dinner, then the Rove like part of her Campaign accused Obama of doing it. This is nothing new to them.
"It would really be wonderful to have two presidents in the same bed,"
______________________________________________
So how do you convince Bill to go for that?
so Sheila has not problem w/a co-presidency? NO wonder Cheney hasn't been impeached.
I'm really surprised that Hillary's elected local supporters aren' helping her campaign more with logistics for rallys. Bill stumping in shopping mall parking lots is a far cry from earlier on the campaign where they had so much control that they planted questions for the audience.
This is a pretty shocking description of the Texas campaign from the "experience" candidate with all the "insiders" at work.
It sounds like a disorganized and poorly thought out effort. While Obama's people seem focused, disciplined, and issue-centered.
Still, I got a laugh out of the line, "It would be wonderful to have two presidents in bed together." Just...no.
a friend of mine works in a call center that has begun taking phone calls for clinton's early voters in texas. although i've derided him about doing anything to screw up the voting process (no matter how tempted he is as an obama supporter), he has related to me the perceived education level of clinton's supporters. based on their language and syntax during the phone calls, the likely intellect of most pro-clinton voters isn't much above junior high level. and, although there's absolutely nothing wrong with that (many intelligent people aren't "college grads"), not showing an interest in scholastic pursuit can reflect a lack of desire to seek/research facts and to absorb information from the quickest, most superfical source as fact.
I remember when Al Gore and George Bush were in a debate. Al knew his stuff, and came prepared with facts and figures. In a very tight race, he was perceived as dull and boring. While GW came across as "likable." I'm sure GW is likable. A real southern charmer. The trouble with that is...likeable isn't good enough.
Sure everyone likes Gore now, and you'd think we would have learned a valuable lesson. But here we go again! Charm comes in many forms and this year's variety dishes out a lot of superficial stuff.
I live in Ohio and I have a master's degree. I attended a one hour seminar given by Bill Clinton 2 weeks ago and attended a rally where Hillary spoke last Friday night. They are both so intelligent, and passionate about our country. Hillary is offering very detailed solutions...just as Al Gore did...
I've visited Barack's web site, and read everything I can about him. His accomplishments are very thin. He avoided taking positions as a state legislator. True, he's very slick. Reminds me of GW that way.
I'm voting for Hillary.
By the way, has anyone read Joe Klein's piece in Time magazine?
Bravo buckeyelady!!
Go Hillary!!
Obama has detailed plans, and a crack economic team (and endorsed bye the inflation slayer), but I'm sure as a scholar you knew all that already?
The most telling interview is the Reno Gazette one, watch those back to back, and then tell me who is more specific.
Comparing Bush-Gore to Hillary-Barack? Hmm. That kind of mindset lead people to think that it didn't matter who won the 2000 election and thus voted Nader.
We didn't know Bush on a national level in 2000, as we know Hillary now. Also, I'd rather have Gore as my: president, drinking buddy, business partner or anything else requiring trust and ethics over Hillary.
Barack happens to have both; intelligence and charisma while being a man of high character. Neither Bush nor Hill can say that.
Both Obama and Clinton are extremely intelligent. But since Obama is also likable, he must be another George Bush.
*yawn*
You sound like a paid blogger for Hillary, buckeyelady.
We are sick of the Clinton bickering, whining, parsing, pandering and the constant "it's all about me" drama.
I had so much more respect for them BEFORE she started this campaign. I hope she gets out no later that March 5th before she does anymore damage to the Demcratic Party.
Another excellent report, Mayhill. I LOVE your posts.
Gee;
YOU THINK??!!
I guess all the current donations to Hillary's campaign are going to pay Mark Penn his millions (plus all the overdue hotel and cleaning service bills), which forces Bill to conduct "rallies" on park trails and mall parking lots... This is what the "inevitable" co-candidates and their campaign looks like these days--funny stuff!
Typiccal Hillary-Hating Obamamaniac.
Name-calling does not help your candidate.
Don't hate - -participate!
Annin! You're BACK! Hello, I'll see you on March 5 at the concession speech!
Annin please have HRC pay back the small business owners she stiffed in IA.
Nah, the donations pay for his doughnut runs. He is partial to the powdered sugar ones.
The Clinton campaign is so diminished. Bill pitching in the parking lots comes off like some old time snake oil salesman. Let's face it democrats, Bill blew the last years of his presidency with bad judgement. Hillary is self destructing NOW. Better sooner than later.
An excellent example of the different management styles of the two candidates: Obama steadily building a network, Clinton spinning around blowing smoke.
That's what the author says. That does not make it so.
lazarulLong: Here's what your hero is about:
No fact finding whatsoever on the part of the media. Look at Michelle Obama for example. When Barack became U.S. Senator in 2005, she received a $200,000 raise at her position as vice president of University of Chicago Hospitals, where she rakes in $317,000 a year, and where executives have donated $100,000 plus to his campaign. The same hospital that marks up its pharmaceuticals almost 600 percent over cost and gouges uninsured patients by 350 percent for the exact same services as the insured. They spent tens of millions of dollars on collection agency fees to go after these minorities and uninsured, yet Obama stood by and did nothing. Is this the kind of advocate for affordable healthcare we want in the White House?
And his Iraq voting record IS a fairy tale. It took him 16 months in the Senate before he made his first Iraq speech, and that was to oppose the Kerry plan for withdrawl of troops. He endorsed Lieberman over the anti-war Ned Lamont in the Conn. Senate campaign. He has voted for funding all along. He voted to reenact the Patriot Act when he said he would vote against it. He voted for the Bush Cheney's disgraceful energy plan!! He allowed openly anti-gay performers to campaign for him in South Carolina. He refused to have his photo taken with Gavin Newsom, the gay friendly mayor whose brave stand for gays and lesbians should be applauded. He supported the watered-down version of a bill that would have targeted nuke producers like Exelon, who leaked radioactive toxins in drinking water in Illinois. No surprise that Exelon is among his biggest contributors. He voted for the Yucca Mountain nuke waste facility.
Where is the change from old politics? I don't see it. I don't see it at all. His campaign spent $1.5 million in advertising in Florida. He has tons of lobbyists working for him and donating to his campaign. The list goes on and on.
You've been listening to Clinton spin. Just one example--you say that Obama voted for Yucca Mountain. Here's what Obama himself said:
"Now, I've never been in favor of Yucca Mountain, never voted for Yucca Mountain. I kept on saying, I'm opposed to Yucca Mountain. So, when you say that I'm in favor of Yucca Mountain, and I have repeatedly said, I'm not. What part of I'm not in favor of Yucca Mountain do you not understand? But that's how politics works."
You can check the facts on your other allegations yourself.
Did it ever occur to you the Chicago is an expensive city? Obama and Michelle make way less than they could of. Heck he could have possible been on the Sup court by now, or partner making millions,or fed judge.
Didi, your comments are so irrational and, how shall I put this? fact-challenged, that you are only harming Clinton with your defense of her. Give it a rest. Whatever you've got, it's not persuasive.
Hillary supporters may vote in the Texas primary, but it's hard to believe they will go to the evening caucus knowing she has no chance to win the election mathematically.
The evening caucuses are just as poor a way to elect a candidate as the caucuses in other states. Just like the super delegates, they were designed so that insiders and party people can overrule the voter in the street.
that's funny--as neither an insider or a
"party person", I had a great time participating in my first ever caucus. It took me about as much time as my normal voting process, given that I would have only had to stick around to nominate delegates.
Why do we have caucuses and not primaries in some states? Well, in the case of mine (Idaho), there hasn't been high enough voter turn out to even stage CAUCUSES, let alone finance primaries, in many counties until this year. So you want to have the people's vote count? CONVINCE THEM TO ACTUALLY VOTE.
March 4 is Hillary's Alamo in Texas and her NAFTA in Ohio....it's SO OVER already!!!!
She is in fact still winning the hispanic vote by two to one much to my chagrin. Her coalition is composed of the over 60 group and the uneducated and this is still a formidable force especially in Ohio.
Well Countess:
Are you suggesting the over 60 group and uneducated are less able than you to make an informed decision? Given the Obama poster examples on this site.. I doubt very much they represent the 'educated'; unless all universities in the US have forgotten to teach their students how to spell, how to have an informed debate, how to put a paragraph together using adjectives other f...k, sc..m, and a countless stream of street talk expletives. Is that what they're calling educated these days?
If so give me the uneducated any day. Hillary's uneducated posters are anything but, my friend. It may behoove you to read what they have to say. And it may also behoove you to show some respect to the 'uneducated'. Their life skills and most probably compassion and understanding of what's real and what counts, could teach you some valuable lessons.
And you're so well educated that you don't understand the basic principles of argumentation, Didi. Shows what your opinion of education is worth.
Sen Clinton (in Texas)can increase the hispanic vote 10x. Problem is that she's only competing in areas where there was previously LOW voter turnout in the PAST election. That means the same low delegate count. Her campaign people were not ready... She looses Texas.
http://www.lonestarproject.net/DemPrimary.htm
http://www.lonestarproject.net/files/Texas_Delegate_Selection_Process.pdf
Yes, we are all morons. What a great message of hope and inclusivity. Change we can believe in? What a crock.
Well it just goes to show the Hispanic voter isn't going to be fooled by a bunch of media promoted hype. I think they've been fooled enough and know to trust what a person does and not just a pile of pretty words.
Hillary has proven herself - she's kept her word and can be trusted. Your candidate's actions are clearly demonstrated in his inaction with helping the gross overcharging of the sick and poor. He could have helped them but chose not to. The proof is in the action - words are cheap. I guess your guy was too cheap to fight for them. Must have needed the money to pay for the 1.6 million dollar home.
He sure couldn't afford that on his salary. Looks like the sick and poor paid for it instead. What a hero.
For gods sake stop lying and do your research your spins and bullshit are getting soooooo boring ... back your facts up with proof if you have proof but since you do not have proof you have to engage in attacks that betray your candidate of choice ... if you want to shill for Clinton do so with facts --- wait? You don't have any ... because you are wrong wrong wrong innuendo does not cut it
If you can't come up with something better to accuse somebody of than something he didn't do, give up, Didi. Everybody didn't do something. You didn't stop 9/11, Didi. What a hero you are.
Dear Hillary,
I live in Dallas, TX and I just wanted to report that Dallas is Obama Country. I have friends in Houston who live on that same "southside" that you and Jackson-Lee visited last weekend. I think you might want to know that they are backing Sen. Obama also. And my co-workers parents, who live in Austin, oh yeah, they are for Sen. Obama as well as their friends in San Antonio.
By the way, I have in-laws who live in Nebraska and they wanted me to let you know that they do count. But since you don't think so, they are voting for Sen. Obama also.
HAHAHA- this was great- i laughed out loud. So you know- NEW YORK is also Obama's country- don't let the results of Super Tuesday fool you. I was one of 200 hundred to go to Maryland and one of a few dozen to go to Wisconsin-
To the skeptics, the pundits, the commentators and the cynics- this show of enthusiasm from Obama supporters should make you PROUD- we're getting involved in the political process not because of speeches but because of what the man who makes those speeches stands for. I'm 20, and yes I was drawn in by a speech- but I stayed and volunteered after I did my research. I know it's scary- college kids canvasing instead of partying, watching the news instead of entertainment tonight. You'll get used to it- in the meantime, don't leave us hanging. We need your help it's almost General Election time and if we're taking our government back EVERYONE needs to get involved.
Good for you!!!! I am over 50 and have gotten involved in Obama's campaign after doing lots of research, too! I have been voting for 36 years now - and, never in that time, have I felt such a need to be involved! It's a wonderful thing to see young and old, rich and poor, and people of all colors coming together in this election! Restores my faith in a way it has NOT been in a very long time! shm259, I am proud of you and your friends!
shm259: I'd take another look at what he stands for my friend. The research I'm doing is showing a heck of a different picture from the one you're painting. I suggest we compare notes. What do you say?
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Posted February 25, 2008 | 12:04 PM (EST)