The Comeback Kid: Hillary Clinton Does a McCain
Everyone is trying to scramble to explain Hillary Clinton's turnaround tonight. Negative campaigning. Aggressivness. Elbow grease. NAFTA. Rezko. Saturday Night Live. Lots of stuff.
But the bottom line is that Barack Obama's campaign had some air let out of the balloon this week by a media that began to feel guilty for imbalanced coverage of the two. And Obama's folks lost control of the agenda-setting function that a frontrunner usually has.
After the Wisconsin debate, I thought that Clinton had begun to acquiesce to Obama's surge. Many on her campaign -- at high levels -- thought this was the case as well. And what I thought was taking place after was a "negotiation" for what the role of the Clinton franchise would be.
That is now a dead narrative. Clinton is back and wants to win. Obama still has a magic aura, but it is a bit more tarnished this week than last.
And the bottom line tonight -- despite the fact that Obama won Vermont and that Texas is so close and the caucus process so mismanaged that it's hard not to believe that a recount won't be demanded -- is that Hillary Clinton "did a McCain" tonight -- and she's back in the race. . .big time.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
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[Disclosure: Edwards was my first choice, am likely to vote for Obama, will not vote for Clinton.]
I think the Canadian NAFTA memo significantly hurt Obama, more than any negative campaigning on Clinton's part.
Part of Obama's strength was that people didn't consider him to be "just another Corporatist Democrat," especially in parts of the country most affected by rising unemployment and recession. The Canadian NAFTA memo brings Obama's sincerity into question, on a pocketbook issue no less.
"Political positioning," my ass. I've had enough of Democrats who talk tough, then cave in to the corrupt, old-money interests that are destroying this country. If I'm not confident that Barack Obama will take meaningful action to address working-class issues, he won't get my vote, period.
But Hillary "spun" the memo. The facts (aide INVITED to consulate around the corner from his office, given a tour, chatted with the consular general (NOT the Canadian ambassador), of which 3 or 4 minutes were spent on NAFTA.
The memo was written by an aide at the meeting, who could easily have gotten details wrong (happens all the time in meetings where minutes are not being scrupulously kept by someone who's job that usually is to do). It all seemed very casual.
Plus, the Canadian government backed Obama's comments. (His initial confusion about the circumstances of the "meeting"/ tour support the informal and spontaneous nature of it. Hardly a calculated plan to "send a message to Canada" when he isn't even the nominee yet.
Hillary has shown she will exploit ANYTHING for political advantage (race, religion, inaccurate informatio
Plus, her Rove-inspired tactics will be great practice for the general election. Couldn't wish for better.
kinda like Oblapie exploiting the raciest thingy ehh?
Hillary does a Hillary!! Hillary Clinton '08!
As the overdue and prudent scrutiny of the rising star Barack Obama unfolds it could get everybody together to finally get rid of the 2 party farce. Duke Cunninham is in prison for money laundering and doing it through a real estate deal, and Obama's House deal is the same kind of "judgement" that aligns him with Resko. There is genuinely something there ,In fact, Obama has employees in the courtroom taking minutes during the case. The Banks have a legal mandate for federal compliance and should have filled a report on the transaction according to the security laws and regulations, and further inacted in the Patriot Act that makes Politicians and people of "notoriety", commonly reffered to as "PEP" whose transactions are supposed to be reported to the authorities. The minutes of the planning and zoning committee meetings that are also supposed to scrutinize real property transfers tand consider the public interest before any change of original property lines would also be interesting to see who pushed the deal through for Obama/ Resko. What the bottom line is remains the same, however, the country is getting stuck with the three worst choices, even after starting out the election process with a promising(?) field of over a dozen contenders for the White House.
You are really sick! How can you equate the Resko/ Obama sitution with Duke Cunningham? Obama has not been charged with any crime. No one has provided any evidence that there was any influence peddling on his part. Please go Check the record of all elected officials who at one tome or another have without their knowledge received donations from unseemly characters. Duke Cunningham knowingly received bribes. He was confessed and was convicted. So, Until Obama is accused of a crime and convicted , please stop your stupid and unfounded comparison aimed at assassinating his character.
Senator Obama is running a campaign full of inspiration and hope for change, presumably against unethical conduct, professional lobbyist influences, and transparency in government procurements and budgetary/monetary policy. Having been a Real Estate Broker for 21 years I would not have "brokered" the transaction for Resko to "help out" Obama, but maybe that is why my business was never sued. Obama's Charactor that needs to be scrutinized, before he gets the nomination, now, more than the others because we "know" the disgusting people Hillary Clinton and McCain are,. New National Political "Actors" shouldn't be given free passes into Government, much less the White House, in my opinion. I am tired of shadow government operatives and puppets!.
I think they need to hitch there trailers together..
Works for me.
I love hitching tailers together.
You mean the Resko and Obama trailers?
Yes it was good to see Hillary smiling and thanking the people of Rhode Island and Ohio, and maybe Texas, though the big population areas around Houston and Dallas aren't in yet. Could go either way.
Both Hillary and Barack gave great speeches, so here we go again.
Two great democrats carrying on the fight and putting John McCain on page ten from now until the end of the democratic convention.
A lot of people whine about it giving McCain an advantage. Hogwash, he's old news from now on.
Our candidates continue to take the forefront of the media and pound home democratic points and push George Bush's surrogate further into oblivion. Bon chance dems. Donate!
You nailed it right there. Listen up America, none of us want a quitter. And if you thought Bob Dole was exciting, you're gonna love John 100 More Years of War McCain.
"The grownups started to pay attention?" The "grownups" have BEEN paying attention. They've been paying close attention to HRC's underhanded, disloyal (to the Democrats), slash and burn, ego driven tactics that play directly into the hands of the repubs.
Let her have her wins. Honestly, at first I was disappointed, but now I'm energized. This is actually very good for Obama and his supporters. No one should ever get complacent . We can't let our guard down for a second. Just like a boxer, Barack needs to spar with a strong opponent to keep his game going. She's doing him a favor by warming him up for McCain. A smack or two will keep him on his toes and get his supporters geared up to push even more. Especially considering that, according to the Ohio polls, Hillary seems to attract the racist element in the Democrats. Wow, how deep does your racism go if you are a DEMOCRAT and a racist. Gotta fight that mind-set no matter what.
I, for one, immediately donated to his campaign again and even more importantly, I WILL get involved in making phone calls, canvassing, and doing anything I can that hung back on so far . Hillary is a great spur to make us stronger. Keep smiling, Hil - bring it on!
What poll tells you that the racists vote for Clinton? The only data based on race says African Americans go for Obama, what?, 80-20. Hillary doesn't get that proportion of Hispanics nor do women break for her by those margins. It appears race leads to blacks voting for the black candidate. Women and Hispanics are less monolithic. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been threatening black superdelegates: do yu want to be the reason the first serious black candidate for president loses? Idntity politics, working against Hillary.
Sadly, there was a poll in Ohio showing that for people that considered 'race' an issue, 77 or so went for Clinton. But that might be because they thought he was muslim.
Race Man: How Barack Obama played the race card and blamed Hillary Clinton
http://tnr
ZeeZee,
Inspiring: "Hillary is a great spur to make us stronger." You are right. We will bounce back stronger than before. It's a trial by fire now.
Hmmmmmm I wonder who this election is going to boil down to.
Look, up in the sky...its a bird...it'
It's Super Voter!
Please, Hillary does a Huckabee. She's won a couple states. Good for her.
Let's see. A couple of states? Like New York, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee.
Each time Clinton is counted down and out the Obamabots laugh it up and each time she makes a come back and they complain and whine. WHAAAAAAAA
Keep crying kids. Don't wet your diapers while you do.
Satriasis:
Go Hillary! I hope come november you will not be asking us "Obamabots" to support Hillary. You have abused and denigrated us so much that in Novemeber we might prefer cry and "wet" our "diapers." rather show up to vote for Hillary. The reason being that Hillary supporters have not only attacked Obama but they have continually demeaned his supporters. Never mind the fact that some of his supporters are some of the most dedicated members of the Democratic party who would never suggest that John McCain is better than Hillary Clinton. Well satyrasis, I hope if Hillary is the Democratic nominee, and looses in November, you won't be crying blaming the media, obamabots, insignificant states, etc., etc. By the way, I think Hillary and her supporters still hold the record of crying and whining! Everytime she looses they always blame some body: the media bias, the caucuses, insignificant red states, deluded, stupid, blacks, Obama cults. I am just waiting to see what they say in case she looses in Mississippi and Wyoming.
That she has won two states and might take Texas is not a good thing, given her tactics. Can she win ethically? Doesn't look like it. And guess what to GoldCanyonGal--I am probably more "grownup" than you, since I am older than most people. And I DO NOT want to return to the Clinton years.
I think Obama should call Hillary & congratulate her (something Clinton has done what? once in 14 of his victories?) Then we all should go to bed & wake up tomorrow & look at the delegate count. Clinton had to win Ohio & Texas by huge margins, which she did not. And if you read Jonathan Alter's piece in NEWSWEEK today "Hillary's Math Problem" you'll see she CANNOT win, the numbers just are not there nor will they be. Let's see what the new count is. Let the superdelegates come over to Obama & let Hillary fight all the way to Denver, she's only going to anyway. It's about her, not us. It's always been about her.
Thanks gaygardner. I needed that.
How the hell does a delegate draw put her back in the race? She ran an incredibly negative campaign over the past week and she pulled her fat ass out of the fire. But she can't win. And she certainly can't beat McCain.
Obama said it all tonight: "The entire world is watching." And what they've seen from Hillary is more of the same fear-mongering, negative bullshit we've gotten from Bush over the past 7 1/2 years.
"She ran an incredibly negative campaign over the past week "
Honey you ain't seen nuthin' yet. If he can't take some little butterfly punches, what do you think will happen when the repub machine rolls over him? Hillary's just tuffin' him up for the main event, and if he can't take it, then maybe she'll have to do it herself.
By the way, this contest is good for Dems -- keeps the voters interested.
lamarch5:
Go Hillary! out negative the Republicans against a fellow Democrat. That really shows how tough you are. If that does not work you could always go back to your feminine side, may be shade a tear or two, as you did in New Hampshire when all these mean men were attacking you. If the mean men Democrats challenge you they are viewed as anti-women. However if you run vile negative, Republican-like, attacks against a male candidate, you are seen as tough, The only Democrat who could withstand the negative attacks from Republicans. I still can't figure out which Hillary you are: the sensitive New Hampshire Hillary or the tough, negative, Texas/Ohio Hillary, who thinks John McCain better than your fellow Democrat Obama?
those super delegates who jumped ship and switched to B.O., need to switch back! Seriously.
You go Bobdob!
Timing. Politics is all about the moment, defining it, capturing it, profiting from it. The Tony Rezko trial was a godsend. It started on Monday, which prompted The New York Times and scores of columnists to write about it over the weekend. The perfect hook for Clinton forces to raise questions about his judgment — only days after airing the infamous 3 a.m. scare ad that also questions his judgment. Coincidence? They don’t happen in politics.
Substance will always win over time. Hype is fades like a fad. Go Hillary !
gsikev:
Remember the Hillary hype might fade too! Just remember even she wins using Republican dirty trick tactics she may not be able to out Republican Republicans. But of course time will tell. I am just waiting to see how she campaigns on experience in comparison to John McCain. As for me I will be with Ralph Nader because when it comes to "substance" he is way ahead of all of them. I also like the fact that he is asking us to vote not based on fear but based on hope, and rational analysis of our interests.
Woo HOO!!!
Oh of course--According to Obama supporters, it couldn't be possible that his campaign has fallen flat. Gee--It must be that Hillary "played dirty." Give us a break. And give the voters in Ohio and Texas and Rhode Island credit for voting their conscience and not being bullied by the empty Obama steamroller. Here's three words to sum it up: Rezko, Rezko, REZKO! Sure. Right. Obama represents a "new" kind of politics. Go ahead--Keep leveling viscious personal attacks on Hillary. The undecided voters are getting sick of it.
No she did, and it worked to her advantage. This is good we see this how Obama responds will ultimately determine his electability against McCain.
timinhi:
Wait until the Republicans repeat Dubai, Dubai, DUBAI. and may be White water, White water, WHITEWATER! Obama could have cited all the sleezy donors to the Clinton campaign, some of whom have already been convicted. But, unlike the Clintons, he is decent man who does believe in the politics of personal destruction. I challenge you to cite a specific example of Obama "leveling viscious personal attacks on Hillary. I think what you are doing is projecting: Having condemned Obama by association, you had to clean up by claiming that Obama levels "viscious personal attacks on Hillary." Please cite the evidence to support this claim. I think Hillary played dirty with the scare tactics of the 3 a.m. red phone commercial and the hype about the Canadian and NAAFT. Hillary also elevated McCain while Attacking Obama. Since Hillary endorsed McCain over Obama, I am sure she will not be disappointed if she is the Democratic nominee and looses to McCain. That is why Obama supporters should seriously consider Ralph Nader in case she is the nominee. Frankly, she confirmed to me that she prefers John Mccain over her fellow Democrat sen. Obama.
nk007--I second your emotion. What specific dirty tricks can HRH loyalists cite against Obama in his above-board, gracious, deferential and altogther civil run against her? Maybe he hasn't run enough AGAINST. He's tried to be a fellow-democrat, not a back-stabber. Sorry. Turning the other cheek on Madame cheek implants will just getcha sucker punched.
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Posted March 4, 2008 | 11:49 PM (EST)