Clock Ticking for a Hillary Presidential Bid

Fox News ^ | October 12, 2003 | Peter Brownfeld

[buzzyboop]

Notwithstanding her star power, or the fact that she can raise money and build an organization, some political experts say the drop-dead date has already passed for Sen. Hillary Clinton to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

Clinton's husband, the former president, a relative unknown at the time, officially launched his campaign on Oct. 4, 1991, though he had been campaigning in key states and building a political base before then. Still, since Bill Clinton's late entry, the date has been a guidepost for would-be candidates, said Democratic Party spokeswoman Deborah DeShong.

[buzzyboop]

This won't stop the beast. Everyone knows that Hilliary thinks the rules don't apply to her.

[stanz]

Never underestimate the power of evil.

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[Consort]

If the polls had shown that the Dems would win the Recall, she probably would have been there to use the occasion to launch her candidacy.

[IronJack]

I'm cautiously optimistic that the California recall election was a repudiation of Clintonian tactics, and that the sun has indeed set on the Witch Queen's empire.

[Astronaut]

Hitlery isn't interested in "running" for the presidency. That is for the common people, not royalty like her hideousness. Hillary, Slick Willie, and Punk McAuliffe have cooked up a scenario whereby she can be "drafted" next summer, thus avoiding a year of media scrutiny. The left wing media will fawn and slobber all over her from August until the election in November, with no serious look at her qualifications (or lack thereof) to be president. She will try to slime her way into the White House without doing the hard work of campaigning.

[Ronin]

She's going to run. I know it, everyone knows it. Every time the poll numbers for Bush drop another fraction, the voices in her head get louder.

She cannot afford to let another Demoncrap run and win.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Deadlines a concern? Nonsense. The undead have no biological clock!

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

If there is a deadlocked Democrat Convention, and Bush looks beatable, she will step in.

[SpyGuy]

some political experts say the drop-dead date has already passed for Sen. Hillary Clinton to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

Nope. She is letting the other nine do the grunt work anti-Bush/anti-Republican campaigning for her. She can always step in at the last minute and "steal" the Demoncratic Primary out from under the current nine candidates. She could easily get the majority of Demoncratic votes without a single day of official Primary campaigning.

I think she is doing two things: 1) Still trying to gauge which way the American political winds are blowing; 2) Reserving her campaign war chest for the fight against Bush if she decides to take the Primary.

If she enters the campaign now, she will have to spend time, money, and political points fighting against the other nine candidates. Why should she, when she knows she can take the Primary with zero expenditure of effort and funds? Plus, campaigning now will expose her to attack from her Demoncratic colleagues. That would do more damage to her than any attack mounted by the Bush Administration.

[SpyGuy]

Exactly. See my post #10.

[arasina]

"She will try to slime her way into the White House..."

ooooh, the picture that brings to mind! Disgusting! (Wonder if she'll leave a trail?)

Better do it this year, Hillary. It will be too late in '08.

[jocon307]

"She will try to slime her way into the White House without doing the hard work of campaigning."

Yes, she will. But let her try, that's all I can say.

[alloysteel]

In the reality in which Herself exists, the rules most assuredly do NOT apply....

[PLMerite]

I don't know if I'm ready for eight years of pResident Evil.

[camas]

true, she can't stand to answer a bunch of questions. they will wait to the last moment.

[gg188]

This underestimates the media assist she will get. In the first hours after an announcement that she's running, she'll be the beneficiary of publicity that 100 million dollars couldn't purchase. Add up every media dollar the nine dwarfs have spent to date---she'll get that much gratis the first day. She knows she can marshall the forces of the fifth column/fellow-traveller lamestream media. She'll get more face time on Rather/Brokaw/Jennings the first week than Dean/Kerry/Clark get in months collectively.

Also---this analysis doesn't address Clark's role, which is as minion, puppet and boy for the Clintons.

Two words: Clinton and McAuliffe.

[ctonious]

If there is a deadlocked Democrat Convention, and Bush looks beatable, she will step in.

Wow. Hadn't even considered the deadlocked convention scenario. And no way would it happen by accident, either. The Clintons are no amateurs at political assasinations. Perhaps they will deftly secrete the poisons from their bulging FBI files on the front runner of the moment - just to handicap all of them so they're short of a winning number at the finish line.

I hope somebody on our side has this forecast as a possible Clinton hit job, and will be ready to give strategery to the hopelessly stupid and cowed deer 'Rats staring at that Arkansas semi's headlights.

[gg188]

I think she and Bill have come to realize that running and LOSING against Bush is better than risking another Dem running and WINNING. If Hil runs and loses, the Clintons will still run the party until 08, and she will be the choice then by acclaimation. If, however, Clark or Dean manage to beat Bush, Hil wouldn't be able to run until '12 at the earliest. The Clintons are hoping to have Chelsea groomed for '16.

[Lancey Howard]

Under current rules, a deadlocked convention is still possible, and the wide Democratic field without a clear front-runner improves the odds.

That is exactly what the Clintons are in the careful process of orchestrating. Wes Clarke is the key. He is the key to convention chaos. But there is a backup plan in place as well.

Here's what I predict:
Clarke/Clinton

It is the perfect win/win situation for Hillary.
If Clarke gets the nomination and wins, it sets up Hillary for '08 against a non-incumbent. (Yeah, Clarke knows why he is there and he would most definitely NOT seek a second term. Or ELSE, LOFL! The Clintons have that in the bag already.) If Clarke loses, it will be Clarke who lost, not Hillary, so she saves face. In either event, she is set up for an '08 run. Win/win (for her).