Posted on 08/09/2005 1:49:16 PM PDT by Crackingham
To some voters, she is a ruthless Machiavelli-in-a-pantsuit who will do anything to resume residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. To others, she is the brilliant and inspiring golden girl, poised to make history as America's first female president. Nearly all Americans have an opinion about Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior senator from New York, and if she runs for president, as expected, she will begin her quest for the Democratic nomination well ahead of her rivals. On one point, still with 2-1/2 years to go before the first caucuses or primaries, political analysts agree: The nomination is hers to lose.
She could yet lose it, they add. Just as Democratic voters had second thoughts about Howard Dean's "electability" on the eve of the 2004 Iowa caucuses, so, too, could the earliest primary voters in 2008 get collective cold feet and opt for a safer choice. "There may be a 'eureka!' moment early in 2008, when Demo- crats find a more moderate candidate who can actually win in November," says Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Of course, the first hurdle for Senator Clinton is to persuade New Yorkers to reelect her in 2006 to her current post. In that contest, her likely opponent - Republican Jeanine Pirro, district attorney of Westchester County - is already making an issue of Clinton's presidential ambitions. "Hillary Clinton is not running to serve the people of New York," Ms. Pirro said Monday upon announcing her candidacy for the Senate seat. "We are just a way station in her run for the presidency."
There's no arguing that Clinton would bring a trunkful of baggage to a presidential race, including her controversial role in her husband's presidency. But some pollsters remain sanguine about her chances.
"She's got name recognition, she has a solid constituency, and she has a targeted women's constituency," says John Zogby, an independent pollster based in Utica, N.Y., who has watched Clinton campaign. "As first lady, she started out with being a hero to women working outside the home. During the latter part of the '90s, during [the Monica Lewinsky scandal] and impeachment, she became a hero to traditional wives. Whether she orchestrated it or not, she got people to admire her."
Still, her challenge in the general election would be stark: While most nonincumbent candidates start as a bit of a blank slate, Clinton would come out of the gate with high negatives baked into a significant portion of the American psyche during her 14 years in the national eye. The latest Gallup numbers on her, from May, showed that 39 percent of the public viewed her negatively. That same poll found 47 percent of registered voters either "not very likely" or "not at all likely" to vote for her in the 2008 general election.
On the flip side, Gallup found, 52 percent of voters would be "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to vote for her.
Though it's extremely early to be gauging her chances, Clinton's '08 prospects are an evergreen topic of conversation in political circles. The record $6 million second-quarter fundraising total for her Senate reelection made headlines in July - and reaffirmed her prowess as a money machine. Pundits made note, too, of her recent agreement to head up the centrist Democratic Leadership Council's project to craft a new agenda and message for the party. (The DLC was the ideological home base of her husband's presidential campaigns.)
Republicans, too, keep her in the news, either by partnering with her on legislation or as a foil on social issues. Early this month, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, the No. 3 Senate Republican, struggling in his own reelection bid, challenged the "radical" Clinton to a debate on child- rearing during an appearance on ABC's "This Week."
Oh, that's right. . . They already have.
It'll never happen. She'll be 61 in 2008, if she lives that long. Way too old for the nomination. The Dems will not dig up a mummy twice in a row.
If politics is at all cyclical, look for a spring chicken in '08. Like Kennedy in '60, and Carter in '76 and Clinton in '92---sixteen year intervals.
There is a streak of immature idealism in the Dems, and she appeals neither to the immature nor to idealists, never mind both. Plus the Clinton legacy is stale and sour, even for the Dems; BJ is an embarrassment now, they never know when he's going to blurt out a compliment about a Republican. Meanwhile, she has been known to vote hawkishly.
No, she won't win the nomination. They don't trust her, and she's a hag.
Not all NYers...thanks!
Sir, you insult the world's oldest profession. These ladies must actually perform a service to please their customers.
OMG did they say that with a straight face...I don't know any woman that admires ruthless women like her. She's willing to live with and protect a sexual predator on her walk up the social ladder. Nothing special about her kind.
If Hillary wins I will join Butch and Sundance in Bolivia.
I have my "Run, Hillary, Run" bumper sticker on the front bumper of my SUV.
That's New Yorkers. The presidency requires a broader base of support.
New Yorkers would vote for Cher if she ran, and sang "If I Could Turn Back Time" at every campaign stop.
Personally, I don't think she has a chance. Depending on the GOP candidate, of course, I think she'll be lucky to do even as well as Kerry.
Maybe she will return the silverware?
But if she wins you could join "Butch" right there in DC.
She has a huge Lie-a-BILL-a-ty in that husband of hers!
LOL! On the front bumper?
I'm gonna have to get one!
Not a problem. Seems he is a 'non-person': http://kcal9.com/national/Pirro-Photos-aa/resources_news_html
In 2008, Hillary's problem (and the Dems) problem will not be Bush....It IS Rove. Hillary wants him gone....All you had to do was listen to what Bubba said about Rove last week. It came through loud and clear.
Don't forget, Mandy Grunwald was Bubba's manager for his elections. Now, she's Hillary's media advisor and best friend. Mandy is also the wife of....Matt Cooper.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.