If Nominated, Hillary Clinton "A Certain Loser" in 2008, Opines Prof. Ken Bode

DePauw University News ^ | Feburary 10, 2006 | Prof. Ken Bode

[yoe]

February 10, 2006, Greencastle, Ind. - "Hillary has become sui generis, now as much a celebrity as a politician," writes Ken Bode of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Writing in today's Indianapolis Star, DePauw's Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism states, "in the opinion of those who set the opening odds for the 2008 Democratic nomination, she is definitely the frontrunner. Sen. Clinton is sure to win easy re-election in November. She is the best-heeled contender, with a savvy, loyal staff and Bill as resident braintruster. That's not a bad start. But the other part of the opening line on Hillary is this: If the Democrats nominate her, she is a certain loser. You hear this even from those who like Hillary, or want to."

Bode, former senior political analyst for CNN, contines, "The 'can't win' argument has footing because the 2008 election will not be decided on personality or competence, or experience. It will be decided on geography. The common sense derived from that fact works against Hillary. First, the Democrats must give up their post-Bill Clinton fantasy of winning in the South... The critical battleground for 2008 is the eight states of the Midwest. Some big states, some swing states. In 2004, four went for Bush, four for Kerry. Five were squeakers with margins of 1 to 3 percent. This is where the 2008 race will be decided and there is no reason to believe that nominating Hillary will add a single state to the Democratic column."

The professor believes other Democrats -- namely Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Tom Vilsack of Iowa and Evan Bayh of Indiana [this spring's commencement speaker at DePauw] -- would run stronger in those key states.

Bode also believes that Sen. Clinton has "been so busy grabbing opportunities to establish herself as a centrist that she's losing the support of important voices who might have been expected to argue that she deserves a chance... Writing on the current Republican spin characterizing Hillary as an angry harpy, Maureen Dowd says: 'Hillary's problem is not that she's angry. It's that she's not angry enough. From Iraq to Katrina and the assault on the Constitution, from Schiavo to Alito and NSA snooping, Hillary has failed to take the lead in voicing her party's outrage... The Republicans can't marginalize Hillary. She has already marginalized herself.'"

In conclusion, Bode writes, "If you're tempted to bet that Hillary will be the Democratic nominee, let alone the next president, you should leave your money in your other pants."

[penowa]

Not to mention the probability of a 3-way race. Look for the conservatives to have a candidate if McCain somehow gets through the Republican primaries to get the nomination; or look for McCain to run as an independent if he doesn't get it.

[skinkinthegrass]

If John McCain makes it through the GOP primaries, it really won't matter who the Democrats nominate.
...very disturbing choice: McPAIN or sHrILLARY...either way, the country loses. :^(

[Mia T]

bump!

THE (oops!) INADVERTENT ADMISSIONS OF BILL + HILLARY CLINTON (hear hillary)^{part one}


'HIATUS' FOR HILLARY?


IS REUTERS SENDING A MESSAGE ABOUT A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HILLARY?


ON REJIGGING GALLUP'S LOSING NUMBERS FOR HILLARY
THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OF ANNE KORNBLUT


SEE VIDEO: "HILLARY IS 'DOOMED'" (more 'plantation' fallout)


THE ABSURDITY OF A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HILLARY


HILLARY'S EXPOSED LEFT FLANK 'SCARES THE HORSES' (VIDEO)
(MISSUS CLINTON SUPPORTS ALITO FILIBUSTER)


CLINTON 'CULTURE OF CORRUPTION'

[Go Gordon]

This does not BODE well for Hillary

[seekthetruth]

"McCain will NEVER be president because he will NEVER get the republican nomination, period.
So everyone stop worrying."

I sure hope you are right!! I could not vote for him,period! Surely George Alan could beat McCain!
At least that is what I pray for!!

[ducks1944]

McCain will never make it and I agree that most republican will stay me being one of them. Not a dime worth of difference in him and Hillary.

[Toespi]

The real questions is.......is Hillary willing to risk irrelevency? If she doesn't run, she will always be an enigma. If she runs and loses she will be, well basically nothing. I think her ego is too big to take the chance. Her polls would have to be over the top and they are not at this time.

[maine-iac7]

LOL - Thanks!

[JedForbes]

That sure is one uuuugly baby... and the bald one aint too hot either

[okie01]

I think he'll run, health allowing. After the McCain/Feingold mess he'll have a hard time getting through the primary, however

Hillary and the MSM are counting on it. "His not getting through the primary", that is.

McCain is being set up to make his run as an Independent. Thereby, he will serve as the 2008 incarnation of Ross Perot, allowing Hillary to reach the White House via a plurality.

It's the only way Her Heinous gets the prize...

[paudio]

Your Wrong. Nothing could possibly be worse than Hillary as President. I am no fan of McCain, but I would take him any day over Hillary.

I agree. No doubt that McCain did many things that made 'pure' conservatives angry, but let's not become DUers-style people who think that having Sheehan as a senator would be better than Feinstein.

[okie01]

The object of the political exercise underway is NOT for McCain to become the GOP nominee. Instead, the plan requires he be defeated in the GOP primary.

Hillary can never win a majority of the votes. That should be plain as day.

But a John McCain running as an Independent offers her a clear opportunity to become a plurality President -- just as Bill Clinton was made President by Ross Perot's candidacy. Hillary can count, too.

The idea is to a.) make a McCain candidacy inevitable...to John McCain, then b.) contribute to his defeat in the GOP primary and, finally, c.) support his launching of an Independent candidacy. If, by some device, he becomes a threat to her, the MSM possesses ample ammunition to destroy him.

Unless the GOP candidate is really, really strong (as GHWB wasn't), this plan could work -- as the only thing it requires for McCain's cooperation is his ego.

[trubluolyguy]

Evan Bayh is the only dem that stands a chance in hell. Hitlery will redefine "negative turnout."

[trubluolyguy]

If McCain gets the nomination (by some miracle) I will stay home. Along with a majority of "Christian Right" voters.


Pass the popcorn.

[x]

That's what I would have thought, but it takes time to build up name recognition, and a known name can do a lot to win over the habitual nonvoters, so Clinton probably will do better in the primaries than a Vilsack or Feingold or Bayh will. Indeed, she'd probably do better in the general election, unless one of these guys has real charisma. But aren't all these Democrats counting on the same things that made the difference for Bill Clinton: an economic downturn and a third party challenger?

[GSlob]

"..because none of them would possibly be worse than Judas McCain."
Dead wrong. The only thing worse than a clinton is another, bigger, piece of clinton. Thus, anybody - repeat, anybody else, even - horribile dicti - a kerry, would be preferable and would have to be supported as her opponent. And McCain is better than kerry.

[de Buillion]

"My guess is that millions and millions of Americans feel the same. They will vote for whoever the GOP nominates against Frau Hillary. And it will be the largest landslide since 1964........"

I agree, unless there is a major third party attempt, which I believe is very likely. Not that I look forward to that.

[nopardons]

bttt

[de Buillion]

"If she runs and loses she will be, well basically nothing. "

If she runs for president in 08 and loses, she will probably still be senator of NY for another four years.