Posted on 01/30/2007 10:38:09 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
A neat bit of polling by the Gallup Organization shows that what's hurting Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primaries.
It isn't so much her vote on Iraq or even her flip-flops on the issue. What's undermining her support among liberals is doubts about her electability.
The poll results suggest that many liberals see the primaries as a kind of audition where they assess not only whether they like or agree with a candidate, but whether she can lead them to the White House in 2008. This degree of pragmatism is often seen in Republican circles, but is relatively new on the other side of the aisle.
Gallup asked a national sample of Democratic primary voters from Jan. 5-7 if they'd vote for Hillary if the primary were today. About a third (34 percent) said they definitely would, and about half (52 percent) said they "might consider" voting for her.
The remaining 14 percent said they would "definitely not" support her in the primary.
Then, Gallup followed up with the two-thirds of the sample that was not "definitely" voting for Hillary — asking why. The No. 1 reason? They felt she couldn't win.
Twenty-nine percent cited the fear that she would lose the general election; 16 percent mentioned her inability to win the nomination as a "major reason" for not voting for her.
Many cited both.
Only 26 percent said the major reason for their lack of support was disagreement on the issues; 11 percent cited personal dislike of her, and 10 percent said they didn't want "another Clinton in the White House."
This indicates that there is a large "secondary market" for attacks on Sen. Clinton. The primary market for such attacks is, of course, the legions of general-election voters who don't like her and don't think she should be president (including us). But liberals, while not necessarily embracing the negatives themselves, see them as a cause to doubt her political viability — and thus a reason not to vote for her.
So attacks on Hillary are not just important among the Hillary-haters — they also fuel doubts even among Democratic true-believers.
This, while she faces a double (or triple) squeeze play — her charisma squeezed by the first female speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and her ideological positioning under pressure from Sen. Barack Obama from the center and ex-Sen. John Edwards from the left.
All that could leave her the second choice of too many Democrats — especially if they really conclude she can't win.
This election should be covered by homicide detectives and forensic experts.
The politically dead bodies will reach to the second floor by June 1. I'm putting my dime on Dennis Kucinich to crawl to the top of the heap. The "What, me worry?" kid will pull off the upset in Iowa and bomb away the entire field in New Hampshire.
He will stumble a bit in South Carolina as the citizens there realize the democrats are insane, but he will recover in Michigan as Gov. Jenny Grandstand declares him a "cool city," and Dennis molts into a taxpayer funded couscous stand to fed the hungry across America.
>>On odd days little dick says the beast can't win. Tomorrow he will assure us all that she can't lose.
Only a week or so ago, Morris wrote:
"Edwards is winning the race to the left -- the key place to be in the Democratic primaries." That was posted Jan. 21. Thread ("Hillary In Trouble") here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1771317/posts
I thought it odd he'd say that, since it certainly wasn't the winning place for Dean; the Dems went with the apparently safe, less loony (in their eyes) Kerry, the great war hero and lifelong statesman (in their universe). Morris knows Hillary will run to the center to avoid the fate of Dean. She's marginal enough as it is, being female, and will need to stress normalcy and heartland qualities to appeal to the voters in Iowa---lest she lose it, a stumble that would bring the media jackals down on her. Yet last week Morris was suggesting that a liberal will prevail, which he knows she will avoid appearing to be.
And prior to that I read a Morris quote on FR:
"I have said from the beginning that she will be the next President."
Morris needs her around, frightening people. It's rather stale but I think he's trying to remain relevant. His association with her is also his most marketable quality. Consistent he ain't!
Unless Gore decides to enter, Hillary will be the Dem candidate. Trust me.
Edwards doesn't stand a chance. He can't compare to Hillary in fund raising or political organization or name recognition. With Bill leading the charge, the nomination of Hillary will be a coronation. The only Dem who could possibly challenge her is Gore and he says he isn't running. The first Dem Presidential debate is just about three months away in South Carolina.
Yes, but those were pre-internet, pre-Pajama Patrol experts.
waidamimit here! Why then this constant drumbeat on this board that we HAVE to nominate a RINO to defeat her Thighness?
As comforting as it is to believe this, the Clintons have shown themselves to be master snake oil salesmen and the American electorate, to put it mildly, are none too bright.
If I were Bill I would go into hiding for the next year.
The "TV Hillary Show" tanked, Katie is tanking, Rosie is annoying, and I haven't heard where Whoopie's show is making a difference. If all of this was planned, as I believe, to support a Hillary candidacy, it is failing very, very badly.
Hillary is a liar... and her husband is too.
The enemy failed to give us a front line, so our President went out and made us one."
Totally different situation. The toon was unknown in 92, and Dole was an emabarrasement in 96. And it still took Perot to get that idiot elected POTUS.
NOOOOOOOOOOO! Not the Breck Girl!!!
You most probably are correct but that would mean getting close enough to her to stick that satke in her (nah, she has no heart). Or a silver bullet? but it would be fun to see her writhe in pain at the sight of a holy cross.
That's just the cutest!
John Edwards will be the democratic presidential nominee.
The last two presidential elections have been scary in the extreme. Waaaayy too close.
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