Posted on 02/22/2008 3:22:06 AM PST by kingattax
WASHINGTON — She had everything going for her. The most famous name in politics. A solid lead in the polls. A war chest of at least $133 million.
Yet Hillary Clinton now finds herself struggling for political survival, her once-firm grasp of the Democratic presidential nomination seemingly slipping away.
What happened?
Barack Obama, for one thing, a uniquely gifted speaker with a face that appeals deeply to the Democratic Party. He also had a better-organized campaign.
But Democrats say that Clinton, whose central theme is her readiness to be president, also made blunder after blunder. She chose an inexperienced campaign manager, crafted a message that didn't match the moment, fielded poor organizations in key states and built a budget that ran dry just when she needed money most.
"She got outmaneuvered," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic strategist who isn't aligned with any of this year's candidates. "Her campaign allowed her to be outmaneuvered on several fronts."
"To think that someone named Clinton with $130 million could end up here is amazing," another neutral Democratic strategist said. He spoke only on the condition of anonymity to permit more candor, as did many party insiders quoted here who dare not offend the still-powerful Clintons.
Clinton isn't out of it yet. Aides this week dismissed talk of mismanagement and mistakes and said that she can fight back in Ohio and Texas on March 4 and in Pennsylvania on April 22, and win the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August.
"People have made the mistake of writing off Senator Clinton before," campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.
Yet it's undeniable that the New York senator has fallen awfully far awfully fast.
One factor is Obama, an Illinois senator.
"You've got to give credit to Barack Obama. He is a once-in-a-generation politician," Mellman said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
It’s fitting that Obama was born in Hawaii.
He’s surfing a wave of black pride and liberal white guilt right into the White House.
Looking at a clip of the debate last night, her smile was frozen on her face, with all the warmth of an ice berg.
I wouldn’t count her out just yet...
Remember, she’s got the dirtiest political operatives working for her, the #1 bag man for coming up with illegal funds, and the finances of numerous foreign countries behind her...
It bothers me that people are counting her out this early... It sort of reminds me of the South Park episode where Satan and Jesus are going to fight... And everyone bets on Satan... And he throws the fight, so everyone in South Park loses.
Mark
Yes, for all of her screaming at how poorly Rummy and Bush managed the WOT, failed with the surge, etc., I'd like to see her explain why we should expect her to be able to manage ANYTHING? She had this nomination laid at her feet and she blew it. I think you are probably being harsh about that box of rocks -- there's more intelligence there than in the combined Clinton family.
Hey, Hillary: how have you been doing meeting those "benchmarks?"
Bear with me. U.S. Presidents are both prime ministers and heads of state. Reagan was a terrific head of state -- he led and inspired people, leaving much of the prime minister details to others. Every Dem candidate for the last two generations has been of the prime minister nature -- uninspiring policy wonks who were not terribly appealing. (Klintoon, the exception, worked both angles successfully to some extent because of his extraordinary political skills.)
Hillary just would have been the latest in the this long line of Dems, with the added novelty of her gender. (Interestingly, if she had played up that angle instead of harping on her so-called experience, she might be in a different position today.)
What I find interesting is that much of what is being leveled at Obama from the right was leveled against Reagan from the left. I'm not saying that Obama is the Dem's Reagan -- Reagan was unique, God bless him, and there unfortunately will never be another like him, the same way there will never be another Lincoln -- but I think there is an analogy there that obviously does not bode well for Hillary, nor for McCain in the fall.
Are you comparing Bill Clinton with the jawbone of an ass? ;-)
I meant it in the context of pulling down the temple (RAT party).
LOL! Ain't that the truth!
Carolyn
Hillary, you better put some ice on it....
They both injected race into the campaign after South Carolina. They really took their mask off. Major mistake.
Her “EVITA” came thru...”I WILL be the nominee”!!
Second biggest mistake: showing her "ready to lead from Day #1" mantra is really, "Ready to screw things up from the get-go."
That said, I am afraid that if Obama or Hillary wins the GE, they will be the last President of the US.
You know, each time I hear her give a a speech, and she goes into that loud monotone, I can only think of someone revving a chainsaw. Who could stand to listen to that for four to eight years. Poor Bill.
I am aching to buy the ‘insider’ view of how the campaign fell apart.... from the remainder table, though.
Imagine that you have no brains at all. Then get stoned and drunk at the same time. Then listen to "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows." Then imagine your BS detector is broken. Then read one of those Nigerian prince emails. That's about the best comparison I can make.
Paging Maintenance: Clean-up on aisle 35.
Hillary cannot manage a campaign or a healthcare “taskforce” and she wants us to think she is qualified to be the top executive of the country??? Give me a break. This woman has never run anything successfully in her life.
Hasn't learned much in 45 years, has she?
Thanks. I’ll try that.
Regards
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