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Can Hillary Clinton overcome her weaknesses? [Hillary 2016 = Al Gore 2000?]
CNN ^ | 04/12/2015 | By Julian Zelizer

Posted on 04/12/2015 8:21:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Hillary Clinton has finally announced her candidacy for the 2016 presidential election. Although she has watched her standing in the polls sag in recent months, there is likely to be a boost in the days that follow the announcement.

For Democrats, there is ample reason to be excited about Clinton's run for the presidency. She is certainly one of the strongest candidates in many decades. She brings to the table extensive political and policy experience, a combination of skills that is often lacking. She has been through some of the roughest partisan wars and emerged stronger than ever before.

She has a keen sense about the nature of the modern news media, how to use it to her advantage and how to survive scandal frenzies. She is a hardened, tough partisan who will not shy away from Republican attack. Americans have many positive memories of Clinton name, given the booming economy of the late 1990s during Bill Clinton's presidency.

If Hillary Clinton puts together an effective campaign, she could be unbeatable in the Democratic primaries as well as in the general election.

However, during the buildup to her final decision, some of her weaknesses have also been exposed.

Clinton doesn't want to end up like Vice President Al Gore in 2000. Although he did relatively well in the final election (with many Americans believing that he did actually defeat George W. Bush) he didn't generate much energy once the campaign started.

Although he too was touted as a "perfect" candidate who was the ideal person for the job, something seemed stiff and inauthentic when he actually hit the trail. He seemed to freeze when the television cameras were rolling.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016; algore; hillary
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To: SeekAndFind
Gore was on the ropes and looked likely to lose by several million votes a few days before the election...until the media blitz about GWB's 24-year-old DUI arrest dominated the news the last few days before the election.

Other than Jeb, the potential opponents for Hillary are too recently in politics to have been among the people in the FBI files (and Jeb only by virtue of his father), so she will have to find another method of getting dirt to use in the final days of the campaign.

21 posted on 04/12/2015 9:40:24 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: ClearCase_guy

Don’t forget Bush vs Gore. George Bush came off as far more likeable than Al Gore. Gore came across as an elitist snob. Bush put on this “average guy” persona, and it stuck.


22 posted on 04/12/2015 9:45:21 PM PDT by jespasinthru (Proud Member of the Vast, Right-Wing Conspracy)
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To: al baby

She has everything on Obama, but she’s afraid to use it. Because the Obama Machine is more politically powerful than the Clinton Machine. That’s how she got kicked to the curb in 2008.


23 posted on 04/12/2015 9:48:45 PM PDT by jespasinthru (Proud Member of the Vast, Right-Wing Conspracy)
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To: Theodore R.

Is that sarcasm? If it is, then your wit flew over my head.


24 posted on 04/12/2015 9:50:28 PM PDT by jespasinthru (Proud Member of the Vast, Right-Wing Conspracy)
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To: jespasinthru

It’s not sarcasm; sarcasm is way above the heads of the “little guy”.


25 posted on 04/12/2015 9:53:18 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
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To: Verginius Rufus
.....she will have to find another method of getting dirt to use in the final days of the campaign.

I'm sure the Journ-O-lists are on it as we are speaking.

26 posted on 04/12/2015 11:02:21 PM PDT by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
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To: SeekAndFind
Can Hillary Clinton overcome her weaknesses?

No. That's her main weakness.

27 posted on 04/12/2015 11:06:14 PM PDT by TigersEye (STONE COLD ZOMBIE SCOURGE)
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To: PapaNew

Obama is a skilled politician. He lies with absolute conviction.


28 posted on 04/12/2015 11:42:29 PM PDT by wiggen (#JeSuisCharlie)
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To: SeekAndFind

Remember Gore’s three debate appearances, each time with a completely different look and personality? There was “nice but tired” Gore, sighing constantly. There was “Reagan Gore” with the pompadour, lipstick, and rosy cheeks. And “Belligerent Stalker Gore.” As Barbara Bush said: “I thought he was going to strike George.”

Remember when Hillary! decided to laugh maniacally in response to all questions? I can’t remember when that was, though.


29 posted on 04/13/2015 12:08:17 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: al baby

Hillary! had everything on Obama, from his being an illegal alien to Man’s Country.

It’s just that the dirt he had on her was even worse.


30 posted on 04/13/2015 12:12:58 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: PapaNew
Obama is a slick, smooth character. "No Drama" Obama. Like Reagan, he expresses himself well and understands the importance of communication. Reagan was always going on TV with his "chats" to the American People often explaining the advantage of things like his tax cuts and urging the people to call their congressmen. It worked very well. Likewise, Obama, the Community Organizer in Chief, continues to tour the country selling his socialist programs. He has never stopped campaigning.

Mass communications and TV has heightened the demand for a "charismatic and smooth" President which, unfortunately, emphasizes from over substance. Hillary has little substance but she also has little charisma - may be a reason why Hillary might lose. Rand is substantive but kind of awkward and stiff in his public-speaking style which could be a fatal weakness. I haven't seen enough of Ted Cruz, but maybe he could pull it off.

31 posted on 04/13/2015 7:07:09 AM PDT by PapaNew (The grace of God & freedom always win the debate in the forum of ideas over unjust law & government)
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