One of the reasons Hillary won in NH is people trusted her more on the economy. The evidence?

[cali]

Berlin.

Berlin is a large town (city by NH standards) in Northern NH that was once a big paper mill town. I can remember driving near there 15 years ago and the smell was nearly overwhelming once you were within 10 miles- depending on the wind direction. The mills shut down and Berlin is now a very economically deprived place with a lot of poverty- and I mean real gritty poverty.

Berlin went overwhelmingly for Clinton and it was one of the few places where JE beat out Obama, albeit by a small margin. But Clinton got more than twice as many votes as Edwards.

This is a strong indication, I believe, that the worse the economy gets, the better Clinton will do.

Just my take on it.

[TwilightZone]

1. The exit polls show Clinton and Obama very close on the economy issue.

Very worried about the economy: 40-36 Clinton
Somewhat worried about the economy: 44-36 Obama

Slight edge to Obama for very/somewhat: 80-76.

Edwards received 18% and 15%, respectively.

[cali]

8. I know. But I know Berlin

and parsing the votes in NH, it was the wealthiest areas that went for Obama and the less wealthy areas that went for Clinton, and then there's Berlin...

[TwilightZone]

11. As we should all know by now, personal anecdotal or local evidence does not indicate

proof of statewide or national concurrence.

[cali]

12. In general, I agree, but this isn't a personal anecdote

and local evidence can indeed be an indicator in a statewide race- particularly in a state like NH.

[TwilightZone]

13. Not if it contradicts real data from a statewide primary.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. The Clinton name is the only American talisman against hard times since FDR

[sandnsea]

3. Obama should have those votes

He needs to go to some of these impoverished areas, the white ones, and try to connect minority poverty and white poverty because it's all the same. He has much more empathy for impoverished people than the Clintons do, supports a living wage and help for men as well as women. Lots of things poor white folks would find attractive.

[Gman]

4. The Clinton administration saw the longest, most sustained economic expansion

in the history of the world. Small wonder people would gravitate to Hillary now on the economy. After all, it is the economy, (stupid)! :-)

[Muttocracy]

7. Which Clinton was in office then?

I'm sorry, which one was President then? Which one is running now? I get confused.

[bunnies]

5. I dont know Cali.

The crying is the topic every single place I go. All Im hearing is straight up sympathy.

[cali]

9. But you know Berlin, right?

And the margin there really leads me to believe that this vote was all about the economy. That's how bad things are there.

[bunnies]

14. Yeah. Ive been there many times.

I guess I just have a hard time with the huge 1 day shift vs. every single one of the polls. Everyone around here was saying they couldnt imagine a circumstance under which she could pull of a NH win. Id LOVE to believe there was an actual policy position behind it. But it just doesnt feel that way.

[1corona4u]

6. Hmm....maybe it was this?

By BBC News Online's Steve Schifferes
President Bill Clinton will leave office with the longest boom in US history still intact.

But the rapidly slowing economy will leave questions for his successor about how to manage the downturn.

Mr Clinton also leaves the legacy of a huge and growing budget surplus, the product of years of bitter battles between Republicans and Democrats.




Just a guess.

[depakid]

10. As the economy begins its contraction, many people will pine for "the good old days"

That's certainly one of the stronger cards that she has to play.

Never mind that Clinton & DLC policies had no small role to play in the mess the US is in. Most Americans won't look any deeper than what they've seen on the MSM.