Clinton "Grasping At Straws"

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/02/13/signs_of_desperation_in_clinton_campaign.html


Signs of Desperation in Clinton Campaign


The Associated Press reports that "top Democrats, including some inside Hillary Clinton's campaign, say many party leaders -- the so-called superdelegates -- won't hesitate to ditch the former New York senator for Barack Obama if her political problems persist. Their loyalty to the first couple is built on shaky ground."

"The fear inside the Clinton camp is that Obama will win Hawaii and Wisconsin next week and head into the March 4 contests for Ohio and Texas with a 10-race winning streak. Her poll numbers will drop in Texas and Ohio, Clinton aides fear, and party leaders will start hankering for an end to the fight."

Possible last ditch strategy: "Two senior Clinton advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the race candidly, said the campaign feels the New York senator needs to quickly change the dynamic by forcing Obama into a poor debate performance, going negative or encouraging the media to attack Obama. They're grasping at straws, but the advisers said they can't see any other way that her campaign will be sustainable after losing 10 in a row."

[tekisui]

1. This is right where Mark Penn wanted to be, right?

.......er, right? The Underdog, Comeback Kid?

Good luck with that. If she "goes negative", she's toast.

[Labors of Hercules]

4. "If she 'goes negative', she's toast..."

you got that right. :thumbsup:

[lisa58]

2. why isn't she fighting for Wisconsin?

[ginnyinWI]

6. she really doesn't seem to be fighting for our votes here

Chelsea has been here, and Bill. Hillary is coming Saturday night for a Dem state party dinner, then presumably will be here for the next few days.

Obama spoke to 17,000 last night in Madison. Today he's doing a tour of the GM plant in Janesville, plus three town hall meetings in SE Wisconsin (I'm going to one of them--yay!). He'll also be at the Saturday dinner, and I don't know what else. He clearly wants our votes.

[saltpoint]

7. She should phone up Eli Manning and ask how New Yorkers win in the

Dairy State.

[ORDem]

14. Yes, that's very puzzling. She's competitive there and it will

hurt her further if Obama sweeps WI and HI on the same day.

She's essentially got to hit 60% in every contest from here on out to catch Obama. Ain't gonna happen if she doesn't compete everywhere.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. "Going negative" is no longer an option...

...and the media isn't under Senator Clinton's thumb. The Clinton campaign's only viable option is getting Senator Obama to debate her and hope that he flubs it - which could work both ways.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Going More Negative Than Race Baiting?

I sure wouldn't want to see that... don't think it'll help her cause anyway.

[Hepburn]

13. You read my mind....

...I think the Clinton campaign has already gone as negative as possible by doing that in the past.

JMHO

[stillcool]

8. Should be interesting...

The Feb. 21 Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama debate at the University of Texas looks like the hottest ticket in town since Hannah Montana mania took over Austin last month.

For the Feb. 26 MSNBC Clinton-Obama debate in Cleveland, Ohio, the campaigns will distribute most of the tickets, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

[TwilightGardener]

9. If she tries to cut him off at the knees with negativity, or tries to leave him

so badly wrecked that he'd be damaged for the general election, I won't vote for her, and a lot of other Obama supporters won't either. She needs to retool HER message, HER campaign, give us a reason to vote FOR her, not against Obama.

[babylonsister]

10. I hope that's not the tactic she settles for; that could have the

opposite effect than intended. You're right; she needs to crow about what she considers her accomplishments, or go after the rethugs, but leave Obama alone. Sadly, it's not looking that way:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4570909&mesg_id=4570909

[TwilightGardener]

11. Thanks for the link!

[karynnj]

12. It would also show that she is just for herself

Destroying Obama will simultaneously destroy her and will absolutely destroy any positive view of the Clintons as a force in the Democratic party that remains. She needs to look into her heart and soul and make the best case she can for herself - and recognize that if that is not enough, concede gracefully to Obama.

It may be that Obama, as he lacks the negative baggage she has, can actually accomplish many of the goals she holds dear. Not that Obama has the same agenda or the exact same view of how it should be done. That was, at heart the underlying message in Senators Kerry's and Kennedy's whole hearted endorsements.

[ORDem]

15. Hillary needs to not carry this so far as to damage the party

and herself. She can contribute in so many ways other than being President (this cycle). I think she'd make a terrific Sec'y of State! From there she's a shoo-in as Prez in '16.

[Bullet1987]

18. Don't you get it...it's not about the Party...it's about the Clintons

and always has been.

:sarcasm:

[TwilightGardener]

16. Yes--well-said!

[HeraldSquare212]

19. The superdelegates would punish her for going too negative at this point.

They don't want the person who might be at the top of the ticket when they run in November to be trashed even before the fall campaign.

[bigtree]

17. one political hack's opinion

big deal.