Hillary Clinton brought this on herself: How a Democratic primary coronation turned into a war

[TubbersUK]

Over the past week, a hurricane seems to have hit the shores of Hillaryland. After suffering a landslide defeat in New Hampshire, the Clinton campaign is trying to figure out how to stop the growing storm that is Bernie Sanders. There have been reports that Hillary Clinton is planning to reorganize and hire some new staffers, while many supporters are starting to seriously worry about the campaign’s message, or lack thereof. Though members of the Clinton camp have denied any serious problems within the campaign, it is all reminiscent of 2008, when staff infighting and the rise of Obama doomed Clinton’s run.

Whether Sanders can maintain his early success is doubtful, but the fact that he has made it this far is bad enough for Clinton. And the ill-advised comments from Gloria Steinem and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright did not help her with another quandary she faces in capturing the support of young voters. In a Daily Beast article with the amusingly melodramatic headline, “Did Bernie Just Poison Hillary 2016?,” reporters Betsy Woodruff and Jackie Kucinich write:

“Even though [Sanders is] still a long shot to snag the nomination, his candidacy is persuading young voters, women, and progressives that Clinton is in the pocket of big banks and corrupt corporations—and it’s persuading Clinton’s own supporters that they’re on the sadder side of this contest.”

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/15/hillary_clinton_brought_this_on_herself_how_a_democratic_primary_coronation_turned_into_a_war/

[uponit7771]

1. Sanders inspires the same group of people on the dem side that Clinton lost with in 08 and

,,, how in the world is that supposed to be a good thing?

[Bluenorthwest]

7. I could give you dozens of links to current Hillary promoters who utterly savaged her in 2008

How is that a good thing? There are posters here on DU acting like they adore her who in 2008 spent hours posting about her dishonesty, her racism, her greed. Endless threads denigrating and criticizing her. But now all that is forgotten as they endlessly denigrate Bernie Sanders with that same tired, worn out set of attacks.
I don't buy into that routine, and it is a routine.

But that's not all of her supporters, she also has supporters who supported her in 2008 by saying about Barack Obama the exact same things they now say about Bernie Sanders. Plenty of links for those folks too, if you'd like.

There are one or two people here who are for her now and for her then who never trashed the President or Sanders. A handful. The rest either used to hate her or used to hate Barack.
How is that a good thing?

[bigdarryl]

2. Hillary never coronated herself the media did and if this is considered a war it's not helping the

Democratic Party win in November

[cali]

3. Bulloney

[restorefreedom]

10. i saw what you did there :) nt

[Jarqui]

5. I'm not sure she didn't expect a coronation but since that isn't happening yet

democracy kicks in and she has to get out there and campaign for votes.

It's not a war from Bernie's perspective. He's running a pretty clean campaign - unlike Hillary.

If Bernie's the nominee, the primary helps him as he's behind in the polls in states down the road because folks don't know him and his policies. It helps Bernie get the attention of the voters, helps the voters get familiar with him and builds up some excitement for an enthusiastic turnout in November.

Hillary needs to do what she said she was going to do - get out and earn votes like Bernie is. And stop being hypocritical by hiring scum like Brock to do lame smear campaigns.

[leftofcool]

4. A war? I thought it was a rev-0-lushion

[m-lekktor]

14. The war was started by Hillary via surrogates.

read more slowly next time, it helps with comprehension.

[leftofcool]

16. War?

You mean stolen data, impersonating culinary workers union members, touting endorsements you don't have, using American Legion members photos without asking, saying Obama has not been a leader etc......... That war?

[Le Taz Hot]

6. "Whether Sanders can maintain his early success is doubtful . . ."

They never stop, do they? There is every indication that he absolutely can maintain his early success. Nevada is next and Hillary needs to worry. She's also losing ground in South Carolina big time. Now, even I don't think he'll win South Carolina but even if he gets fairly close (6 to 8 percentage points) that gives him tremendous momentum for Super Tuesday.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. In order for her 'Obama coalition' arguement to remain viable, she needs to match his SC results

in not only outcome but demographic composition of her electorate. She has made a great deal of noise about SC as her firewall of supporters who will respond to her as proxy for Obama.

[thomservo]

13. She also needs to inspire PROGRESSIVE democrats...

like Obama did in 08.

[Recursion]

18. That was later in the cycle than this

Obama was still kind of a cipher at this point in 2008, and the big progressive bloc was still stinging from Edwards dropping out.

[restorefreedom]

11. they will try and tear him down till the bitter end

more's the sweetness of the victory that will come

i can't wait to see the gob smacked looks on their faces and hear them stammer when they have to deliver the news that he is the nominee!

[Katashi_itto]

8. K&R! Down with 3rd Way, the Vichy Dems

[Sancho]

12. Do you believe a contest is bad for Hillary?

I can think of no better way to win a GE than to have a hotly contested primary season that excites the base, brings in new young voters, and rallies the Democratic party. Even Sanders knows the exercise requires unification and he's said so.

If I was the DNC, I'd plan to have Hillary go up against someone to make such a primary season; knowing all along that the desirable candidate would win in the end - but it would generate media attention, bring in donations, provide debate practice, and GOTV. It would also reveal the main candidates weaknesses and develop the talking points for the GE.

If Hillary wins as the first woman President, DWS and the DNC will go down historically as creating one of the better strategic plans in the last 10 elections. Bravo!! Well-conceived and working as planned.

[upaloopa]

15. Only two primaries in states with small minority populations and Bernie fans think they won the

momentum and the nomination.

Fasten your seat belts folks you are in for a bumpy ride.

[randome]

17. And they MUST characterize this as a war instead of what it really is: a primary campaign.

Needs. More. DRAMA!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[Recursion]

19. They certainly have a point about the momentum

I mean, if I were a betting man I'd put money on Clinton winning the nom, but momentum is definitely not in her favor right now (that will probably still be true after NV, and stop being true once the Southeast gets a say).