Hillary Clinton prepares for crucial campaign stretch

[portlander23]

Hillary Clinton prepares for crucial campaign stretch
Jennifer Epstein and Margaret Talev, Bloomberg

While regarded as a strong debater, Clinton has also had some bad nights on the debate stage, including in October 2007, when she stumbled over a question about making it possible for undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses, saying in the span of a few minutes that she supported and opposed the move and then chastising moderator Tim Russert for asking a "gotcha" question.

That same defensive posture has been been evident during this cycle, too, as when Clinton grew testy with reporters when pushed on whether she had wiped clean her State Department-era email server ("like with a cloth or something?&quot . There's the potential for her frustration to again flare up on this issue, the scrutiny of the Clinton Foundation or other vulnerabilities.

Sanders "can go after her like no one else" on her policy shifts on issues like the TPP because of his consistently liberal posture and his relative distance from the Obama administration, said Dick Harpootlian, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic party who's been raising money for Draft Biden, the outside group that's encouraging Biden to run. "I think he's going to flail her."

O'Malley has for months been more direct than Sanders in his attacks on Clinton, often following up her policy announcements by welcoming her to his long-held positions. He's been pushing for more debates in what Democratic strategists largely see as an effort to get more attention from the media-and, thus, voters-by sharing a stage with and taking on Clinton. He's search of a big splash that will get him out of the low single digits in most polls and is expected to be aggressive in pursuing her.

"I think he's going to flail her." ... really? WTF people.

[PatrickforO]

1. Well, that's what one guy thinks.

Speaking for myself, I believe Senator Sanders will win the debate because Clinton is too much of a corporatist. Judging by her actions, she is a neoliberal hawk. Sanders is talking about the kinds of stuff most Americans talk about around the kitchen table, and his message is increasingly well received.

We'll see how it goes, though. Bernie could have a bad night. Hillary could have a bad night. Anything can happen.

My prediction is that Bernie will have a real bump in his polling and contributions after the debate, while Clinton's campaign will continue to flounder.