Clinton Campaign has SEVERELY Underestimated Obama's Strength

[Bullet1987]

The fact that the Clinton campaign is already bone dry in finances only a MONTH into 2008 shows a severe lack of judgement within that campaign. Even looking at how Terry McCauliffe said Super Tuesday would win it for Hillary (or something along those lines) proves that they didn't see him as a serious threat until very late. Obama, from the very beginning, was working to build a purely grassroots campaign (they have 500,000 donors I've read now...so I'd call that a success). When you have half a million dedicated online donors...raising $30 million a month is EASY!!!

If the Clinton campaign hadn't had their heads in the clouds for so long, and had the same grassroots operation Obama did...or even close to it...money wouldn't be a problem for them. They SERIOUSLY didn't envision this going past Super Tuesday and all the way to the convention. Now, they're in hurry-up mode because they have to do SOMETHING to get money in...or it'll be like fighting with one arm tied behind your back.

[cbayer]

1. Reject. nt

[City Lights]

2. Pathetic. nt

[billbuckhead]

7. Obama couldn't win California with the media, Oprah, the Kennedy's, Zogby.

Kerry, David Geffen, 90% of the newspapers, NPR, Stevie Wonder, the ghost of Reagan, etc, and a cast of thousands of limosine liberals.
It's become obvious now that McCain will beat Obama in California and lose to Hillary.

[thunder rising]

9. And what was Hillary's cast of characters?

[FlyingTiger]

16. Really? Because of the vast Latino support for McCain?

It greatly entertains me that one of the most popular counter-arguments to "Obama will get more voters in the general election" has been "But the Latinos have voted against him! Surely, he'll be demolished in the GE when all the Latinos vote for McCain!"

Latino support for Hillary doesn't equal Latino support for the GOP.

[Bullet1987]

10. Why call me a reject? Because I'm right?

Vile responses won't soothe the truth for you. Like I said, they couldn't fathom this going past Super Tuesday...if they did factor it in, they would be more ready than they are. Don't kill the messenger.

[Cha]

21. The stark truth

riles their sense of what should and shouldn't be. This was not suppose to happen.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Nonsense

A year ago, I heard Bill Clinton on TV say that he'd told her it would be a very difficult primary race, and she may not win it.

Why does Obama doing well have to mean it was some sort of failure on Clinton's part?

[DJ13]

6. "I heard Bill Clinton on TV say that he'd told her it would be a very difficult primary race"

Was that before or after he said he was always against the Iraq war?

[MonkeyFunk]

17. Why is it some people

can't help but divert a discussion?

Try to stay to the topic at hand.

[caligirl]

22. she chose the 'inevitability with 35 years' tact. Her performance hasn't measured up to that.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. The only people who ever used the words

"inevitable" were her detractors.

[caligirl]

25. No I don't agree, she made certain statements early on last fall that

specifically pissed me off to the extent I looked at Edwards because I felt she was telling us that we had no choice but to vote for her. Sorry I can't recall the statements as much as I recall the feeling she gave me by her words. There were entire threads here on this and many du'ers who wee turned off by her statements. if I can locate any of this I'll get back to you. I had liked Hillary up until that moment last year. It was a defining moment for me, I would have been far more likely to vote for her yesterday had it not happened.

[MonkeyFunk]

27. LOL

yeah, you remember it happening, but can't recall exactly what she said.

Was it "When I'm President...."? Cuz I can find quotes from Edwards, Obama, Gravel and Kucinich saying the same thing.

The ONLY people pushing the inevitability meme were her detractors.

[jlake]

4. Keep on shitting on Hillary - it helps her!

[DJ13]

5. They had too much riding on Feb 5th, and that burned up all their resources

Penn would have been considered a near genius if it had worked, now he looks like an idiot.

[caligirl]

24. actually its Iowa that caused this, they way over spent there and left them

selves in a position where they couldn't withstand under performing, her donors started getting shakey after that and a strong performance in NH by Obama(stronger than anticipated though he did not win there). Had they been more selective up front they might have not needed her $5million dollar loan.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. about a month ago I thought HRC would have a landslide on feb 5

but I was wrong.

The Obama express is on its way

[Konza]

11. I thought we'd only take 4-5 states

Always figured Illinois as a no brainer, plus a couple in the south and a couple caucus states.
I was just hoping to keep it close. So I had a good time Tuesday!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. yes Obama did exceedingly well!

I bet that money is pouring in!

[gristy]

12. How much money has each campaign spent and how much does each have in the bank?

Seems you really need to give these numbers so as to support your basic premise.

[Big Blue Marble]

15. The Obama campaign said they came out of Super Tuesday with 20 mil.

Earned another 6 million today. Expect to have 30 million for the month.

Hillary :shrug:

[Nailzberg]

13. Her deputy campaign manager ran a primary against Obama before.

If he didn't see the threat, he should find a new line of work.

on edit: I think there may be some underestimation at play, but not nearly as severe as you believe.

[grantcart]

14. of course the underestimated Obama remember when we

all thought GWB had gone crazy raising 100M for the primary. Here he raises 5 million in a day over 60 million in 60 days no one could see it coming.

[Life Long Dem]

18. They sure are pouring it on tonight.

Candy Crowely was saying if you take both candidates money so they have nothing and add the delegates up, it would be just like we are starting out fresh. And she adds, which is where we are now.

[sniffa]

20. Yeah they did

They've found out he can Bring It.

[AtomicKitten]

26. Obama has skills.

Delicious skills.