In New Hampshire, voters seek clarity on Clinton's Iraq war views

[Moloch]

MANCHESTER, N.H. — After nearly four years of war and more than 3,000 U.S. dead, New Hampshire voters are demanding more than nuance on Iraq from Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

From crowded town hall meetings to smaller gathering at private homes, Clinton was enthusiastically received by voters throughout the key early voting state on Saturday and Sunday. She deftly fielded questions on a range of subjects, from education to health care to the genocide in Darfur.

But invariably, the questions returned to Iraq. What would she do to end the conflict if elected president? Would she support cutting funds to stop President Bush's planned increase in troop levels? And, perhaps most importantly, why won't she recant her 2002 vote authorizing the military invasion?

"She has a very nuanced explanation, and it's a pretty good explanation. But many people want to hear her clearly say that her vote was a mistake," said Paul LeBlanc, a Clinton supporter and president of Southern New Hampshire University.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4545455.html

[enough already]

1. Good luck getting a straight answer n/t

[papau]

2. her answer is Bush lied/Bush made the mistakes - sells great in the General but the primary will

take more time - or may never sell.

[SOS]

3. Tough sledding in the NH snow for HRC

From today's NYT:

KEENE, N.H., Feb. 11 — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was challenged on Iraq from corner to corner of New Hampshire this weekend, while Senator Barack Obama drew cheers in Iowa for his opposition to the war.

At nearly every stop in New Hampshire, Mrs. Clinton has been greeted warmly but has been met by skeptical voters asking pointedly about her 2002 vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq. On Sunday in Nashua, one person told her that her explanation “doesn’t fly,” while another asked why she did not simply say that the vote was a mistake.

Clearly Mrs. Clinton’s advisers do not relish the idea of someone bringing up her 2002 Senate vote at every campaign stop.
Some advisers believe the issue of her vote will fade with time...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/us/politics/12campaign.html?ei=5094&en=9b8451c6437ebfe9&hp=&ex=1171342800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

[Lilith Velkor]

4. Clarity is good