In Wisconsin, Another Grim Result for Hillary
Hillary Clinton is now down to her last out.
Faced with an opportunity in Wisconsin to halt her devastating post-Super Tuesday skid and to head into the critical March 4 primaries with newfound confidence and momentum, the former First Lady came up short tonight. Very short.
Barack Obama’s decisive victory in Wisconsin—where just six percent of the population is black—was enabled by narrow but significant pluralities among groups of voters that, earlier in the primary process, had been loyal to Clinton: women, lower-income and less educated voters, union members, and registered Democrats.
This marks the second straight week that Obama made inroads into Clinton’s base, powerful evidence of a national shift in mass opinion among Democrats. And Obama’s win came in spite of a concerted push by Clinton, who blitzed the state with negative ads and personal campaign appearances, against a backdrop of last-minute accusations of plagiarism against Obama.
None of this bodes well for Clinton as the race now shifts to Texas and Ohio, which will vote on March 4. Since Super Tuesday, the Clinton campaign has identified both states as part of their “must win” firewall, a characterization that they have clung to even more fiercely as their February losses have mounted.
But even before Wisconsin rendered its verdict tonight, Clinton’s standing in both March 4 states was imperiled. After leading both by more than 25 points for most of the campaign, Clinton in the last few days slipped into a tie with Obama in Texas and has seen her Ohio margin shrink to just over 10 points in some polls.
She badly needed to engineer a surprise victory in Wisconsin, or at least to finish close enough to Obama to declare some kind of moral victory. Now she must contend with two straight weeks of stories about her losing streak—it should reach 10 when Hawaii’s results come in later tonight—and the do-or-die stakes of March 4 for her campaign.
And the news figured to only get even worse between now and then for Clinton, because tonight’s result essentially guarantees that she will not pick up any new superdelegate endorsements in the next two weeks. No Democratic official will want to explain why he or she is jumping on board with a campaign that seems to be losing the confidence of the party’s rank-and-file. It also makes more high-profile defections from Clinton to Obama—there have been several since Super Tuesday—likely, which will further reinforce mass perception that the good ship Clinton is sinking.
Clinton is still well-positioned for Ohio, where the demographics are suited to her candidacy better than in nearly any other state. But Texas seems to be slipping from her grasp by the hour, in part because Obama also seems to be erasing her previously lopsided advantage among Hispanic voters. Now that she has fallen so far behind in the delegate count—the gap could be 150 after tonight—and the popular vote, a split verdict on March 4 might keep the Clinton campaign alive, but it wouldn’t do much else. And after March 4, there just won’t be many opportunities for her to catch Obama. Realistically, Clinton must find a way to win both Ohio and Texas.
And that means she will be mightily tempted to step up her negative campaigning, something that almost any candidate in her position would do. But her attacks on Obama in Wisconsin were louder than ever—and they seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Obama seems to be protected by the same Teflon that insulated Ronald Reagan.
No, the Democratic race isn’t over yet. But the end may be very near.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.0
- 42.0
- Obama +4.0
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 33.0
- +22.7
- McCain
- 52.7
- 34.1
- +18.6
Down to her last out?? She's done; put a fork in her. If she were smart she would withdraw, praise Obama, and get back to Washington so she can start serving the people of New York again and stop missing so many senate votes.
Ok..off topic... But who is the girl in Orange? Ive seen her shadowing Hillary at every event.
What a wonder to behold, Democrats rejecting a Clinton! A pleasure being denied to Reps. and Independents alike!
OK....
She lost SC and LA (and I guess DC, VA and MD) because of "a proud African American Electorate...."
She lost caucuses everywhere because they "are dominated by activists and disenfranchise voters in the working class..."
And she lost WI because... ummm.... because..... "White, working class and women voters were beginning to see the light?" No... that doesn't spin well.... How about "because people ignored my stupid and false attack ads about Obama running from an 18th debate?" No. Not so good either. Ummmm "Because they FOOLISHLY LISTENED TO OBAMA'S RHETORIC!" Not perfect - it calls the voters stupid, but it's a start!
Go with it Hillary! Feel free to use the line in speeches! You're still the MOST ELECTABLE!!! The proof lies in the fact that fewer and fewer people are voting for you.... Kind of like a guy I know who would always claim that women wanted him, and the proof was the way that they were IGNORING him!
I love the smell of charbroiled Hilary Clinton.
Whether you voted for or will vote for Obama or Clinton, it's time we start remembering that we're on the same side. McCain and the Republic attack machine have a head start on being able to define people and positions and to cheaply smear our candidates. They've already started this by spinning Michelle Obama's comments out of context. The average American loves American but say they're happy with the last few decades of our history. The bitter partisan bickering here at home and raping poor people's markets overseas are nothing to be proud of--that is, if you precisely love what America stands for. It's ok to have our favorite candidate--Clinton or Obama--but let's start developing a language that puts us on the same field against right wing conservatism.
Whether you voted for or will vote for Obama or Clinton, it's time we start remembering that we're on the same side. McCain and the Republic attack machine have a head start on being able to define people and positions and to cheaply smear our candidates. They've already started this by spinning Michelle Obama's comments out of context. The average American loves American but wouldn't say they're happy with the last few decades of our history--if they truly know that history. The bitter partisan bickering here at home and raping poor people's markets overseas are nothing to be proud of--that is, if you precisely love what America stands for. It's ok to have our favorite candidate--Clinton or Obama--but let's start developing a language that puts us on the same field against right wing conservatism.
How ironic that as she increases her attacks that Obama is not 'presidential' enough, she increasingly shows just how unpresidential she herself is. She and Bill have been co-opting other people's words for years and now BO is a plagiarist??
I doubt I will vote for Obama because he seems to have no sense of sound fiscal policy at all but at least I believe that what HE BELIEVES is what he is telling us. We know the disaster he will bring.
Hillary? I have no idea what or where she stands on anything except that she will do anything to win. She would sell the Los Angeles port to China (as her husband tried to do) if it would secure campaign funds for 2012.
What makes you think that Obama's staff is not already preparing for McCain's BS?
I believe the "girl in orange" is Hillary's personal assistant, Huma Abedin. She's quite young, and better pictures [try a Google image search] reveal her to be drop-dead gorgeous. Apparently she is also one of Hillary's most trusted personal confidantes. There have been several stories on the Internet over the past few months, suggesting that the relationship might be very close in another way too, but so far nothing to that effect in any of the "mainstream media" -- fortunately for Hillary!
Barak Obama is a shrewder politician than we knew
In South Carolina he purposely provoked Bill with the speech were he compared Clinton with Nixon ("Reagan was more relevant than Nixon or Clinton...) This got Bill angry enough to let his bad temper and big mouth take over.
Prediction: Hillary will divorce Bill within the year.
8 months is more than enough for the Republicans to expose Obama and educate the Kool-Aid drinkers.
The Dems have made yet another mistake (Kerry, Gore,...Hillary,....Obama).
Until they put their money on a more centrist/moderate candidate, there will never be another Democratic president.
I am an active Democract and have been enjoying this political season. It has been better that watching a prime time television series. My take on this series is that many people blame Senator Clinton for Senator Obama's success. but it is all about Senator Obama. I too was a skeptic about his prospects, but he has something special. We can dismiss it, ignore it and deny it, but there is something that is drawing people to him in the same way people were drawn to FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. After Ohio, Senator Clinton will see the light and allow the voters to decide. Oh, Senator McCain will see the light only after a resounding defeat in November.
The only thing she's got left is 2012.
And she won't even have that if she goes negative on Obama.
Time for Bill and Hillary to get out of the way.
Reagan's teflon was competence. Obama's comes from the press support over the negative, racist attacks from the Clintons.
OBAMA IS THE BEST! HE IS OUR MAN THAT YADA YADA WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! ANYONE WHO DOESN'T SEE HIM AS THE MESSIAH IS THE A JERK! HE HAS DONE SO MUCH (WHAT I HAVE NO IDEA) AND HE LOOKS SO CUDDLY ON CAMERA...LIKE A SEXY ERKEL. WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
Ok..off topic... But who is the girl in Orange? Ive seen her shadowing Hillary at every event.
---------------------------------------------------------
The "Saudi Girl" protecting their investment.
Bush, Obama, McCain, and Hillary, all have their Saudi masters very close by.
Ever wonder how they raise a few hundred million in an instant??? Ever wonder why Saudi does whatever they want?? Yea, its the f$cking Saudi $$$$$.
The woman in orange is Huma Abedin, Hillary's most personal assistant and reportedly according to Drudge, the Times UK newspaper and other sources, her lesbian lover. She is also considered to be a Saudi intelligence plant.
Other sources:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1919649/posts
http://westtnliving.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/click-photo-to-read-more-ab...
I usually vote Republican, although I voted for Bill Clinton the first time (not the second). I can't get excited about McCain,at all, and I'm a veteran. Even though Barack Obama's beliefs are pretty much the polar opposite of mine, I would vote for him against McCain just because I think it's time the country looked toward new leaders that aren't dragging the same old baggage around with them. Call me naive, but I see something in Obama that's been missing from American politics for twenty years.
Now that it is almost over for Hillary, all of the New york electeds such as Mr. Rangel, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Weiner etc. will have to sulk now & lick their wounds. They tried to shove her down the throats of the people.They thought they would be getting the Cabinet positions in DC. It's not going to happen now. Sorry boys. It's not a wave now, it's a sunami. Yes We Can.
Her name is Huma Abedin. Daughter of Prince Neif.
Very little is known about her. Its f$cking hard to get info about anything that happens in the "Kingdom".
The most secretive country on the planet.
Don't you mean Bill will divorce Shillary ???
Then he can take his Sax and hit the road like the rock star he always wanted to be !
Don't you mean Bill will divorce Shillary ???
Then he can take his Sax and hit the road like the rock star he always wanted to be !
LOL @ Sam Wainwright. Is that a serious line of logic? I don't agree with anything he believes, but it's time to just shuffle bodies. 99% chance you have a subprime loan.
Increasingly, there is no joy in "Hillaryland"…and with just cause.
It would appear that the "wheels started coming off the Clinton bus" even before she lost the Iowa caucuses and barely eeked out a virtual tie with Mr. Obama in New Hampshire.
That's because her negative approval ratings have always been high…upwards of 50 percent. My hunch is that most Democrats saw no other "electable" candidate in the field, so they (grudgingly) were resigned to Hillary's nomination and had fingers crossed that she could beat whomever the Republicans coughed up to run against her.
It's also become increasingly evident that Mrs. Clinton's campaign was never intended to be a 50 state campaign. She truly believed she'd have the nomination all sewn up by Super Tuesday. For, why else would she have blown through some $130 Million in campaign funds (while staying in plush accommodations along the way in the earlier contests) only to now be forced into borrowing money from herself just to keep her campaign bus filled with gas?
What's more, when she was forced to re-assure potential voters just before the Potomac primaries that there would be "no new scandals" caused by her philandering husband and former President, that comment did absolutely nothing but force Democrats into thinking, "Do we REALLY want a known source of "bimbo eruptions" and other assorted embarrassing scandals (a.k.a "Whitewater") once again living in the White House for the Republicans to ruthlessly attack?"
In addition, the proportional nature of the Democratic primary rules (vice the Republican's predominantly "winner take all" approach) has also favored Mr. Obama, and he is clearly using those rules to his advantage. The longer it takes to wrap up the Democratic nomination, the more popular he seems to become.
As a result, the Democratic campaign for President has now turned into a classic "tortoise and hair" race, with Mr. Obama obviously content to plod along...garnering small numbers of delegates here and there from the (mostly smaller) states Mrs. Clinton felt were well beneath her dignity to even campaign in.
The fact that Mr. Obama HAS elected to campaign in these smaller states has since fired up traditionally "sleepy" electorates that have most often been ignored by other candidates...including Mrs. Clinton. The enthusiasm (and votes) coming out of these smaller states are now yielding delegate counts that are, collectively, starting to add up into "real numbers". And they are all favoring Mr. Obama.
There is no doubt that President and Mrs. Clinton's arrogant (and now clearly mistaken) belief in the inevitability of Mrs. Clinton's "coronation" as President have helped lead to her downfall. Both she and her husband clearly over-estimated her (and his) lingering popularity with Democrats. And, judging from the hypothetical match-ups between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain, they also overestimated her popularity with the rest of the country as well.
Now that mainstream Democrats have gotten a really good look at her (and yet another one at him) "up close and personal-like", many of the lingering fears and long-suppressed feelings of disapproval among many Democrats for BOTH of the Clintons are now coming to the fore, particularly now that many of those same Democrats firmly believe they have an electable alternative.
All of which leads me to the inevitable conclusion that the REAL problem with Mrs. Clinton is not so much her campaign or her campaign managers…. it's just her.
If Mrs. Clinton would run the country "from day one" the way she has run this campaign, she'd do a pretty poor job of representing what women care capable of contributing.
In her management style, Clinton has shown (by clinging too long to Solis Doyle) that she values loyalty above effectiveness. If it's true that her staffers hate to bring her bad news, then I'm afraid that her management style is very similar to that of George W. Bush. A Bush of the left is not an improvement!
Her own negatives are so high that she has to campaign on increasing the negatives of her opposition. Look for her to demonstrate next that she can be Carl Rove in a pantsuit.
In a race between Obama and McCain, we have two good choices. For the first time, I have to make my decision between two candidates I respect and admire. (Though each can screw that up with pandering to their respective bases.)
It's pretty pathetic really. No, not rejecting Hillary. Why anybody would've supported Hillary at any time was ridiculous in the first place. But, what's really pathetic is all these people who were in love with the Clintons and supported them despite all the evidence that they were malevolent, lying connivers who would do anything for power have suddenly jumped ship because they don't think Hillary can win now. They supported the evil bitch when they thought she could win the Presidency, but now they've suddenly found religion and decided that they have a better alternative. It was okay to be a complete dirtbag when you could win, but it's not okay to be a complete dirtbag when you can't.
Mrs. Clinton, is not used to not having her way in her 16 year First Lady bubble -- and it shows. She easily dismisses what she doesn't accept, including voters who actually voted for her but didn't get her over the top, State after State. She doesn't even THANK them for braving the snows to come out and vote for her. Entitlement. Dismissal. NO CONCESSION. All about SELF, speaks to monarchy not the Presidency. We already have a President who is impervious to what others think and refuses to ADJUST when the facts and pain indicate a need to do so. Now the VOTERS themselves have joined the cast of enemies of the Clintons -- and that too, shows. Villifying voters and Mr. Obama for restoring pride in our Liberal/Progressive coalition and the possibilities of solving America's challenges from that pivot -- is MOCKED by the CENTRIST, triangulating Clintons and their Campaign surrogates. It's one thing to disagree, but MOCKERY because we dare not agree with THEM??? Turn the page...and New Yorkers, remember the pols who support and possibly were complicit in NOT having Barack's votes counted. We have more page turning to do in years to come!
Obama, is allll taaalk.