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Will Hillary Support Nominee Obama?
On CNN today reading the Clinton camp's talking points sent out today, they are making John McCain's attack on Obama calling for him to take public funding. Hillary's people are saying that the Senator Obama is breaking his first campaign promise by saying that they'll "think about it" in response to McCain. So is this a sign showing a crack in the crumbling Clinton campaign that they are anticipating losing the nomination to Obama? It looks like the Clintons are showing their true stripes of self-interest and the Democratic Party be damned when they lose.
It's no secret that the Clinton people authentically despise the Obama camp, but with today's revelation are they saying that what many Obama supporters are saying about a Clinton nomination-that they will vote for McCain before Hillary Clinton? It certainly came across like that.
There is a big difference in voters that are excited about Obama who will not support Hillary Clinton. Obama has attracted a number of Independents and even Republicans which is something that is as big a threat to Clinton, like Obama's big financial advantage, as it is to McCain. Hillary Clinton is a polarizing, divisive figure and that will only increase if she were to receive the nomination; Obama is seen as unifying. Conservative pundits from George Will to Tony Blankley as well as those on the left agree that the only unifying quality that Hillary Clinton is her ability to get Republican voters out in force.
By making their attack today on behalf of McCain they are either refusing to support Obama when he is nominated or trying to unload Hillary's unlikability on him. They've tried appropriating Obama's "Change" slogan and even "Yes We Can" which sounds as good as John McCain saying "I'm fired up and ready to go" coming from Hillary rally. So, either scenario is possible.
Comments (8)
I have some suspicions that the Clinton camp may very well not only "fail to support" Sen. Obama, they may very well actively work against him in the general. They know that if Obama does not win this round, Michelle Obama is very unlikely to be willing to endure another campaign in 2012. Her feelings matter, as they should.
That they would be willing to tank the general in order to have another chance in 2012 is repugnant to me. Sandbagging your own party's nominee because you didn't win is beyond childish, in this context*, it's close to sociopathic.
Will Obama's new voters stay home? Maybe. I know I will only very reluctantly consider a vote for Clinton if she somehow manages a win, especially if it's by way of underhanded/unfair tactics, such as trying to change the agreed-upon party procedures and rules they're now trying to "bend" to their advantage.
* Eight years of Bush/Cheney destructiveness to the environment, the Constitution, civil liberties, America's standing overseas, and a host of other concerns too long to enumerate.
February 17, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even the ambitious Clintons know that they have no chance in 2012. These days, you have 1 chance to lead a major party campaign. The last 2-timer was Stevenson from the Dems and Nixon from the GOP. (And Nixon was a true national figure with a (for better or worse) real national record (unlike HRC) when he ran the second time -- which came 8 years after the first time.)
HRC will be 66 during the 2012 election. At that point, she will be a spin-proof establishment, non-change element, by virtue of her age alone.
Finally, HRC has incredible branding (her married name) and that sword cuts both ways. It was useful in this campaign, but if she loses the best she can hope for is a nice cushy berth in the Senate for as long as she wants it.
It's a job (the Senate) I would love to have! I would hardly feel sorry for her!
February 17, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
On clarification: I am deliberately mixing the GE metaphor with the Dem Primary since this primary season has now gone on longer than any in recent history. As a result, some of the implications of GE run are appropriate here as well.
I think that should Obama lose the primary, he may have a chance to run in 2012 if he continues to build his ground support. But it is very risky and he would be seriously damaged as well if he loses the 2008 primary.
That is why we are seeing a fight to the death here: there is a lot on the line for Obama and everything is on the line for the Clintons. There is no serious "next year" scenario at this point.
February 17, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
How nice of the Republican machine to let us know who will really unify and energize their base. I used to think that when Rove spun these webs he was doing the old inside-outskie -- saying he wanted to run against Clinton so that we would think he really wants to run against Obama so we would let him run against Clinton. I finally decided he doesn't think we're smart enough to follow the old dipsy-doodle. He's right. It works to keep it simple. Tell people you really want to run against Clinton because that will really bring the old base out. The Democrats that go for the Obama deal pick it up and run with it. Like they didn't come out against Gore and Kerry? Do you really believe they are just going to let you slide Obama by under the attack machine radar? It's really simple. They are pushing Obama, because they want a piece of him. In our guts, we know who they are really afraid of. The big dog. And that's what people fear when they worry about whether Hillary Clinton will support Obama. They're afraid the big dog will stay on the porch in November if Obama gets the nomination. I don't know what he'll do, but if I were the big dog, I'd be at Gwen's in November, eating ribs and chicken and sipping a Caribe.
February 17, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I didn't understand anything that you said, but maybe if you could explain this one phrase in English it would help:
I don't know what he'll do, but if I were the big dog, I'd be at Gwen's in November, eating ribs and chicken and sipping a Caribe.
Who is the big dog?
Who is Gwen?
What is Gwen's
What do ribs and chicken have to do with Hillary and Barack?
What does a Caribe have to do with this?
Thanks.
February 17, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is not another person on this blog I'd break that sentence down for, Dem, but I always enjoy your posts.
I said if I were Bill Clinton, I'd go down to Anguilla this Fall and eat barbeque and drink beer at a rib place on the beach instead of campaigning for Obama.
My gut tells me it's Bill Clinton people like the Republican thugs, Kennedys and Kerry have been after all along. Obama is just the knife they're stabbing him with. They'll dump Obama as soon as he's served his purpose. What really pisses me off is they go after Bill Clinton by attacking his family. It's not Hillary they hate.
February 17, 2008 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is a fair question of all Clinton supporters.
A fair fight is one thing, a nasty, underhanded and dirty one is quite another.
But put that aside: assuming the fight goes to Obama, even if it's close.... will Clinton supporters here pledge to back him enthusiastically in the general?
I'm beginning to think that they won't, that they're playing it to the hilt now because they have nothing to gain if he wins, but maybe something to gain if he wins without a big mandate. If they can sabotage a first term, do they actually think the party would give her another chance? I don't think that's realistic, and I think Clinton's supporters have to do some soul-searching.
February 17, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
No way! If Obama gets the nomination I'm going to be sitting on the beach a Gwen's sipping a Caribe with the big dog.
February 17, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
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