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Why? Someone Help Me Understand
Why is Hillary still in this race? Somebody please help me understand.
After super Tuesday and the 11 wins by Obama I figured she stayed in because she might win big in Ohio and Texas and catch up with him or at least get close in delegates (which is how you win, not popular votes). But in the end Obama won Texas and she didn't gain that much over him in Ohio.
Then I thought, she's still in it because she's trying to convince the Super delegates to overturn the voters and give her the nomination, by seating MI & FL even though that would be breaking the rules. She had already offended many AA's, but I guessed she would convince the Super's not to worry about that because we would all come back to her in the general, because... well... who else would we vote for, we're Democrats (I wouldn't). But with her recent comments about "White working class voters" that ship has sailed, no matter what the polls say (I never get polled. Where are these pollsters?!), in the neighborhood, at work, on black radio stations all I hear is "I won't vote for Clinton, if she steals the nomination" no matter what you think is fair or right the perception would be stealing.
I could be wrong but I'm willing to bet that if the Supers give her the nomination over Obama when he's got more delegates, the Obama-inspired young people, the Obama supporting independents and republicans will not vote for Clinton. The Obama-inspired young people who are first-time getting involved in politics will probably determine that its all BS and never vote again.
So why is she still in this race? Is she hoping lightening will strike him and she can then step in? Does she know some ominous revelation and is just holding on until it can be revealed? Is she really trying to win in 2012? Are the Supers telling her behind closed doors they will give her the nomination if she stays in until the convention?
WHY IS SHE STILL IN THIS RACE?! PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND!
Comments (15)
"Why is Hillary still in this race?"
Failure of the imagination.
May 15, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
What difference does it make now? She's running a more positive campaign now, so she's not hurting anything. It would be a lot different if she were still out there endorsing McCain, for example, but she's not.
She hasn't had a new argument for the superdelegates in several weeks, and the old arguments obviously aren't working for her. (I guess sweetie-gate counts as a new argument. Good luck with that one.)
Obama is pulling in superdelegates at a rate of five or more for every one Hillary gets. Obama is going to win the pledged delegate majority soon, and that's going to open up a new surge of superdelegates for him.
If there's a negative, it's that Obama could instead be campaigning even more directly against McCain already, but he's essentially doing that anyway.
So what difference does it really make? The remaining primaries won't make any difference, whether Hillary suspends her campaign or not. Her name would be on the ballot either way. Obama will get the delegates he needs either way.
May 15, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I get that she has somewhat softened her campaign rhetoric; however, my question remains. If she and the PTB's believe that Obama has become the presumptive nominee, then why not let's get started on McCain. Why make him battle her, McCain, Bill and the media. If she doesn't believe he's the nominee and that she still has a shot, my question is what makes her think that given the things that I stated above.
May 15, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
If she is being civil then the campaign is good for Obama. The upcoming contests get people in those states excited about the campaign. It would look bad for the people of Kentucky to give her a win after she has droped out. It is all good for so long as she does not pull anymore foolishness like saying McCain is more qualified than Obama.
May 15, 2008 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not a supporter, but she is free to do as she pleases. And frankly Obama's loss in WV and upcoming defeat in KY would look really bad if there was no competition.
May 15, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand this as well. However, she continues to state that she believes she can win the nomination. She is not in this race just to make Obama look not so bad having lost WV. I don't think he would have lost by 40% had she not made her "White working class.." statement just when she was campaigning in a state where this kind of statement would have made a significant impact. I don't believe for one moment that this was "mispoken", I believe it was meant as an "us" vs "them" and it worked. He would have lost anyway but maybe not by so much.
May 15, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is she going to say? I know I'm losing, I know I'm broke, but what the hell. First she doesn't want to look like she was pushed out, her supporters would truly revolt. She has made a huge deal about MI & FL so it will need to be resolved. She also needs to keep running to keep fund raising. That nagging debt issue.
May 15, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is true then I am very impressed with Hillary's acting abilities. Because when I watch her on TV, I am convinced she means what she says when she says she's convinced that she will be the nominee and that she can still win the primary.
May 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
You think she is a good actor? Really? I don't believe a word she says on this or any other topic. I don't think she thinks she can truly win.
The only thing I can consider at this point is that she is actually taking one for the team at this point, finishing off a pointless race in order to complete what has become a 50 State prep match and to raise enough cash to pay some debts off.
May 16, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
According to Howard Wolfson's recent post on Hillary's blog, Hillary is now leading the popular vote. If you include FL, and only those who voted for Hillary in MI (and ignore the 238,000 votes for Obama would presumably get as "uncommitted".)
http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/
May 15, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even with this convolution equation, only delegate matter, not popular vote. That's just Hillary rewriting the rules.
May 15, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meant: convoluted equation, only delegates matter.
May 15, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
To make that argument she not only has to claim the votes from the uncontested Michigan primary, she has to not count the votes from caucus states. Somehow I don't think many superdelegates are going to be fooled that easily.
May 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The explanation can be summed up in three words: Denial, denial, denial.
May 16, 2008 4:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
My take here: Why Hillary is Running
May 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
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