In the national poll, which I’m not sure how it figures in though I tend to think it has more impact on the state polls than people think, 
Sen. Clinton now has a double digit over the Obama campaign while Sen. Edwards comes in a distant third.
The Democratic contest generally has been stable, though a USA TODAY Poll taken June 1-3 had shown Obama 1 percentage point ahead of Clinton, 30%-29%. In the new survey, Clinton leads Obama 33%-21% if former vice president Al Gore — who has neither entered the race nor ruled it out — is included among the candidates.
She leads by 39%-26% if Gore isn’t included. Former North Carolina senator John Edwards is then third at 13%.
That sounds about right. The Obama campaign has not taken advantage of the momentum they had after his announcement and I think they’ve suffered for it. I still have some worries about Sen. Clinton’s possible nomination but less so since I saw her campaign’s tactical mastery and subsequent ability to stay on message. They’re the closest Democratic campaign to the 2004 Bush campaign as far as overall strategy goes (and certainly not on the issues) and that’s an appealing position considering the media and opposition environment we face.
Oh, she also knows what the hell she’s talking about (America is so ready to go back to that!).
Presiding over a panel discussion on stem-cell research at Dartmouth College Friday afternoon, Clinton was showing off her policy-polished persona. She artfully framed Republican resistance to stem-cell experimentation in political terms (”this is an extraordinarily pro-life position to try to give life to people”) and she reveled in her mastery of the scientific details surrounding this issue.
It will be interesting to see how she does at the straw poll being taken at Take Back America, because the attendees are significantly to her left and not a natural constituency.
RELATED: Clearly Katharine McPhee is excited about Sen. Clinton.
Sure she stays on message. First she blindly sides so hard with Bush on the Iraq war we wonder if she’s undergoing some kind of testosterone treatment, then she bravely tells everyone they fooled her–as if she of all people couldn’t see the man behind the curtain.
Sellout doesn’t begin to describe the woman, and I’m surprised you’re going bandwagon on the woman just because of some strong poll numbers 19 months before the election takes place.
And “tactical mastery”? Is that what you call completely alienating the opposing political party while robotically inspiring no one? If Clinton is the DNC’s best hope, I’m afraid the chances of a third GOP term are going to be quite strong indeed.
–Jeff G Deutsch
I’m surprised you’re going bandwagon on the woman just because of some strong poll numbers 19 months before the election takes place.
You probably meant “disappointed” rather than surprised. She’s on her way to the nomination.
Not a good thing, because the Republicans can, as usual, tailor their candidate to beat the Dems’ candidate.
It’s 30 weeks until the first contest. That’s a very long time to stay on top, with 7 debates and countless advertising and news cycles ahead.
I do think Obama could do himself a world of good by taking advantage of the idiosyncracies of the next debate 6/28(it’s moderated by Tavis Smiley, and held at Howard). Perhaps he could actually point out a few things that Hillary Clinton and her husband didn’t do and haven’t done for African-Americans.
Also, if he does have a record-breaking fundraising quarter this time around, he needs to translate that into some kickass commercials, both locally targeted and nationally targeted(and, yes, on cable as well as the networks).
The best way to go after Hillary is probably to tag her as a cautious corporatist Democrat, but I suspect that approach works better for a Kucinich type than for Obama, since he’s also taken money from big business and been pretty cautious in the Senate.
I’m not really a Hillary fan, but I will say – she’s very, very smart. That would be a wonderful change.
If Hillary wins, we Republicans will get most of the things we want. And progressives won’t.
What is it “you Republicans” want, exactly, that only Hillary can provide?
I’m just asking because I’d like it laid out on the line what exactly you guys are looking for in the American landscape. There’s been so much dissembling and rhetorical hijinks that I can’t really tell anymore. And your side has not been very good, as late, at describing what your goals are save to say things like “winning.”
Oh, he’s just hedging his bets.
First she blindly sides so hard with Bush on the Iraq war
Really?
Do tell us more. When did this happen? What did she say?
And really, leave the “Hillary is unfeminine” stuff to Mr. Matthews, will you?
Spider. My take is that Hillary has edged toward practicality and governance as opposed to confrontation. After all the Clintons were classic DLCers. She has pledged to get us out of Iraq but has not signed up to a formal timetable. In addition, I believe she will understand our economy is fundamentally strong and that the Bush tax cut is a key component of that strength so that any roll back will be minimal.
There is no way Bush’s tax cuts stick around if the Blue team is elected.
No way.
Hillary is the Dem nominee.
The only wuestion is, who will be her Vice President.
Gore, bitches.
Gore has SOME pride. No way he plays number two to the Clintons again.
It’s Obama or somebody not in the front, like Wes Clark.
My take is that Hillary has edged toward practicality and governance as opposed to confrontation
Yuk. Snort. This has only been “what the Republicans want” since November 2006. They’ll stop wanting it as soon as they get any power again.
I say Richardson is her V.P.
That will give the Dems New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. Clinton herself would give the Dems Arkansas while the lack of Republican interference gives them Ohio.
Worst case scenario has the Reps getting less than 200 EC votes.
And unless something major changes, that situation is more likely than them retaining the White House.
Hey, Clem! Looks like your homeland could use some of your self – proclaimed wisdom
What the fuck? That’s a little non-sequitor, even for you, Frank.
But I do have a serious question, are you trying to get your I.P. banned?
Everytime someone responds to Franks posts, god kills a kitten. Won’t you think of the kittens?
Clem, I was suggesting you directing your attention to where it might be desired.
He does that if you’re not American but are interested in American politics since it bascially shapes that of the rest of the world.
Is Dugger threatening us liberals with a return to the Clinton years? Seriously? Please, don’t throw me in the Clinton patch! Anywhere but there!
Man, do I love kittens!
“Not a good thing, because the Republicans can, as usual, tailor their candidate to beat the Dems’ candidate.”
Was this person conscious during the 2006 elections?
Hey, those kittens are from my neck of the woods!
“Not a good thing, because the Republicans can, as usual, tailor their candidate to beat the Dems’ candidate.”
Like the Borg.
No, Nimrod, I do it when guys like try to preach to us about American politics, when you don’t know shit about it.
Everytime someone responds to Franks posts, god kills a kitten
Wrong, EarL. Every time you call me Frank, a kitten hits the blades.
Rounds, I guess I should have said “are able to tailor”.
Hey, those kittens are from my neck of the woods!
Yeah, they’re too young to have been damaged by the dental hygiene problems you have over there, so they’re still cute.
I meant my county, but since you brought it up, what is the deal with our teeth? We have (some) NHS dentists, surely our teeth should be better than yours. I don’t even have any fillings.
“Not a good thing, because the Republicans can, as usual, tailor their candidate to beat the Dems’ candidate.”
Therefore, one or more of the Republicans is a Super Skrull…
“No, Nimrod, I do it when guys like try to preach to us about American politics, when you don’t know shit about it.”
I know more than you. I work in the States, my paycheck has shrunk by 15% over the past few years because of your shitty economy, I know what I’m talking about.
“Wrong, EarL. Every time you call me Frank, a kitten hits the blades.”
Well, it’s a good thing I don’t like kittens, Frank.
“Rounds, I guess I should have said “are able to tailor”.”
The problem with that thinking is all of Hillary’s weaknesses are well known and already exposed. The top four Republicans are not as safe.
McCain never had to deal with the age before and he is looking less healthy than he did just 7 years ago.
Rudy has managed to keep the details of his three mariages away from the Republicans and his liberal views will scare away most of them anyway. (The Religious Right will kill his campaign before the Democratic Party ever gets a chance.)
Mitt Ronmney belongs to a religion that most of the Religious Right considers a cult … and the left won’t like the obvious racist policies the Church had up to just a few decades ago.
Fred Thompson hasn’t shown any ability to campaign and once outside the overly produced safety of the studio, he will fail.
This is why the majority of Republicans want another choice.
Hey, Clem,I’ve got news for you: The Democrats have absolutely no plan to reduce spending, no plan to resolve the Social Security problem, because they have spent 8 years telling all of us that there is no problem, and they plan on rolling back the tax cuts, which will reduce your pay even further.
Think they won’t, Clem?
And don’t think that are only 4 possible candidates for Republican nominee.
Frank: “Hey, Clem,I’ve got news for you: The Democrats have absolutely no plan to reduce spending, no plan to resolve the Social Security problem, because they have spent 8 years telling all of us that there is no problem, and they plan on rolling back the tax cuts, which will reduce your pay even further.
Think they won’t, Clem?”
8 years under Bill Clinton, the American dollar was strong, because the ecnomy was. The next Democratic president will have to make a lot of hard decisions, but in the long run it will be better for the economy. On the other hand, it may be too late.
“And don’t think that are only 4 possible candidates for Republican nominee.”
I’m not counting Ron Paul and the rest of the Single-Digit Brigade.
Hey, Clem, can you pull a “dot.com” boom out of a hat?
On the other hand, it may be too late.
Do I really want to know what that means?
I’m not counting Ron Paul and the rest of the Single-Digit Brigade.
That’s your business… But the Democratic contest isn’t the Republican contest. And the media’s horse race isn’t “Joe Six – Pack’s” take on the election. For him, the campaign begins about the 4th of July, 2008.