Surge To Hillary?

I’ve got no data to base this on, just a gut feeling, but I think in the last few days before the Iowa caucus we could very well see voters break in favor of Sen. Clinton. Why? I think a vague sense of the unknown with Sen. Obama, coupled with some movement from the Bhutto assassination may make Sen. Clinton the “safe” choice for Iowa’s older, less liberal Democrats. Looking at caucus history, “daring” doesn’t exactly describe their past choices.

2 Responses to “Surge To Hillary?”


  1. Gravatar Icon 1 C.S.Strowbridge

    I think the voting system, which you’ve described in terms similar to, ‘a fucking catastrophe,’ to low voter turnout will help Edwards win in Iowa. However, it will hurt Obama more than Clinton and she will come in second place.

    On the other hand, Huckabee would win in Iowa if the same system was used, but I think Romney will eek out a win. (Or at least come within 1-2%. McCain will crack 10% while the rest will embarrass themselves.

    Three days later in New Hampshire…

    Obama will sink enough to give Clinton a safe win making her the winner of the nomination while Romney will do the same for the Republicans.

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 Quaker in a Basement

    Some people have suggested that the caucus voting system may hurt Clinton–I think just the opposite, and you’ve put your finger on the reason, OW.

    In caucus voting, a candidate has to garner a minimum percentage of voters present (15 percent, I think?) for the vote to count. If a candidate doesn’t reach the threshold, his or her supporters align with another candidate or stand as unaffiliated.

    I think this is most likely to happen to Obama supporters in precints that are small, conservative, or with an older demographic. Unless those caucusers are prepared to hold out as unaffiliated, the so-called “safe” choice will get the benefit.

Leave a Reply




Recent Comments

  • Nimrod Gently: Dick Cheney knows stuff. Other than the exact burning point of human flesh, even.
  • Oliver Willis: Whatever you’re smoking I want some, I just fear it would degrade my capacity to make sense -...
  • Frank DiSalle: There is a fundamental flaw in your analysis, of course. It is obvious to anyone who has ever listened...
  • juhar: Dave in SoCal, Here’s an UPDATE: If the flags were left there for over a week and no one appears to be...
  • Jane: It’s not the banks that were screaming for the NO DOC loans. It’s the liberals who wanted everyone...

Disclaimer

The views on this site are mine and mine alone, they do not reflect the views of my employer, Media Matters for America

Privacy Policy