Hillary's Big Problem
Kimberly Strassel points out that Hillary Clinton has a major weakness: The "ethically challenged" specter of her days as White House first lady.
Actually, as Strassel's piece perceptively argues, she has two problems. In my view, one is substantive; one strategic. The former is the ethics issue mentioned above. The strategic one is Hillary's effort to run a campaign that's reminiscent of the Rose Garden strategy employed by incumbents, in order to create an illusion of inevitability. One the illusion crumbles, the entire course of the Democratic nominating process is up for grabs.
That being said, it's not unlikely that Hillary could lose Iowa yet nonetheless go on to win the nomination. It's only one state, after all -- and the Obama scenario depends upon him (not Edwards) winning and being able to carry that momentum forward. Given some of the gaffes and the rookie mistakes he's made, it's possible he could nonetheless carry it off -- but far from certain. And Hillary has the contacts, the money, and the single-minded lust for power that makes her a very tough opponent.
Actually, as Strassel's piece perceptively argues, she has two problems. In my view, one is substantive; one strategic. The former is the ethics issue mentioned above. The strategic one is Hillary's effort to run a campaign that's reminiscent of the Rose Garden strategy employed by incumbents, in order to create an illusion of inevitability. One the illusion crumbles, the entire course of the Democratic nominating process is up for grabs.
That being said, it's not unlikely that Hillary could lose Iowa yet nonetheless go on to win the nomination. It's only one state, after all -- and the Obama scenario depends upon him (not Edwards) winning and being able to carry that momentum forward. Given some of the gaffes and the rookie mistakes he's made, it's possible he could nonetheless carry it off -- but far from certain. And Hillary has the contacts, the money, and the single-minded lust for power that makes her a very tough opponent.
posted by LadybugUSA at 5:19 PM
4 Comments:
The only problem is the constant smear campaign by the media she's up against every day. It's absolutely disgusting.
You are missing one of Hilary's other great flaws, which is a monstrous lack of charisma. (admittedly, charisma has had very little to do with who has made a good President from an economic and foreign policy standpoint, if you'd like to jump back to talking about Harding and Reagan)
While I think that it won't hurt her so much in the primary, it could hurt her in a general election, where she is really going to need to have some speaking ability to be able to persuade people.
That said, none of the Republican candidates seem to been overflowing with charisma. Giuliani and Romney both lack general base support, where they might have charisma, and Fred Thompson is the only other candidate worth speaking of. Honestly, I feel like I could have a beer and watch a football game with Fred Thompson, and that's not exactly what I want in a president.
I love it, the "constant smear campaign"- the softballs the media has tossed at Hillary are jokeworthy. The only reason the media is asking any tough question at all is because they have to maintain their ounce of credibility. Obama, too, is not being held accountable... yet. Neither of these two lightweights can stand up to a full media assault like what President Bush has endured for 7 years. It will be fun to watch when the gloves finally do come off. With the new media reporting too,the dinosaurs can't slant and equivocate their choice upon US.
Vote for Hill,
Is it really the same when smeared with one's own filth? Hillary is no Snow White. Her history provides much legitimate fodder for conservative pundits. If she can't manage them, the presidency is way out of her league.
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