The Clinton plan
Two different summaries of the campaign call outlining the Clinton strategy going forward. (Chris Cilizza, and the NYTimes blog.)
Frankly, it sounds more like a strategy to try and keep the balls in the air rather than a path to victory, and it seems to rely greatly on forces beyond their control (McCain, the media, some future event) to magically cut Obama down.
I think it's telling that their perception is that it's not about their candidate or her message. It's not about connecting with voters. It is solely about Obama.
Seemingly, there will be no introduction of a new theme or inspiration as to why we should vote for her.
It's just the same argument more loudly.
Later: Add this NYTimes piece to the strategy question.
Frankly, it sounds more like a strategy to try and keep the balls in the air rather than a path to victory, and it seems to rely greatly on forces beyond their control (McCain, the media, some future event) to magically cut Obama down.
I think it's telling that their perception is that it's not about their candidate or her message. It's not about connecting with voters. It is solely about Obama.
Seemingly, there will be no introduction of a new theme or inspiration as to why we should vote for her.
It's just the same argument more loudly.
Later: Add this NYTimes piece to the strategy question.
posted by mikevotes at
5:36 AM
4 Comments:
Well, this is a good question. Is Hillary in such difficulty because her campaign's been poorly run, because of some fundamental shortcomings of her own, or because she had the bad luck to go up against a talented politician whose moment appears to have arrived?
Some of each, I suppose, but mostly the last one. I think in an ordinary year, against an ordinary crop of Democratic hopefuls, she probably would have won. The Obama phenomenon, like it or not (and I don't especially), is something pretty unusual.
By
Anonymous, at 6:34 AM
Mike - I wish you would step back and look at your blog from a more objective perspective. Your blog is giving Obama even more of a free ride than the main stream press. Do you think that McCain is such a bad candidate that Obama's magic will be enough to slay the Republican dragon? Have you read the Newsweek article, The Obama Delusion by Robert J. Samuelson? What do you think of his analysis?
By
Ptelea, at 6:53 AM
TG, I had a line in the first draft reflecting that she had hired a microtrend guy in what has turned out to be a wave year.
I agree with your point. It's my opinion that the Obama campaign has been so successful because it has indirectly tapped into anti-Bushism and a desire for these eight years to be over among Democrats in a way the Clinton campaign has not.
They've not gone out and shouted, no more Bush, they've hit it in a much more indirect way that they've managed to frame in the positive instead of the negative.
....
Ptelea, I'm definitely Obama. I was pretty evenly decided until all the use of race around South Carolina, that created a negativity towards the Clinton campaign that I haven't ever gotten over. Now, everytime I read one of their pretty implausible scenarios, that experience of SC spin creeps in and makes me less credible towards what they're proposing.
However, I don't think I've actually criticized Hillary Clinton or her positions. (Or really praised Obama as a person or his positions.)
I have written mainly about the campaigns, events, and strategy, and frankly, the Clinton campaign and strategy deserves heaps of criticism. They never should have gotten here.
They still have arguably the better candidate, but they've screwed themselves so far into a hole......
(And, no, I don't think it will be just magic that gets Obama through against McCain. I think it will be the anti-Republican environment, the TV ads tying Bush to the current administration and Republican congress, and a fundraising and volunteer advatage that will push Obama through in November.
I think the Dems could run a potted plant this time and have a good shot at winning.)
I'm sorry if I'm not criticizing Obama enough for your tastes, but I'm not really criticizing the candidates just their campaigns. And I don't think you can honestly tell me that the Clinton CAMPAIGN doesn't deserve to be pilloried.
By
mikevotes, at 7:24 AM
Thanks for the link to that article, Ptelea. For me, that really hits the nail on the head.
Obama's rhetoric is not going to make our very real problems and divisions go away.
By
Anonymous, at 3:39 PM
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