Fracturing Clintonland
Today, we have some serious fracturing from three long time extreme Clinton loyalists in different ways, Rangel, Rendell, and Hilary Rosen.
(Also today, long time Clintonista Rahm Emanuel endorsed Obama, and Nancy Pelosi emitted a first warning nudge.)
Call me a cynic, but the more I look at this, the more I think Clinton "stayed in" for a few more days of emotional fundraising to try and make back some of her debt.
(Also today, long time Clintonista Rahm Emanuel endorsed Obama, and Nancy Pelosi emitted a first warning nudge.)
Call me a cynic, but the more I look at this, the more I think Clinton "stayed in" for a few more days of emotional fundraising to try and make back some of her debt.
posted by mikevotes at
3:04 PM
7 Comments:
Didn't staying in put her deeper in debt... new fundraising notwithstanding? What is the per diem cost of running the Clinton campaign? Maybe all her expense were travel and she spent nothing on media. I don't know.
I think the records show that, despite the occasional surge, her small donor fundraising was not up to the task of covering the daily expenses.
It now looks like the serious, independent Clinton supporters as surrogates are folding up the tent. Those who feed from the Clinton trough, however, are not. And then there's the radicle, self-spiting fringe supporters... Hillary really needs to give these folks a great big hug, tell them she feels their pain, but it's all going to be OK if we just support Obama against McCain. This hug better come within the next 48 hrs....
By
-epm, at 3:34 PM
Well, I think it's a difference between campaign debt, and debt to the Clinton family. Yes staying in put her further in the red, but, reportedly, she didn't loan her campaign any more money after the two announced occasions.
(I don't know how they do payback to the various open debts or who has primacy.)
And, yeah, the stablishment Clinton supporters are packed and ready to go. (Really ready it seems.)
Of course, they had over a month to pack, you know?
By
mikevotes, at 4:59 PM
You guys! Don't you think it is time to start promoting Party unity? It better start happening within 48 hours :)
(I don't know which will be worse - the bitter Clinton supporters who can't move on or the bitter Obama supporters who will not be happy no matter what Clinton does from now on)
Let's be the change that Obama promotes and get to work! Or do you think he is going to waste time making her "eat crow"?
By
Ptelea, at 7:03 PM
:) I take your point.
I'm still a little paranoid about Hillary saying (or not saying) or doing (or not doing) something that undercuts the Democratic nominee and becomes fodder for a Republican attack ad.
Maybe we're in a sort of Mexican standoff. I'm waiting for Hillary to get unequivocally, foursquare, behind Obama as the Dem nominee... at which point I'll give a sigh of relief and begin singing the praises of Hillary.
I'm still not sure what Hillary (and Hillary supporters) are looking for from Obama (and Obama supporters).
I'd really like to start beating the crap (rhetorically) out of McCain and the Republican slime machine, without continually looking over my shoulder wondering what Hillary's doing. I don't mean to sound harsh, but do you know what I mean?
By
-epm, at 7:48 PM
I am a former Clinton supporter (I switched when he gave his response to the first pastor scandal). I am looking for nothing from Obama (in the way of deals) because I trust that he will handle the situation wisely. Clinton will have an important role in this party - and there are many positions that can use her strengths. I also believe that Clinton will be a gracious Obama supporter and will bring most of her staunch and disgruntled supporters with her.( I REALLY hope I am right about this!!)
I think your fear of Clinton is more a reflection of the negativity (on both sides) from this contest than it is of the reality. I have thought for some time that she would end her campaign when the primaries were over. Even if you take the low road - and believe she does everything for ego, etc. what is wrong with finishing out the race - to completion? Even though the math has been against her for weeks (OK, months) she HAS maintained a huge following and that is not a mandate to take lightly.
Right now, I'm feeling really good about this. This race has been hard on all of us - now is the time to suck up our regrets and negativity and move on. We have a great candidate AND we have a lot of energy to push on to the real battle.
By
Ptelea, at 8:09 PM
It is about unity, but at the same time you have to understand that last night's speech from Clinton was a shot of defiance when most of the party was looking for that unity.
Obama and his direct campaign have made no steps to make Clinton eat crow, but you have to understand that the extended chants of Denver last night, unrebutted by Clinton seemed to paint a picture of a candidate who was more about herself than the party. She didn't even talk about unity last night at any length. She still seemed to be trying to convince superdelegates.
And I tend not to share EPM's suspicions towards Clinton. It's my opinion that it will all resolve and she will do it all right. (One of the reasons why last night was so freaky.) Frankly, it's in her political interests to do so.
I have little question everyone will swing in. It's just going to take some time and space and focus on McCain.
By
mikevotes, at 9:18 PM
My suspicions are (were?) that if left unchecked Hillary would continue to be consumed with self-interest over party interest. As I said either here or elsewhere, the extent to which Hillary get concedes that Obama is the rightful, legitimate nominee, is an indication as to the intervention of congressional and professional colleagues pressured her to smell the coffee.
I don't think I'm too far off the mark of reality.
By
-epm, at 10:38 PM
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