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All Categories, Life, Politics, People, Ramblings Monday
21Apr
HILLARY CLINTON, WHILE HER OPPONENT SLEPT, WAS TOILING UPWARD IN THE NIGHT
If Barack Obama loses the expectations game in Pennsylvania tomorrow, the post mortem will certainly be focused on what the Senator was doing in the days leading up to such a pivotal vote and after just watching Larry King live, he will also need to answer as to his whereabouts on the eve of the contest where many voters and Super Delegates, now perched on the fence, are waiting to see if he has 'clutch' Jordanesque qualities late in the fourth quarter.
After all, the Illinois Senator has had more than one opportunity to close the deal and seal the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination; but so far, has proven to be a bad ball handler when it really matters. The Clinton camp has apparently figured out the chink...the lack of 'a killer clutch' instinct; and as they did in the Texas/Ohio matchup, for Pennsylvania, started the offense early while saving some of their best stuff (a la the 3 a.m. phone call ad) for the dying moments of the 10th round. We now all know how Texas/Ohio ended...another miserable Obama fumble.
Obamamanians have had no time to rest...it's been one wave of attack after another...first with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright continuing to provide daily fodder, then Obama's "bitter" comment about small-town Pennsylvanians and their reasons for clinging to "guns" and "religion". All this while being dogged by relentless questions regarding preparedness and readiness for the White House. The result: A rather uncomfortable ABC hosted Presidential Debate just a few days ago, where Obama spent virtually the entire night on the defensive.
If you don't believe the pressure is working, just ask the the people polled after the debate. By a margin of 2 to 1, the feeling was that Senator Hillary Clinton gave a much better account of herself and won the encounter hands down. You would think that with this knowledge the former First Lady, now fighting to be the first woman in charge at the White House, would be taking it easy on the eve of the big day; but in addition to all her other engagements, a little "shock and awe" (for the Obamamanians)...appearing on Larry King Live to give fresh perspective to Pennsylvanians as to what she would do about the escalating gas crisis, the economy, health care, Iraq and much more.
Don't get me wrong, I am sure Obama has a full night making last minute stops in Pennsylvania; but how is Larry King Live on the eve of what could be your biggest day, for prime time exposure and a chance to convince a few more voters? Priceless! The Clinton campaign did very well with SNL surprise just before Texas/Ohio, and I get a funny feeling they will also do well with this Larry King coup...and force another major fumble. I can already hear the collective groan among Obamamanians.
So, what was Obama doing leading up to the pivotal Pennsylvania vote? On the ropes getting pummelled. And on the eve? Quite possibly making another speech, while Hillary was engaged in "shock and awe" on prime time. Watching, you couldn't help admire the political savvy of Clinton and her team.
You accept that she does come with some heavy luggage; but politically, you know she is as brilliant as they come. In your heart, you know that even if she falls short of the Democratic nomination, historians will remember her campaign, good or bad, as the perfect attack machine...one that on the very eve of D-Day gave the impression that the Clintonites, while their opponents slept, were toiling upward in the night!
Reader Comments (8)
Secondly, to call last weeks obvious attack on Obama as him being on the defensive is a nice spin to what actually happened. I would admit that there were some stumbles during his attack by Stephanopolous (who worked for Clinton during the 90's), but I would not say Clinton walked away like a champ. Her inability or unwillingness to answer details about her tax plan give me further insight into why she will not win the nomination.
I doubt the history book will revere Clinton's campaign when you consider that it has gone bankrupt while raising over $200 million dollars. It also will not revere her campaign for having an overwhelming lead in the polls just four months ago, to be pretty much eliminated at this point. You obviously will not give him credit, but Obama's campaign has been far superior. From Fundraising, to political activism, to the embrace of technology with www.barackobama.com, his campaign and his leadership have been masterful.
While Clinton may have maneuvered a spot on Larry King the night before the Pennsylvania primary, Obama recognizes that he needs to lose by over 20 points for Clinton to even be in consideration.
Fortunately enough Clinton should have plenty of time to plan for her 2016 campaign after the next two pirmaries.
Apart from the relentless pressure, there has always been one moment just before each contest that we can all remember...
-the tearing up incident (that turned New Hampshire)
-the 3 am ad & the SNL appearance (that seemed to have a profound impact on Texas/Ohio)
Now we don't know the outcome of Pennsylvania just yet, but if she wins by more than 10 pts as the pundits are arguing she needs to...would we look back at the surprise appearance on Larry King as another pivotal moment?
I respect and give credit to Obama for all he has done and achieved, but my point is that, like her or hate her, Clinton has always found a way to go into the key matchups on the attack and has aways found a way to steal a moment we can all remember.
The result is that she goes in very strong and the results are there to prove it.
It's a political savvy that would make the best politicians blush!
I think we will have to respectfully agree to disagree.
Brian...you are right. I guess sometimes you get so caught up in the spin that you don't even recall who should have been winning which state.
Anyways...whatever happens, the coverage this evening will be very interesting.
Great to see you mee mOe. I know not everybody like the subject (and for good reasons too).
I will stop by soon!
We will know in good time....
Let the post mortem begin!