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Stop the bleeding ...Democrats
By Mike in Politcs Plus
March 7, 2008

Super delegates, committed delegates, reseating delegates for Florida and Michigan and a do over for Florida and Michigan.  I can imagine John McCain and the Republican’s enjoying this fiasco. On the plus side,it  keeps the Democrats in the limelight.

Almost threw up my supper yesterday, as I was watching Florida’s governor Charlie Crist make his plea for a do over in Florida with the DNC paying. Republican governor Charlie Crist told Chris Matthews that he wanted his Democrats to have a voice in the process. Please, it gives the Republicans what they want ;the Democrats in disarray, and Hillary Clinton.  Of course, $28 million from the DNC would mean less money the Dem’s  have to spend on advertising or supporting other congressional seats.  It was the Republican dominated legislators (along with some willing Dem’s) that moved up date of their primary against the DNC’s wishes.

I think, Hillary Clinton crossed that proverbial line, by insinuating that Barack Obama is not ready to pick up that phone at 3 a.m. What if she gets the nomination and the DNC forces her to choose Barack Obama  as her running mate? The Republicans will have a field day, saying " If something happens to Hillary ,Obama cannot stand up to the plate." Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said the Obama camp was using Ken Starr tactics, asking for Hillary’s tax returns. Not sure it is wise to remind people of the Ken Starr investigations?

After the 11th straight victories, it looks to me like  Barack Obama went into a rope a dope mode leaving the Clinton challenges unanswered.  In Ohio ,Hillary used the”I I feel your pain” and Barack Obama gave his usual hope speech.  I think Barack Obama will learn from this, and will do more substantive speeches from now on.

Will Hillary Clinton going negative weaken Barack Obama or make him stronger for the inevitable GOP smear machine?  Are the negative attacks by Hillary Clinton’s just a warm-up for the general election?Barack Obama has run a positive campaign, and it would be out of his character to go negative. Baraka Obama might lose his supporters,if  he changed his tactics, but if he could find a willing surrogate.

On the positive side, Hillary Clinton raised $5 million in 24 hours and 25 million for the month. Barack Obama raised a whopping $55 million last month. Compare that to John McCain’s $12 million last month. Enthusiasm and money is still with the Democrats,but a brokered convention just might turn all the new voters away.  What a waste that would be.

 

Comments


  • WendyH WendyH Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Mc Cain is probably standing back, laughing at this whole three-ring circus the DNC has unwittingly become a part of...  And really, could you blame him?  By allowing this merry little war betwixt Hill-Bill and Obama to continue, the DNC is quickly starting to divide.  The battle lines are being drawn.  When is it going to end?  If the DNC doesn't pull together soon, the GOP are going to have the DNC right where they want them.  I know many professed Democrats who are now saying they are going to vote for Mc Cain simply because they are tired of this petty, childish foolishness between the two Democratic nominees.  And honestly, I'm not so sure that I might not join them... 

    March 12, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.

  • trtlgrrrl trtlgrrrl Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I had a tough time voting this year. Neither of the Democratic candidates really stood out to me.
    I was at the Victoria Democratic Party meeting when reps from both parties gave their pitches and I was not greatly impressed. Obama's guy kept talking about "change" and this "isn't a campaign, this is a movement." Hillary's gal talked mostly about what she did prior to her husband being elected governor.
    I hate mud slinging, I want to hear real issues that the candidates will focus on.
    But in the end, I really don't care who's president as long as it's not a Republican.

    March 9, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.

  • Mike Mike Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I Understand what you mean Trisha, but that’s the politics of old that Obama is preaching against.Obama has brought in a lot of new voters, many independent and former Republicans , who were tired of the politics of old.
    Mainline Democrats are sensitive to what happened to the Clintons during their first years in office; Bill Clinton still enjoys a high 85% approval within the party. If Obama uses this line of attack, he will alienate the Democratic base, much to the joy of the Republican Party. A split Democratic Party, cannot defeat the Republican Party in November.
    Barack Obama must continue to use a quick response, and stay above the fray approach, that propelled him to this lead he now has. He must also provide more detail on how his proposals would generate more jobs and revive our economy. Whether or not you like Hillary Clinton, you can not dismiss her knowledge of the issues. Since it was her camp that went back to the Ken Starr investigation, Barack could use that to his advantage by saying “They want to go back to the politics of old” instead of compromise and they want to rehash the vast right wing conspiracy. I think he would be foolish for the front runner to change game strategy in the middle of the stream, just because Hillary landed a few punches.

    March 7, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.