Hillary’s In, But Can She Win?
by Pamela LeaveyAnd, so it’s official… Hillary Clinton is in. This morning she announced via her website and by email, that “she will establish a presidential exploratory committee, launching a 2008 campaign that could make her the first female president in history and the only former first lady to succeed her husband in the White House.”
Hillary said in her announcement, she’s not just starting a campaign, she’s starting a conversation and she plans to turn that conversation into a winning campaign, in part, obviously by utilizing the internet. She’s got a hard road, with many liberal bloggers including myself, skeptical about a Hillary candidacy. Most liberal bloggers have taken a firm stance against the Iraq War, and many bloggers felt she waited far too long to renounce her vote for the war. Now, with her announcement that’s she’s “In”, it appears she’s ready to have a conversation about Iraq and other issues…
“This is a big election with some very big questions,” Clinton said in the statement on her Web site. “How do we bring the war in Iraq to the right end? How can we make sure every American has access to adequate health care? How will we ensure our children inherit a clean environment and energy independence? How can we reduce the deficits that threaten Social Security and Medicare?”
But, the real question here is can Hillary win. I’m skeptical. Dan Balz notes in the WaPo, that Clinton “generates great passions, both among supporters and opponents, and polls indicate that if she cannot change her public image through the course of the campaign, she could be a divisive nominee for the party.” From where I sit, I don’t think America is ready for Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and Senator — there’s simply too much baggage that comes with the ticket and I’m not so certain she can overcome that.
EMILY’s List President Ellen R. Malcolm has already jumped in and announced their endorsement of Hillary Clinton in an email sent out to EMILY’s List members shortly after the news of Hillary’s announcement broke. Malcolm says:
“I am one of the millions of women who have waited all their lives to see the first woman sworn in as president of the United States — and now we have our best opportunity to see that dream fulfilled.
On the national stage and in the neighborhoods of New York, Senator Hillary Clinton has repeatedly put her expertise and power behind solutions that make the lives of the American people safer and more prosperous. No one is more qualified to bring to the White House the kind of principled and effective leadership our nation so desperately needs.
It is with tremendous excitement and pride that EMILY’s List endorses Senator Hillary Clinton for president. As Senator Clinton begins her historic journey, EMILY’s List will be with her every step of the way — raising early money from our grassroots donor network of more than 100,000 EMILY’s List members, using our vast political resources to help her build a strong national campaign, and mobilizing millions of women voters through our groundbreaking WOMEN VOTE! program to support her and every Democrat on the ticket in 2008.”
The early endorsement could prove to be formidable for Clinton. However, as much as I would love to see the first woman sworn in as president, I personally am not among the sector of women that believe Hillary has got what it takes.
The next few months should be very interesting. The Democratic field of candidates is already sizable and we’re still waiting on announcements from a few other potential candidates including John Kerry. It’s my opinion that our best hope lies with Kerry for a multitude of reasons that have been discussed here by myself and others over the past months. Get ready folks, the games are just beginning…
IN THE BLOGOSPHERE: Memeorandum is abuzz with links to blogs discussing Hillary’s announcement. Among the notables…
RELATED POST: Is Hillary Fundraising for the Primary and the General?
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Unfortunately, she and other were already running in 2004.
Indie
Not really. It may seem that way, but JK came very close. Now’s the time to buck up and stay upbeat. There’s a lot of work to be done.
A lot of the ‘big money’ donors will follow her around like puppies. They do that because they are FOB’s (as you all may remember, Friends Of Bill) not FOH. She still has to get real people to vote for her. I still don’t see it.
Yes, yes she’s been elected twice from New York, but where were the serious challengers? The New York State GOP has been DOA for quite a few years now; and the various state GOP parties in the Northeast have been getting their clocks cleaned lately.
Back to Hillary – she’ll have the money and there is money in a campaign that means they’re in the game. Let’s see where her game is in say, December.
As for ‘08 – it is wide open. It’s been since like 1928 that no president or vice-president from either party has been running. So everyone (from both parties and beyond) believes they have a shot.
For me I say, BRING ON JOHN KERRY!!
Blue W
Speaking of Hill and fundraising, check this out – http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/hrc_raising_mon.html
Pam,
Oh no, I am all good. It’s just that now that Hil is in the race, it just changes things and we should not underestimate that.
We also should not underestimate the Clintonista’s ties to Hollywood, AA community and to the average voters (despite the media hype), as well as the ability to raise lots of money.
Indie
We definitely can not underestimate her. See my top post I just put up.
This post is correct. It’s not the time. If it were the time for a woman, it wouldn’t be Hillary. The money can’t beat these odds.
However, I think it’s good that she’s running. Let a woman sort of be taken seriously for a minute, and also it takes the spotlight into this small insignificant place, with that child, Barack, leaving room for the real contenders when they arrive.
There’s no mystery left with this woman, who’s ambition precedes her competence like outer space headlights. The people are in the mood for a leader. But let her have her day and begone.
BTW, her picture is awful. She looks and foolish and unsure, which she is. Unfortunately mean and ruthless as well. But this official photo is the worst.
I will not vote for Bubba’a third term
I’m with you, battlebob.
I’m with you battlebob
I am with you battlebob.
Battlebob
You’re on the money with that. My vote and my support goes elsewhere. Obviously.
YES!!!!!!!! Hillary can win.
But here is the key IMO:
She must display the intestinal fortitude to take on the biggest issue of the last Century.
Want to solve the Social Security dilemma?
Want to lower taxes?
Want to eliminate Federal Deficits?
The answer stares all of us in the face.
REPEAL THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT OF 1913!
The founders of the USA when writing a little known document called the “Constitution” forever banned what was to occur later in American History.
It is BS!
We pay taxes to pay largely “Interest” on loans made by a consortium of bankers called the “Federal Reserve”.
They print money out of thin air.
This is insane.
Can anyone understand what is going on here?
THAT is the key to solving the problems of the USA. Period.
Does Hillary dare breach the subject?
Nobody else has since Andrew Jackson.
The beauty of it is it’s simplicity.
Just my opinion.
Send the Banker Rapists packing and we reclaim our country. It’s that simple.
Tom
I’m with you battlebob an end to the the Bush/Clinton dynasty in the whitehouse.
She tried to look motherly, strong in the picture but she should have checked the mirror and wiped the snake smile off her face.
The more I see of her and hear about her the more I can’t stand her.
Bottom line if her husband the pres of the USA hadn’t cheated on her in the whitehouse, she would not be US senator/Whitehouse prospect today.
I do agree with indie though she, and several others in the race where running in 04 and their actions since have proved it.
Kerry has my support in 08 and I know he is the best one for the job.
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Has anyone else wondered why her garden is clothed in leafy summer (or at latest, September) green?? It struck me as an odd scene for a video made on the East Coast in January. . .
according to the associated press
‘Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will not accept public campaign financing for either the Democratic primaries or, if she wins the nomination, the general election campaign.’
Ny Nj
I noted this here on Saturday – http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=5156
MBK- good point. it was awful sunny and the east coast hasn’t been sunny the last few days. Wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t do this tape back in the summer. who knows