Is She Electable?
NEW YORK (AP) -- Call it the front-runner's paradox.
While Hillary Rodham Clinton tops every national poll of likely 2008 Democratic presidential contenders, the New York senator is dogged by questions of "electability" -- political code for whether she can win enough swing states to prevail in a general election.
It's a gauge typically applied to Democrats, as few question the crossover appeal of the GOP front-runner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. And for activists eager to recapture the White House after eight years of George W. Bush, electability remains a crucial yardstick by which Clinton, especially, seems to be measured.
Clinton began discussions last week with fellow New York lawmakers about her White House prospects and met Sunday with the state's Democratic governor-elect -- all indications she is stepping up plans to join a growing field of potential contenders for 2008.
But some Democrats still believe the odds are against her actually being elected president. Dick Harpootlian, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party not aligned with any presidential hopeful, is among the nay-sayers.
"She's a senator, she'd be the first woman running, and she's Hillary Clinton," he said. "All of that is almost insurmountable for a general election."
He added: "There are people who would write a check and die for her, but there are plenty of others who wouldn't vote for her if she promised to eliminate the income tax and give free ice cream to everyone. People have made up their minds about her, and that doesn't give her much room to maneuver."
Clinton has not yet declared whether she plans to seek the presidency, and aides say the question of whether she can win tops the list of considerations. She's also said she is eager to return to the Senate, where, come January, she'll be a member of the new Democratic majority.
"Hillary Clinton has a good sense of self," said Chris Lehane, a longtime Democratic strategist who worked in the White House for President Clinton. "I don't think she makes this race unless she thinks she has a pretty good chance of winning the whole thing."
Personally, I'd like to see the Democrats run someone who could actually win for a change. I don't think Hillary is electable, and I'm not so sure Obama is either. It would be wonderful to believe that this country has come far enough away from prejudice to elect a woman or a black man, but frankly I don't think it has and I don't think it will happen anytime real soon. I hope I'm wrong however.
While Hillary Rodham Clinton tops every national poll of likely 2008 Democratic presidential contenders, the New York senator is dogged by questions of "electability" -- political code for whether she can win enough swing states to prevail in a general election.
It's a gauge typically applied to Democrats, as few question the crossover appeal of the GOP front-runner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. And for activists eager to recapture the White House after eight years of George W. Bush, electability remains a crucial yardstick by which Clinton, especially, seems to be measured.
Clinton began discussions last week with fellow New York lawmakers about her White House prospects and met Sunday with the state's Democratic governor-elect -- all indications she is stepping up plans to join a growing field of potential contenders for 2008.
But some Democrats still believe the odds are against her actually being elected president. Dick Harpootlian, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party not aligned with any presidential hopeful, is among the nay-sayers.
"She's a senator, she'd be the first woman running, and she's Hillary Clinton," he said. "All of that is almost insurmountable for a general election."
He added: "There are people who would write a check and die for her, but there are plenty of others who wouldn't vote for her if she promised to eliminate the income tax and give free ice cream to everyone. People have made up their minds about her, and that doesn't give her much room to maneuver."
Clinton has not yet declared whether she plans to seek the presidency, and aides say the question of whether she can win tops the list of considerations. She's also said she is eager to return to the Senate, where, come January, she'll be a member of the new Democratic majority.
"Hillary Clinton has a good sense of self," said Chris Lehane, a longtime Democratic strategist who worked in the White House for President Clinton. "I don't think she makes this race unless she thinks she has a pretty good chance of winning the whole thing."
Personally, I'd like to see the Democrats run someone who could actually win for a change. I don't think Hillary is electable, and I'm not so sure Obama is either. It would be wonderful to believe that this country has come far enough away from prejudice to elect a woman or a black man, but frankly I don't think it has and I don't think it will happen anytime real soon. I hope I'm wrong however.
posted by Leo at 4:00 PM
8 Comments:
Nothing against Hillary, Barack, Edwards or Gore, but I've been supporting Evan Bayh for quite a while. As a two-term Governor of Indiana, now in his second term as Senator, he has a wealth of experience, and proven electability.
It will be interesting to see the press and democrats take the kid gloves off with Hillary. She has been treated like royalty for so long, I wonder if she'll be able to handle real opposition. ;~D
"kid gloves"? Are you fucking retarded? She's been treated worse than any politician in the media, and with NO reason. Every petty charge of impropriety gets exposed as a lie but only in time for a new lie to pop up. If Bush got 1/4 of the negative treatment Hillary did, he would have been impeached years ago.
And, no, she and Obama are both completley unelectable. This country is far too racist and sexist. And Bayh blows hard. He's Kerry 2.0, destined to lose. 2004 proved you can't win by running to the right.
One thing I have to dispute...
McCain could win IF and only if he rean as a Democrat. He will not get Conservative support.
Besides... Get ready for a surprise in 08.... Get ready to say President Rice!
It looks like this post opened up a real can of worms. I tend to agree with Brad in his overall assessment. I don't believe Bayh is electable either. The scary part is that all of the Democrats top canidates have electibility issues. As for McCain, I wouldn't be so quick to count him out of the Republican possibilities. He may not be as conservative as the party has gotten lately, but he has broad appeal and would draw in the Independent and probably some Democratic votes. I sure hope the Republicans don't run him as I think he would be awfully tough to beat.
Thanks for all the comments guys.
Is 2008 over yet?
What, is Rice's proximity to Bush going to help her? You've got to be out of your mind. The Republicans are going in the OPPOSITE direction, they're not going to nominate a Bushie.
Yeah I can't see Rice running either. First off the Republicans would be nuts to run a Bushie-as Brad puts it- and secondly she'd have just as many problems if not more than Hillary and Obama, since she is a black woman. Heck if they run Rice then I like the Democrats chances.
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