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Campaigns & Elections Politics Magazine: Politics Focus Group: Dems Slam Clinton Strategy

By Politics Magazine

What was the greatest strategic mistake made amongst any presidential campaign thus far in this cycle?

Democrats:

"Hillary Clinton's neglect of caucus states. Obama had a strategy based on winning as many delegates as possible in every place possible. There is no doubt in my mind that Clinton could have won several of those caucus states and negated some of the press and momentum that Obama picked up."

"On caucus night in Iowa, Hillary stood on stage in front of Madeline Albright, Bill Clinton, and other old white people from the past. Obama was in the middle of throngs of young people of all colors screaming his name. It could not have been a clearer example of the contrast between the two - he is the future, she is the past. Whoever on the Clinton campaign put that shot together should have been fired."

"Team Clinton's modeling their fundraising to concentrate on over forty-five year olds who could max out donations and not prepping for post Super Tuesday caucuses were fatal errors. Imagine how much money they would have raised if they had maximized fundraising with small and younger donors using new technology."

"The Clinton campaign totally underestimated Obama's ability to appeal and run a grassroots, caucus type of campaign."

"Clinton has been the worst on message discipline. Whether it has been 20 different messages or 20 different versions of experience, the problem remains the same - what is her message? She found her voice in New Hampshire and then promptly lost it again. Now her message after Texas and Ohio is, ‘See? He isn't immortal.' Is that a message?"

Republicans:

"The Clinton campaign not going negative on Obama early enough. They were foolish to think his voter appeal would diminish as the campaign went along."

"The greatest mistake was Obama being drawn into a protracted debate about racial politics"

"Hillary has run a horrible campaign. For someone with almost 100 percent name recognition, unlimited money, and the whole Democratic machine behind her, she has run like a new person on the scene. Now she and her campaign are in panic mode and it's affecting how the campaign is run. The fact that she didn't plan beyond Super Tuesday will be her demise."

Of the three major campaigns (McCain, Obama & Clinton) which campaign's strategy has impressed you the most and why?

Democrats:

"The Obama campaign has impressed me the most, but not necessarily in positive terms. The campaign has been very good at spinning the media, which is especially willing to be spun on issues of race, character and forthrightness as it relates to the Clinton campaign."

"Clinton has been the most impressive. She fought back from two near death experiences - Iowa first and then Texas and Ohio."

"Team Obama's use of new media, and their targeting gave them an important edge. They organized and fundraised with people under forty-years-old and with smaller donors. They understood that voters born after the civil rights laws were more available to Obama than voters born before World War II. They made few mistakes including aggressively going after caucus states."

"Obama has been better organized on the ground than the other two, as shown by his huge win in Iowa. He has also been better with message discipline until the recent Rev. Wright flap. The test will be if he can get back on message now."

Republicans:

"McCain is the most impressive. This guy was dead in the spring but totally revamped his campaign, with no money, and stuck to his guns even when unpopular with the base and was the only one left standing. An amazing performance."

"While Obama's speeches don't reflect how liberal he really is, they inspire independents, Democrats, and even some Republicans. Slowly but surely the message of hope got him ahead of Clinton, and now she will have a tough time recapturing the top spot."

"Back in December, McCain adviser Rick Davis laid out his candidate's strategy in a video for all to see. It's impressive that the campaign was being forthright about its strategy and ultimately still pulled it off."

"Strategically, Obama's ability to completely deflect any criticism and appear above politics has been the most impressive until recently. The problem is that this is politics and you can't just be a nice guy."

--Campaigns & Elections Politics Magazine; courtesy of Frank Leidermann, Acting Editor

Listen Up Everyone — ‘Just Relax’

by Pamela Leavey, The Democratic Daily

Listen up everyone – ”just relax.” Enough already with the moans and groans from Clinton and Obama supporters about who sould do what in this race.

“We just need to relax and let this happen. Nobody’s talking about wrecking the party,” [Bill] Clinton said. “Everywhere I go, all these working people say, ‘Don’t you dare let her drop out. Don’t listen to those people in Washington, they don’t represent us.’”

Barack Obama had this to say about all the hoopla on Saturday caused by Senator Pat Leahy’s call for Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the race:

“My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants. Her name is on the ballot. And she is a fierce and formidable competitor, and she obviously believes that she would make the best nominee and the best opponent,” he said. “I think that you know she should be able to compete and her supporters should be able to support her for as long as they are willing or able.”

Thank you Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. This has been a public service annoucement for everyone to chill out and “just relax.”

--The Democratic Daily; courtesy of Frank Leidermann, Acting Editor

Newsmax.Com: Party Fears Tight Obama-Clinton Finish

WASHINGTON -- For all their delight in soaring voter registration and strong poll numbers, some Democrats fear the contest between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton might have a nightmarish end, which could wreck a promising election year.

The chief worry is that Clinton may carry her recent winning streak into Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina and other states, leaving her with unquestioned momentum but fewer pledged delegates than Obama. Party leaders then would face a wrenching choice: Steer the nomination to a fading Obama, even as signs suggested Clinton could be the stronger candidate in November; or go with the surging Clinton and risk infuriating Obama's supporters, especially blacks, the Democratic Party's most loyal base.

Some anxious Democrats want party elders to step in now to generate more "superdelegate" support for Obama, effectively choking off Clinton's hopes before she can bolster them further. But many say that is unlikely, and they pray the final 10 contests will make the ultimate choice fairly obvious, not excruciating.

Barring a complete meltdown by Obama, Clinton has almost no chance of surpassing his number of pledged delegates, even if she scores upset wins in states such as Oregon, which votes May 20. But such victories would encourage her to keep criticizing Obama _ her only hope for the nomination _ and thus heighten doubts about Obama's ability to defeat Republican Sen. John McCain in the fall.

That scenario troubles many Democrats, especially those who feel Obama's nomination is all but inevitable.

"This is going to give Republicans a chance to try to destroy everything we've been trying to work for for eight years," said Ken Foxworth, a Democratic National Committee member from Minnesota and superdelegate who backs Obama.

Superdelegates are party officials, including members of Congress, who can back any candidate they wish. With neither Obama nor Clinton able to secure the nomination with the pledged delegates they win in primaries and caucuses, the superdelegates ultimately will decide the outcome.

Many undeclared superdelegates express confidence that all will be well. Democratic voters will unite in the fall, they say, and the injuries that Obama and Clinton inflict on each other this spring will heal.

Privately, however, some party insiders worry that these superdelegates may be blithely marching toward a treacherous crossroad, where they will have to choose between a deeply wounded Obama and a soaring Clinton whose success was built on tearing down the party's front-runner in terms of delegates.

Go to Newsmax.com link for entire story: http://newsmax.com/politics/democrats_endgame/2008/03/29/84014.html

--Newsmax.Com; courtesy of Frank Leidermann, Acting Editor

Hillary Speaks to Louisville Manual High Rally

Hillary Clinton came out about 5:07, wearing an orange jacket, black shirt and pants, and spoke for about 38 minutes.

The first thing she addressed was dodging a bullet: "I'm so pleased we didn't schedule (this) at the same time as the Cardinals game," Clinton said. "That would have been a big mistake."

The University of Louisville men's basketball team plays in NCAA tournament tonight.

Clinton said du Pont Manual High School isn't exactly uncharted territory for her family. Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the high school during his first run at the presidency.

Hillary Clinton spoke emphatically about staying in the primary race until the end. Many Democrats are saying she should quite the race so there is not a divisive inter-party struggle in the late stages of the primary.

"Kentucky is going to help pick a president in a few weeks," Clinton said. "Some people say we should just stop these elections. I'm happy Kentucky is going to be voting. This is such an important election.

"I'm going to keep fighting thought this primary and asking you for your votes."

Go to Courier Journal link for entire story: http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/politics/blog.html

--Courier Journal Arena; courtesy of Frank Leidermann, Acting Editor

The Democratic Daily: The Best Guide We Have

by Pamela Leavey, The Democratic Daily

With all the bickering about whether Hillary Clinton should stay in the race for the nomination or drop out, at least there a some pundits who are willing to compare Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the issues and show who the stronger policy leader is of the two. Paul Krugman reminds us today in his column ”that it’s important to take a hard look at what candidates say about policy.” He’s right.

After suffering through nearly 8 years of president weak on policy, who was far from the “reasonable, moderate” candidate that some reporters portrayed him as, many Americans want a president who has a keen grasp on policy rather than filling us up with “anecdotes” and rhetoric.

Krugman notes that in the “last few days John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have all weighed in” on the mortgage crisis and “their proposals arguably say a lot about the kind of president each would be.”

On John McCain, Krugman says:

Mr. McCain is often referred to as a “maverick” and a “moderate,” assessments based mainly on his engaging manner. But his speech on the economy was that of an orthodox, hard-line right-winger.

It’s true that the speech was more about what Mr. McCain wouldn’t do than about what he would. His main action proposal, as far as I can tell, was a call for a national summit of accountants. The whole tone of the speech, however, indicated that Mr. McCain has purged himself of any maverick tendencies he may once have had.

Many news reports have pointed out that Mr. McCain more or less came out against aid for troubled homeowners: government assistance “should be based solely on preventing systemic risk,” which means that big investment banks qualify but ordinary citizens don’t.

But I was even more struck by Mr. McCain’s declaration that “our financial market approach should include encouraging increased capital in financial institutions by removing regulatory, accounting and tax impediments to raising capital.”

These days, even free-market enthusiasts are talking about increased regulation of securities firms now that the Fed has shown that it will rush to their rescue if they get into trouble. But Mr. McCain is selling the same old snake oil, claiming that deregulation and tax cuts cure all ills.

By contrast, “Hillary Clinton’s speech could not have been more different.”

True, Mrs. Clinton’s suggestion that she might convene a high-level commission, including Alan Greenspan — who bears a lot of responsibility for this crisis — had echoes of the excessively comfortable relationship her husband’s administration developed with the investment industry. But the substance of her policy proposals on mortgages, like that of her health care plan, suggests a strong progressive sensibility.

Maybe the most notable contrast between Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton involves the problem of restructuring mortgages. Mr. McCain called for voluntary action on the part of lenders — that is, he proposed doing nothing. Mrs. Clinton wants a modern version of the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation, the New Deal institution that acquired the mortgages of people whose homes were worth less than their debts, then reduced payments to a level the homeowners could afford.

And then there’s Obama’s speech yesterday on the economy which “followed the cautious pattern of his earlier statements on economic issues.”

I was pleased that Mr. Obama came out strongly for broader financial regulation, which might help avert future crises. But his proposals for aid to the victims of the current crisis, though significant, are less sweeping than Mrs. Clinton’s: he wants to nudge private lenders into restructuring mortgages rather than having the government simply step in and get the job done.

Mr. Obama also continues to make permanent tax cuts — middle-class tax cuts, to be sure — a centerpiece of his economic plan. It’s not clear how he would pay both for these tax cuts and for initiatives like health care reform, so his tax-cut promises raise questions about how determined he really is to pursue a strongly progressive agenda.

Each of the three “candidates’ positions on the mortgage crisis tell the same tale as their positions on health care: a tale that is seriously at odds with the way they’re often portrayed.”

Mr. McCain, we’re told, is a straight-talking maverick. But on domestic policy, he offers neither straight talk nor originality; instead, he panders shamelessly to right-wing ideologues.

Mrs. Clinton, we’re assured by sources right and left, tortures puppies and eats babies. But her policy proposals continue to be surprisingly bold and progressive.

Finally, Mr. Obama is widely portrayed, not least by himself, as a transformational figure who will usher in a new era. But his actual policy proposals, though liberal, tend to be cautious and relatively orthodox.

Krugman concludes:

Do these policy comparisons really tell us what each candidate would be like as president? Not necessarily — but they’re the best guide we have.

I’ll just reiterate what I said above: After suffering through nearly 8 years of president weak on policy, who was far from the “reasonable, moderate” candidate that some reporters portrayed him as, many Americans want a president who has a keen grasp on policy rather than filling us up with “anecdotes” and rhetoric. That candidate in my opinion is Hillary Clinton.

-The Democratic Daily; courtesy of Frank Leidermann, Acting Editor

Sorry for the inconvenience; a computer program malfunction has temporariy put The Bridge Copy of Stories on the Brink for Now!

Newsmax.com:Clinton,ObamaPredictEventualUnity

FAYETTEVILLE,N.C.--Theymaybickerdailyoverissues,characterandinnuendo,butbothHillaryRodhamClintonandBarackObamaappeartoagreeononething:DemocraticvoterswillcoalescearoundanomineeandcarryhimorhertovictoryinNovemberoverRepublicanJohnMcCain.

AtarallyhereThursday,ClintonwasaskedwhatshewouldsaytoDemocratssoinvestedinhercandidacyorObama'sthattheywouldconsidervotingforMcCaininthegeneralelectioniftheirpreferredcandidateisn'tthenominee.

"Pleasethinkthroughthisdecision.Itisnotawisedecision,"Clintonsaidtoapplause.

"Everytimewehaveavigorouscontestlikewe'rehavingthisprimaryelection,peoplegetintense.SenatorObamahasintensesupport.Ihaveintensesupport.It'sexcitingbecausepeoplewanttobeinvolved.But,thedifferences...paleincomparisontothedifferencesbetweenusandSenatorMcCain."

NorthCarolinaholdsitsprimaryMay5,with115delegatesatstake.

ObamamadeasimilarpointThursdayinaninterviewonABC's"WorldNews."

"Therearegoingtobesomebruisedfeelings,whoeverthenomineeis.WearegoingtohavetocometogetherandremindourselvesthatthereisaheckofalotbiggerdifferencebetweeneitherSenatorClintonormyself,andJohnMcCain,"Obamasaid.

Hesaidtheprotractedcontestwouldnotharmthepartyinthelongrun.

"Ithinkshortterm,thereisgoingtobeworktodoforthenomineetobringthepartybacktogetheragain.Peoplefeelprettypassionateabouttheirrespectivecandidates.Iappreciatethat,andIunderstandit,"Obamasaid.

Theformerfirstlady,whotrailsObamainthepopularvoteandinpledgeddelegates,haspushedbackoncriticswhoarguethatsheshouldceasehercriticismsoftheIllinoissenatorandendhercampaignsohecanfocusondefeatingMcCain.

ClintonpledgedThursdaytobeateamplayernomattertheoutcomeoftheprimarycontest.

"IintendtodoeverythingIcantomakesurewehaveaunifiedDemocraticParty,"shesaid."Whenthiscontestisoverandwehaveanominee,we'regoingtocloseranks.We'regoingtobeunited...ThemostimportantgoalforusistoputaDemocratbackintheWhiteHouse."

Gotolinkforentirestory:http://newsmax.com/politics/democrats_party_unity/2008/03/27/83595.html

--Newsmax.com;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

PolWatchersReports:HillaryClintonmakingtwostopsinKy.Saturday--WillHoldRallyAtLouisvilleDupontManualHighSchool

DemocraticpresidentialcandidateHillaryClintonwillmaketwostopsinKentuckySaturday,hercampaignannouncedThursdayafternoon.

She'llholdapublicrallyatDuPontManualHighSchoolinLouisvilleat4:30p.m.EST,thenattendtheannualRubyLaffoonDinnerinMadisonvilleat7:15p.m.CST.

Thedinner,namedforaformerKentuckygovernor,isafund-raiserfortheHopkinsCountyDemocraticParty.Gov.SteveBeshearisthekeynotespeaker,butaideshavesaidhewillnotendorseClintonattheevent.

--PolWatchers;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

ObamatoopenLouisvilleoffice

U.S.Sen.BarackObama,ofIllinois,hasannounceditwillopenanofficeinLouisville.

ThegrandopeningwillbeSaturdayat10:30a.m.atthecampaignoffice,900EastMarketSt.

--Courier-JournalArena;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

PolWatchersReports:LundergansaysHillaryClintonvisitingKentuckySaturday

TheAssociatedPress

FRANKFORT--HillaryClinton'scampaignchairmaninKentuckysaystheDemocraticpresidentialcandidatewillvisitthestateonSaturday.

JerryLundergansaidThursdaythattheNewYorksenator'sschedulewillbereleasedbyhercampaignlaterintheday.

Thoughithasn'tbeenmadeofficial,residentsinMadisonvilleinwesternKentuckyhavebeengearingupforapossiblevisitbyClinton.MadisonvilleMayorWillCoxsaysupto3,500peopleareexpectedtoattendanannualDemocraticdinneronSaturdaynight,inanticipationthatClintonwillbethefeaturedspeaker.Coxsaystheusualturnoutfortheeventis300to500.

Gotothislinktoreadentirestory: http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2008/03/lundergan-says.html

--PolWatchers;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor