For years, political analysts assumed that U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) would be the frontrunner in the 2008 race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Her advantages are numerous, as she is a very high profile figure, the former First Lady, who possesses an incredible network of supporters across the nation. She is also married to the popular former President, who is a big plus, despite his legacy of impeachment and the various controversies that continue to swirl around him.
Yet, something significant happened on the way toward Hillary collecting the nomination. People started to really listen to her and found her campaign lacking in a number of areas. For one, Hillary suffers from a charisma deficit. She does not compare favorably to her husband, who oozed charisma. She has been exposed as a political robot, constantly programmed and calculating her remarks. Her stance on the Iraq War has infuriated the base of the Democratic Party. She voted to give the President the authority to engage Iraq militarily and even today believes that at least some troops must remain in Iraq for the long haul. This position is diametrically opposite from the hard core left of the Democratic Party, the voters who determine the nominee of the party.
This dissatisfaction has helped U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) make his incredible journey forward in the presidential race. In 2004, Obama was an unknown Illinois politician, but was thrust on the national stage after a compelling speech at the Democratic Party national convention. He won the 2004 U.S. Senate race in a landslide and has been a “rock star” ever since.Obama fever is growing and it is clearly concerning Clinton. Obama seems to be making the right moves, while Clinton is looking like the amateur. For one, Obama has the “right” Democratic Party position in Iraq, being opposed to the war from the beginning and supporting a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from the war torn country.
Now, Clinton is beginning to lose significant support as even Hollywood stars and producers are abandoning her and expressing strong support for Obama. For example, Hollywood mogul David Geffen is fervently backing Obama and recently blasted Clinton and her husband as politicians who lie with such ease “it’s troubling.”
Today, a groundbreaking Internet commercial is making the rounds. It is an update on the award winning 1984 Apple Computer commercial, but this time the person being lampooned in the video is Hillary Clinton. In the commercial, she spouts nonsense to the mind numbed masses until a woman runs toward the imposing video screen and throws a sledgehammer at the image of Clinton. It is very symbolic showing Clinton as the institutional candidate and Obama as the revolutionary alternative. By the time, this video reaches its conclusion; millions of Americans will have seen it.
So, the Democratic Party nomination is basically a two person race between Obama and Clinton. The others, such as former Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards are well behind. Of course, these two could slip and others could gain traction, but it seems more likely that either Clinton or Obama will be the nominee. The past few weeks have exposed Clinton’s weaknesses as a candidate, while showcasing the tremendous enthusiasm for Obama.
In the end, Obama’s lack of experience, only two years as a U.S. Senator, may be his undoing; however, to win Clinton will have to improve as a candidate and connect with the base of the Democratic Party. So far, she has failed. It might be time for her husband to give her some badly needed political training.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
We support Hillary Clinton for President because she is the most qualified, the most knowledgeable and the most realistic.
We have no doubt she will win both the nomination and the general election. Hillary has been preparing for this great moment all of her life. It's her time to lead the country. I hope we, as Americans, do not fall for the instant glamor of Barack Obama. He is simply untested and unready for the most important job in the world.
Written by Andrew and Elizabeth Davis
on 4/11/2007
Written by
on 3/22/2007
Written by
on 3/20/2007
What type of experience do you need to be president? Obama certainly has a different type of experience. He started out as a community organizer and I think he went to law school to strengthen his organizing skills. I can tell you one thing. I was attracted to his way of thinking the first time I heard he was running for president. I am so afraid he will eventually become one of them. I do not see Obama as the typical candidate. For one he knows something about different cultures in a deep way. He also seems to believe what he says. It is too bad he apologized when he says wasted lives in Iraq for that was the truth. This is the first person running for office that has a positive measure of the world since Robert Kennedy
Written by Frank Neil
on 3/20/2007
Hillary still has a comfortable lead in spite of all the Obama mania of the last few months.
The tone of the coverage of Hillary’s campaign amazes me. You would assume, based on the coverage, that Senator Obama was the democratic frontrunner.
Fact is that Hillary remains the front runner (with a strong lead) in spite of the Obama love fest that has been occurring since October 2006.
Nothing against Senator Obama - he’s a fresh face and could make a good presidental candidate in the future but this election is Hillary’s – in spite of all the negative press she continues to receive on a daily basis.
Written by Craig
on 3/20/2007
Ep,
Am I to infer from your post that President Bush's cocaine use is okay because he refused to 'fess up to it? And Obama did not go to a "Muslim camp" - he went to a public school in Indonesia where all religions were tolerated. We could sure use some of that at home, couldn't we, Ep? Stop getting your misinformation from Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, People!!!!!!
Written by Me
on 3/20/2007
Just saw the Larry King interview last night. Not only did Obama oppose the war from the start; he also voted against the confirmation of Roberto Gonzales. I'll admit - his opposition to the war was admirable, but I was still concerned about his (lack of) experience. However, he was right about Gonzalez too! We have to give him credit for his incredible insight (in contrast) to his opponents.
Written by Sophia
on 3/20/2007
You are right about the "Bushes" but they have had "two cracks at the White House,,,Father and Junior"
Let's give the Clintons the same courtesy...Moreover, there is much "unfinished business"...My only regret is that some right wing conspiracy once she is in office will do a "Jack Kennedy number on her"....
You know the expression, some people are not worth dying or killing for........But, when the greatness of the potential new Clinton years are realized, some nut will try to do Hillary in........Like Kennedy she will be a martyr.....But hopefully, her great legacy will have been realized..... She and her husband are millionaires, but still sincerely care for the under-privileged....And that's why I am with Hillary, every way ALL THE WAY!
Written by Audrey George
on 3/20/2007
I think the 1984 video was pretty effective. I like John Edwards to be the nominee, but I'm open to supporting Obama if he does well early on. I think John Edwards has put forth more substance in his ideas for changing the country from health care to our image in the world at large.
I also think we've had enough of Bush and the Clinton's leading our country.
Thanks
Written by D.W.
on 3/20/2007
Well,,,this yellow dog Democrat likes both Hillary and Barak in that order.....On my way home to Louisiana, last night, where I left the snows of Massachussettes.....I spent 4 hours at Reagan International waiting for a U.S.Air pilot to show up for duty.......Anyway it was there that I bought my first beautiful "Hillary for President T-Shirt" my first Hillary for President lapel button,,,,,AND, last but not least,,,my very attractive T-Shirt...Bill for First Lady!!! T-shirt!
If there is an indication of which shirts are going faster.....? The Obama shirts,,,,John Edwards Shirts, Guiliani and Romney were more plentiful....so I say Jeff, my unofficial poll shows that Hillary and Bill are the hottest candidates...now and forever...
And Jeff, do not do the thinking for my great Party,,,,,,,,,you are only doing wishful thinking,,,,,,,,It is going to be Hillary all the way to the big Finish Line.........
She will eat up Guiliani especially in New York where they can tell made up charisma from the real deal of dedicated involvement and political expertise.
Written by Audrey George
on 3/20/2007
Jeff, the only thing incredible about Obama is his admission he used cocaine for years and he lived in a muslim camp for 4 years and practiced Islam and he has no experience and he has the audacity to want to be a President. Wait until later on in the campaign when some real truths start coming out that we still do not know about. Its real early yet and the Clinonistas will surly take care of all of the above exposure.
Written by ep schreiber
on 3/20/2007
I don't always agree with Jeff, but I have to admit that there's a lot of things he says here that ring true. I hope to God that Hillary isn't the Democratic nominee, because she is simply unelectable.
Written by Me
on 3/20/2007
You said that "Obama’s lack of experience ... may be his undoing." There is a perception that Obama lacks experience, because he only has 2 years of US Senate experience, but he's actually got more legislative experience than either Hillary Clinton or Edwards.
He has 8 years in the Illinois State Senate. Clinton has only 6 total years legislative experience so far (she'll have 8 by 2008), and Edwards only has 6 (and this total won't go up before 2008, since he's not currently serving). Obama, in contrast, will have 12 years of legislative experience by 2008!
Obama actually has the most experience of the Democratic frontrunners! He needs to overcome the misperception that he has the least experience, which is only fair to say at the national level, by getting the truth out about the value of his earlier experience.
Obama said it best (I'm paraphrasing), "I know I haven't been in Washington very long, but I've been in Washington long enough to know that Washington has to change." It's actually a plus that Obama hasn't been in Washington long, because he isn't jaded, and he isn't corrupted. The problem with George Bush wasn't that he was a Washington outsider - it was that he was already quite stupid and corrupt when he entered the race for president. Obama doesn't have those problems.
For years, political analysts assumed that U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) would be the frontrunner in the 2008 race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Her advantages are numerous, as she is a very high profile figure, the former First Lady, who possesses an incredible network of supporters across the nation. She is also married to the popular former President, who is a big plus, despite his legacy of impeachment and the various controversies that continue to swirl around him. 
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