By J. Patrick Coolican
Published in the Sun on Oct. 23, 2007
What became clear from visits this past weekend from the three leading Democratic presidential candidates is that even though the candidates have made carefully calibrated alterations to their messages and their campaigns, the race remains remarkably static in Nevada and nationally.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, despite not stirring the hearts of the party’s vocal liberal wing, remains in firm control as voters here and elsewhere put their trust in the Clinton brand. A recent CNN national poll put her nearly 30 points ahead.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards continues to court labor, hoping that a late break and a win in Iowa will energize his campaign in Nevada. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is trying to tap into a pool of voters new to the process, or alienated from it, and is using various rhetorical strategies to reach them.
That was the case in the spring — and for that matter, in spring 2006.
At a Clinton event at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, Clinton showed a few of the reasons she has such command over the race. She was conversational and empathetic to people’s health care problems, but not emotional.
“Are you ready for change?” she said, to great applause. The electorate, by a 50 percentage point margin, believes the country is on the wrong track, but she’s clearly demonstrated Democratic voters in particular want someone a little familiar to them to replace President Bush.
“What’s been underestimated is her ability to change minds,” said Jennifer Duffy, an analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “Because that’s essentially what she’s done. The faction of the party who didn’t believe she could win, has been won over.”
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http://politics.lasvegassun.com/2007/10/clinton-proves-.html
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