Clinton's 'discipline' has her close to locking up the nomination

[wyldwolf]

One of the nation's leading authorities on political trends and U.S. elections likes what he sees in the early days of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for president.

Charlie Cook, publisher of the Cook Political Report, said Clinton has the "best organized" presidential campaign he has seen since Richard Nixon won re-election in a landslide in 1972.

"On the Democratic side, I think it's going to be a real challenge for any other candidate to knock out Hillary Clinton," Cook told a small group of journalists Monday at the National Press Foundation in Washington.

He called New York's junior senator a "disciplined campaigner" who has worked with "Prussian-like efficiency" in her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Cook said he traveled to New Hampshire and was impressed after watching Clinton interact with voters and deliver her stump speech. He said the senator has every detail covered and leaves nothing to chance, which is why some people criticize her for coming across as calculating and impersonal.

"Does she give up spontaneity? Yes. But my guess is she'll come up with a plan to deal with spontaneity," Cook said.

In polls, Clinton on average now runs ahead of each of the major Republican candidates, he said.

"What we're seeing is President Bush and Iraq as sort of a wet blanket all over his party," Cook said, but he stopped short of saying that a Democrat will win the White House from Republicans in 2008.

"Each of the Democrats has their own weaknesses and as a result will probably keep the election pretty close," Cook said.

http://www.syracuse.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-0/1189328538213120.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

[MannyGoldstein]

1. I Need A Change Of Underwear

Had an accident while laughing my ass off.

Keep up the good work.

[babylonsister]

27. ...

:rofl:

[Kelly Rupert]

2. That's really true, regardless of your opinions of her.

She hasn't made a public gaffe yet. There are no embarrassing quotes; no missteps whatsoever--hell, the closest she's come is the Hsu "scandal," which is hardly her campaign's fault (unless you suggest campaigns should order background checks on every name on every check).

She's running a tight ship, and, either despite or because of her complete disregard for the netroots, she's cruising right now.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. She Will Talk With Enemies.. She Won't Talk With Enemies...

Nukes are on the table to fight terrorists... nukes are off the table to fight terrorists...
Not to mention voting to attack Iraq, cheerleading "free" trade with China and India, etc.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. Did she change her position 6 times in 5 days on issue #1?

Did she change her position on nukes within 15 seconds?

As to free trade, why do you think CEOs prefer Obama over Clinton? Are they dumb? Or did they do their homework and invest in the candidate who will produce the biggest returns for them?

[Kelly Rupert]

12. CEOs prefer Obama?

I assume you're referring to that article that's been floating around, http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_pols_0902sep02,1,6773295.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout , which is talking about donors from Chicago, and Chicago only. You know, Obama's hometown.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

30. No. CEOs favorite Dem is Obama in a landslide and Romney is their favorite Republican

MONTVALE, NJ--(Marketwire - August 23, 2007) - According to a recent survey by Chief Executive magazine, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the best and Arizona Senator John McCain is the worst Republican presidential candidates for business, while Illinois Senator Barack Obama is the best and New York Senator Hillary Clinton is the worst Democratic presidential candidates for business.

The survey, which asked 258 C-level executives to vote for each party's presidential candidates regardless of their affiliation, found that 43 percent of the respondents rated Obama as the best Democratic candidate and 34 percent rated Romney as the best Republican candidate for business.==

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=763644&k=

[Clintonista2]

34. DMC! Where have you been?

Haven't seen you around for weeks!

[Odin2005]

50. Isn't the ChiTrib a right-wing rag?

[Kelly Rupert]

8. You know what the funny thing is?

None of those are gaffes. She claimed she would talk with enemies only with strict preconditions. She's claimed that throughout this campaign. And in her spat with Obama over that, she pretty much won, given the polls before and after.

Clinton claimed that nukes should not be used against Iran, given the current situation. She also claimed that a President should not say "I will never use nukes in any situation." Didn't really scandalize anyone.

Her pro-Iraq vote? Neoliberal trade policies? Let me know when that starts hurting her outside the netroots.

[ericgtr]

11. She's also claimed

That she was for special interest and then not for special interests, yep, nice and consistent.

[Kelly Rupert]

13. I'm sure those were the exact words she used, too.

:eyes:
Don't bother replying if you can't provide quotes and links.

[ericgtr]

17. This was pointed out on the Daily Show

a while back, I cannot find a link but it was in her own words at different times and it made her look pretty bad. Take it for what it's worth, I am sure many others have seen it. Also, I don't see you qualifying your statements with links either. You don't like my posts? Put me on your ignore list but DO NOT tell me whether or not I have a right to reply. Geez, you Hillary supporters are just as militant as she is. :eyes:

[Kelly Rupert]

20. Heh. I'm not a Hillary supporter.

You may have noticed the Bill Richardson tag next to my post. I'm just not a fan of bad arguments. (I haven't backed up my statements with links, because I haven't claimed that anyone has said anything outrageous.) I haven't said you don't have a right to reply. I said that if replies are claims of fact void of information, they are completely unhelpful. You have the right to post just about anything you like.

You know what the problem with candidates is? Issues are complex, and they have to take multilayered views. When talking about situation A, you say X. When talking about situation B, you say, you know what, X isn't appropriate here. It's good fun to pull the last bits out of both those speeches, and show "X!" "Not-X!" next to one another, but you can do that with absolutely any campaign. Hillary is especially prone to that, because she tends to play up the A-X paradigm in crowds of X supporters and the B-not-X paradigm in crowds of X opponents. However, while that may lead to unflattering TDS segments, it also leads to greater bases of support.

Her seemingly-twin-stanced postures may look embarrassing. But they aren't gaffes--because they're completely premeditated. She has calculated that the benefits from doing that are greater than the costs. And given the polls, she's right.

[ericgtr]

21. Fair enough

When you do not support someone it is easy to pick and choose statements that qualify one's opinions, I am definitely guilty of that. From a personal standpoint, I believe that she is concise and calculated for the most part, however I don't agree with most of her points. I think she could just as easily run for the GOP and I believe she'll garner support from the Republicans due to her conservative ideas.

This time around I would like to see a true Democrat/Diplomat take office. One who isn't so concerned with special interests, war, hard stances on other countries and sending our money/jobs outside of the US. In my opinion, it's this sort of change that this country needs.

[CTyankee]

47. But wasn't she making a delineation between special interest groups such as teachers

and other unions of working people as opposed to business? I realize she has taken corporate contributions (which is one reason why I am supporting John Edwards)but I think she did make a good point.

So I think you mischaracterized, or oversimplified, her statement about special interest groups.

[BeyondGeography]

28. The surge is working..the surge is not working

we are safer...we are not safer.

And let's not forget her musing on the political implications of a hypothetical terrorist attack, which, in addition to its being "tasteless," as Dodd put it, contradicted another so-called Hillary rule about not using hypotheticals when it comes to national security.

She will have to drool in public to get the MSM off of its "flawless" meme, this much is clear.

[Odin2005]

51. Yep, that was pathetic.

[earthlover]

38. I think it is more the case the Hillary supporters haven't noticed her gaffes...

But she has done her share of flipping and flopping....and of course the press have not exactly emphasized this .....YET!!!!

[Kelly Rupert]

48. It isn't a gaffe

if nobody notices. And it isn't a gaffe if it's premeditated.

[earthlover]

49. :Oh...the media NOTICED....they are just going to wait until she has the nomination sewed up

Then all the flip flops will be noticed by all. The media won't have it any other way. They will enjoy it. This, of course, is why they want her to be the nominee....

[derby378]

40. Just don't let her sing the National Anthem...

:silly:

[Colobo]

3. Hillary is not doing anything spectacular- she's just making sure

of not making any mistakes. Her charm is not her message, but her flawless campaign.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. There is a lot more to a successful campaign...

Than just tightly controlling one's message.

[ShortnFiery]

6. You said a mouthful birdie!

Well put. ;)

[Tellurian]

9. Hillary is a person of value..and success.

"Rather than be a person of success; be a person of value"...Albert Einstein

Hillary is the most qualified candidate in all respects to assure us a Win in the next election.
We are fortunate she cares enough about this country for the tremendous undertaking the presidency entails.

[earthlover]

39. Seems like there are a lot of people of value who lost their lives because of Iraq...

And Hillary voted for these people of value getting maimed, killed, mutilated and orphaned.

Nice job, Hillary.

[NobleCynic]

45. Anytime you're claiming we're fortunate

that someone is willing to undergo the trials of a presidential run because they care about the country, you're officially not jaded enough for politics.

[cobalt1999]

15. Depends.

If a candidate is leading and improving upon their image like Hillary, the controlling the message and not making any mistakes is a perfect strategy.

If a candidate is behind and needs press, then they have to push the envelope, so that strategy would be a disaster.

Hillary is running a great campaign for her position, image, and leader position. It would not work for Edwards nor Obama though. They have to differentiate themselves.

[Tellurian]

22. The difference is simple. Hillary knows what she is talking about..

Obama's failure comes from repackaging his statements 10X over for accuracy and clarity before he gets it right once. Obama and his wife are the worst enemies of this campaign. I cringe when hearing Michelle Obama's constant belittling of her husband speaking of him in terms of parenting a child. By her own words, she does nothing but continue to sabotage his image. Neither one is ready for Prime Time. Not only does Obama highlight his limitless void of knowledge of domestic and foreign policy issues, their social skills are equally under par for the highest office in the land..These nuanced factors are resonating with voters as evidenced by Obama's stagnated polls. Voters realize "experience IS what is needed to get us out this Republican quagmire. It seems Obama is Hillary's biggest supporter. Her flawless campaign is boosted daily by Obama's unforced errors and an in house submariner.

[illinoisprogressive]

10. I don't concider all the donor problems and oops! to be very disciplined.

[madrchsod]

14. everyday more good news....

it`s beginning to look like i have no worries about who i`ll vote for....since hillary is going to win ,i`ll have more time to concentrate on my local and state primary.

i want to thank all the pollsters for making my decision...as devo said--"freedom from choice"

[Cleita]

16. Well, don't throw the key away just yet. n/t

[Totally Committed]

18. Discipline? Is that what it's being called now? This is what has her close to locking up

the nomination, and we should all be honest enough to admit it:




If she gets the nomination, it will have been corporate America that bought it for her, imo. And the corporate MSM that pushed her down this Party's throats.

TC

[Cassandra]

19. I've had enough discipline, thank you.

I want some policy positions in favor of the middle class. SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE! INVESTMENTS IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE! OUT OF IRAQ NOW!

[Ethelk2044]

23. She is not close to locking up anything. We have not cast a single vote yet.

The field is wide open depending on who the candidates perform up until Iowa and NH.

[here_is_to_hope]

24. From a RW Montana blog...

"I know that it's a long time until next years primaries, but I am really hoping that Hillary keeps her double-digit lead over her Democratic rivals, and sews up the nomination before her own party stops to think about it."

The perfect candidate.
But not mine.
Theirs.
I cant help but feel she is being groomed for the spot rather than earning it.
That Iraq vote would never let me consider her in the primary.
No way.

[Unbowed]

25. Disciplined. So was Machiavelli. n/t

[ieoeja]

33. Machiavelli was a writer shedding light on corruption.

I think you meant to refer to the subjects of his writings, not to Machiavelli himself.

[Tellurian]

43. Good catch!...nm

[smoogatz]

26. Well, that does it for me. Show's over, folks.

Don't bother, you know, voting or anything.

[Kolesar]

29. She's ahead in fund-raising and Tim Russer-ting-ing

Most people are not even paying attention to the race yet.

[L0oniX]

31. Yea ...we need another authoritarian like we need a nipple piercing

I love it when women beat me and whip me.

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wyldwolf]

35. LOL! Funniest post all day. Oh, look...

Hillary Poll Leads:

September 10, 2007 Gallup: Clinton 43%, Obama 24%, Edwards 16% With Gore: Clinton 39%, Obama 19%, Gore 16%, Edwards 14%; Combined Responses: Clinton 63%, Obama 41%, Edwards 31%, Gore 28%; Head-to-Head: Clinton 63%, Obama 32%

September 8, 2007 Rasmussen daily: Clinton 45%, Obama 23%, Edwards 13%

September 6, 2007 Rasmussen: Clinton 43%, Obama 24%, Edwards 12%

September 6, 2007 Public Policy Polling North Carolina (home state of John Edwards) poll (pdf): Clinton 30, Obama 21%, Edwards 28%

September 6, 2007 Quinnipiac Ohio poll: Clinton 44%, Obama 15%, Edwards 11%

September 6, 2007 Keystone Pennsylvania poll: Clinton 38%, Obama 21%, Edwards 17%

September 6, 2007 ARG Michigan poll: Clinton 43%, Obama 21%, Edwards 14%

September 5, 2007 South Carolina poll: Clinton 26, Obama 16, Edwards 10%

August 31, 2007 Detroit News Michigan poll: Clinton 40%, Obama 21%, Edwards 16%

August 30, 2007 ARG Iowa poll (in the field August 26-29): Clinton 28%, Obama 23%, Edwards 20%

August 30, 2007 ARG New Hampshire poll: Clinton 37%, Obama 17%, Edwards 14%

August 30, 2007 ARG South Carolina poll: Clinton 32%, Edwards 24%, Obama 21%

August 30, 2007 first Time Magazine Iowa poll (in the field August 22-25): Clinton 24%, Edwards 29%, Obama 22%, Richardson 11% "taken a week after Edwards' seven-day, 31-stop bus tour of the state"

August 29, 2007 Rasmussen Daily Clinton 38%, Obama 20%, Edwards 18%

August 29, 2007 Strategic Vision New Jersey poll: Clinton 49%, Obama 22%, Edwards 8%, Richardson 5%

August 28, 2007 Rasmussen Daily: Edwards Closing in on Obama Clinton 40%, Obama 18%, Edwards 18%

August 27, 2007 Rasmussen Daily: Clinton 40%, Obama 21%, Edwards 17%

August 24, 2007 Opinion Dynamics: Clinton 38%, Obama 25%, Edwards 8%

August 23, 2007 Quinnipiac Pennsylvania poll: Clinton 42%, Gore 13%, Obama 12%, Edwards 8%

August 22, 2007 Gallup poll: Clinton 48%, Obama 25%, Edwards 13% Head to Head: Clinton 61%, Obama 34%

August 22, 2007 Gallup analysis: "Clinton's current unfavorable ratings are in reality not much different from what other past candidates have had in the year they won the election. Second, her image has been more negative than positive several other times during the past 15 years, but often has recovered and could do so again."

August 22, 2007 Rasmussen South Carolina poll Clinton 38%, Obama 30%, Edwards 13%

August 21, 2007 Zogby Iowa poll: Clinton 30%, Obama 19%, Edwards 23%, Richardson 10% "A wide majority of those likely Democratic caucus–goers said that, should a Democrat win the White House next year, they would prefer a return to the domestic and foreign policies of the Bill Clinton presidency. While 77% said they agreed with that idea, 16% disagreed. More than a third (36%) said they "strongly agreed" that that would be a good strategy for the next Democratic President."

August 17, 2007 Rasmussen Florida poll: Clinton 43%, Obama 24%, Edwards 11%

August 17, 2007 Research 2000 Nevada poll: Clinton 33%, Obama 19%, Edwards 15%, Richardson 11%

August 17, 2007 Field California poll: Clinton 49%, Obama 19%, Edwards 10% "Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is red-hot in California, driven by her wide popularity among the state's female and Latino voters, according to a new poll released today...The New York senator has opened up a 30 percentage point lead over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, challenging earlier predictions that California would be a competitive battleground for the Democrats ahead of the Feb. 5 primary...In California, it is Clinton's appeal to women and Latino voters, strong from the start, that is crucial to her lead, DiCamillo said. But she has seen gains since the March poll in a fairly long list of sectors: Bay Area voters, college-educated voters, non-Hispanic white voters and younger voters. She has captured at least 40 percent of those subgroups, "an enviable profile," ...If Clinton "is hitting on all cylinders" in California, as DiCamillo described it, Obama has seen some early support erode.

August 16, 2007 CBS News Clinton 45%, Obama 25%, Edwards 14% "Sen. Barack Obama's perceived lack of experience may be a huge obstacle to his chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination... Clinton is also seen as being more electable than Obama, and some voters think Obama's race and even his name may be a problem for him next November... More than half of voters (51 percent) think Obama, a first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, does not have the right kind of experience to be a good president, compared with 29 percent who think he does...

August 16, 2007 Public Policy Polling South Carolina poll (PDF): Clinton 36%, Obama 33%, Edwards 12%

August 15, 2007 Rasmussen New Hampshire poll: Clinton 37%, Obama 22%, Edwards 14%, Richardson 9% "...New York Senator Hillary Clinton leading Illinois Senator Barack Obama by fifteen percentage points, 37% to 22%. In fact, Obama is closer to the third and fourth place candidates than he is to the frontrunner."

[babylonsister]

37. Keep doin' what you do, Dad. You're right, many of us are not quite

as enamored with Clinton as are the obvious DUers. More power to them but, keep doin' what you're doing!

[ProudDad]

36. Wow

she's into leather and whips, too!!!

Maybe I'll give her another look...


Geez, just read this whole thread. Didn't know I was stumbling onto a Hillbot love-fest. :eyes:

No senses of humor here... :scared:

Gotta get out....

too dangerous to health and sanity :hide:

[Semper_FiFi]

41. Although I am undecided, I think she has been very presidential from the get go.

If she can keep it up she will probably garner my vote.

[LittleClarkie]

42. Could we possibly vote first before people start declaring anyone a "lock"

Dean was the front runner in 2004. See what happened there?

[saltpoint]

44. Possibly. Possibly not.

[alarimer]

46. It's more than an entire YEAR before the election

Can we have the media NOT choose our candidates for us? fuck this shit.