red states rule
01-28-2008, 06:18 AM
It would sem Bill has lost his "magic" on the campaign trail, and is not the political god the left told us he was
Hillary's biggest asset? Now Bill is looking like a liability
The interventions of former president Clinton are turning Democrats off his wife and raising constitutional questions
Michael Tomasky in Washington
Monday January 28, 2008
The Guardian
Just three weeks ago, it was an article of faith that was beyond questioning: Bill Clinton was his wife's greatest asset in her presidential campaign. The former president was loved by all Democrats. Practically all he had to do was walk into any roomful of Democratic voters, remind them of the prosperity of the 1990s, and the deal would be closed. All but the most truculent would leave the room committed Hillaryites.
Today? Consider this exit-poll data point from Saturday's voting in South Carolina, where Barack Obama romped to a two-to-one victory over Hillary Clinton. Voters were asked to rate the importance of Bill Clinton's campaigning as a factor in determining how they voted. A majority, 58%, said that the former president's campaigning - he spent last week in the state lobbing volley after boorish volley at Obama (and at the media), while his wife was mostly elsewhere - was important. And guess what? Those 58% voted for Obama, 48% to 37%.
Granted, Obama won by far more among the 39% who said that Bill Clinton's role wasn't an important factor. But the fact that Obama carried the day among the 58% is staggering. As we move to the 22-state primary-palooza of February 5, the key question for the Clinton campaign - in a way for Obama's team as well - is what to do about this.
for the complete article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2247991,00.html
Hillary's biggest asset? Now Bill is looking like a liability
The interventions of former president Clinton are turning Democrats off his wife and raising constitutional questions
Michael Tomasky in Washington
Monday January 28, 2008
The Guardian
Just three weeks ago, it was an article of faith that was beyond questioning: Bill Clinton was his wife's greatest asset in her presidential campaign. The former president was loved by all Democrats. Practically all he had to do was walk into any roomful of Democratic voters, remind them of the prosperity of the 1990s, and the deal would be closed. All but the most truculent would leave the room committed Hillaryites.
Today? Consider this exit-poll data point from Saturday's voting in South Carolina, where Barack Obama romped to a two-to-one victory over Hillary Clinton. Voters were asked to rate the importance of Bill Clinton's campaigning as a factor in determining how they voted. A majority, 58%, said that the former president's campaigning - he spent last week in the state lobbing volley after boorish volley at Obama (and at the media), while his wife was mostly elsewhere - was important. And guess what? Those 58% voted for Obama, 48% to 37%.
Granted, Obama won by far more among the 39% who said that Bill Clinton's role wasn't an important factor. But the fact that Obama carried the day among the 58% is staggering. As we move to the 22-state primary-palooza of February 5, the key question for the Clinton campaign - in a way for Obama's team as well - is what to do about this.
for the complete article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2247991,00.html