Hillary Rising

Reason ^ | 5/2/08 | Jeff Taylor

[Dawnsblood]

One above-board factor the campaign can claim credit for is turning Bill Clinton loose to do his Bubba routine among small towns of displaced blue-collar workers. The former president remains popular with the NASCAR crowd and he never fails to skewer the Bush administration, noting, for example, that he left office with a federal budget surplus.

Much less important—indeed, bordering on the insignificant, despite the spin given it by consultants with the ear of gullible reporters—is Clinton's endorsement by North Carolina Governor Mike Easley. On paper Easley is a four-time statewide winner, including two wins as attorney general before his current run as governor.

But Easley's lame-duck year has been marked by political scandal in Raleigh, with one Democratic ally after another under investigation, and the former Speaker of the House now serving time in the federal pen. Add in the fact that governor's office is institutionally weak and that Easley has no campaign for another office in the field, and Hillary gets very little bump out on the campaign trail from this backing.

However, there is no denying that whatever the cause, Clinton is on the upswing while Obama seems to be treading water and is focusing on the insider game of locking down superdelegates. Weekend events and news coverage will be crucial for both candidates. As improbable as it seemed 30 days ago, Clinton has a shot to deny Obama a big victory. This would send the Democrats a loud-and-clear message: Pick me, I can win this thing.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Hillary Rising.....brings on disgusting mental images.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“A Beltway non-profit ...has made robo-calls around the state ... telling potential voters that the “packet” they must sign to be eligible to vote will soon arrive in the mail.

But no such “packet” exists,....”

Isn't there a law against this?

[harpo11]

All it took was one outrageous reverend to bring Hillary up.

Pathetic way to elect a president. Although, the Titanic rose up before she plunged.

[AlaskaErik]

The former president remains popular with the NASCAR crowd and he never fails to skewer the Bush administration, noting, for example, that he left office with a federal budget surplus.

That's because he did nothing about terrorism, let Bin Laden go free and set the next president up for 9/11.

[henkster]

There is some truth to the allegation about “the NASCAR crowd,” although I’m part of said NASCAR crowd and clinton has never been popular with me.

Even so, this is why Hilary is good as a foil for Obama but her being the nominee is bad. She can get the voters Obama can’t, and she’ll keep most of the voters Obama had. Obama is by far the more beatable candidate.