Trying to be the first amphibious president?
Posted on 02/26/2006 4:32:29 AM PST by JackQuickFrost
MANCHESTER, N.H. — As they ponder how to win back the White House, many Democrats fear that the early front-runner for their party's 2008 presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, carries so much baggage that she would drag the party down to defeat.
Many support her, to be sure, and even more admire her. Polls confirm she has the early edge over other potential rivals. Party insiders think she'll enter the race soon after her expected re-election as a New York senator later this year, with a $50 million head start on fundraising toward 2008.
But ominous signs abound, and together they suggest her campaign would conjure a clash between the lure of Clinton nostalgia and the fear of Clinton fatigue.
One new poll shows that a majority of registered voters never would vote for her. Another shows that a majority don't want her to run, including a majority of independent voters.
One veteran South Carolina Democratic strategist says she's so well-known — and polarizing — that it's hard to see how she could change any minds.
"We all believe she's wonderful," said Dick Harpootlian, a former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman. "But we also believe that if she's the nominee, it sets up perfectly for the Republicans to win the White House for another four years ... Do we really want to rehash Whitewater and all the stuff we had before?"
Clinton hasn't committed to running. Aides say she's focused on winning her second Senate term in November, and they declined to comment on what they insist is a hypothetical 2008 presidential campaign.
But party activists expect her to run and to start with an edge over such potential rivals as former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Biden of Delaware, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
One reason for her presumptive lead is the affection in the party for her husband and hope that she could replicate his victories.
Another is her financial clout. She started this year with $17 million in the bank for a re-election that's assumed to be a breeze. Yet she's raising money at a fever pitch. Last week, she traveled to Florida for a fundraiser, and Paul Begala and James Carville, who ran her husband's 1992 presidential campaign, sent letters to Democrats nationwide seeking more contributions.
Federal law allows her to transfer any unused Senate-campaign cash to a presidential run.
"She starts out in an enormously powerful position," said Chris Lehane, a California-based strategist who worked for Al Gore in 2000. "Probably 40 percent of the party base is solidly behind her."
Yet many in the party are asking whether she can win, even those who think she should.
"I definitely have friends holding back," said a California Democratic fundraiser who likes Clinton and spoke on condition of anonymity. "I have a lot of friends, elite political types who normally would be racing to get involved with her but are holding back."
At a recent dinner in New Hampshire, traditionally the site of the nation's first presidential primary, Democratic activists said they thought a Clinton candidacy would be consumed with allegations about past scandals. They said they feared that would distract from the issues of war, the economy and health care.
"She's too much of a lightning rod. She will be the issue; she won't get to talk about the issues," said Salme Perry of Rollinsford.
A poll earlier this month by Marist College illustrated the fears. The WNBC/Marist Poll showed that 51 percent of registered voters don't want her to run, including 25 percent of Democrats and 53 percent of independents. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points
Also, 51 percent of registered voters in a recent Gallup poll said they wouldn't vote for Clinton. The poll, taken in January, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points
"Most people have already made up their minds. I don't know what she could do to move much of that around," Harpootlian said.
Clinton insiders told Harpootlian she can win Florida away from the Republicans. That would be enough to win the White House if she also won all the states that Kerry won in 2004.
But Harpootlian said her strategy and perhaps her appeal are too narrow.
"I'd like to see a candidate who could pick up 10 or 15 more states," he said. "To concede at the front end that your candidate is marginalized enough that you hope to pick up one more state explains the problem."
Bwah hah hah hah hah!
It seems to me that it is a running contest between GW and Hillary on who can lose teh 2008 for their party.
Any way, everyone there thought she was fake, but don't ask me why I had such a nightmare.
Ugh!
HAHA! This is too good. These are the prix that worship and adore this ole biddy and now they're scared to death she's going to ruin them...
Note to MSM/dems...It's all over for you.
Only problem for the moron knee jerk Bush haters, he is not on the ticket in 2008. So as usual their mindless hate leads them to make utterly stupid statements.
This is what Democrat politicos must say in order to have a long and healthy life. Drink the Kool-Aid and survive.
Trying to be the first amphibious president?
Typo? I tought it was Hillary "Rotten" Clinton.
Her appeal may be too narrow, but not those hamhocks.
"What can you say about Hillary Clinton that hasn't already been muttered under somebody else's breath?"
Dennis Miller
....... carried a lot out of the White House.
The shrew is still a Commmie.
Her anger, arrogance, lack of charm, lack of statesmanship, and her reputation all drag her into the abyss in a showdown vote. (I hope they run her....into the ground.)
What a genius. Mr. Harpootlian probably believes the wonderful Madame Hamhocks was named after (Sir) Edmund Hillary.
;-)
Appropriate.
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