Clinton Ally: Time for Game Extender
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: The first votes have not yet been cast in New Hampshire but with polls showing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama headed to his second victory in less than a week, allies of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton are already looking for a game extender.
One idea floated by a Democratic strategist sympathetic to — but not employed by — the Clinton campaign would entail skipping Nevada and South Carolina and focusing instead on a handful of delegate-rich Feb. 5 states.
Even though she enjoys the support of Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, the well-connected son of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada needs to be skipped, in the view of this strategist, because Obama will have the inside track with the state’s powerful culinary union if he wins New Hampshire.
South Carolina needs to be skipped, in the view of this Clinton ally, because the former first lady cannot overcome Obama with the Palmetto State’s sizable African-American population.
Coming back after losing Iowa and New Hampshire would be a tall order: former Maine Sen. Ed Muskie, in 1972, is the only presidential candidate to win Iowa and New Hampshire, and then not go on to win his party’s presidential nomination. But this is one idea that’s being pushed.
Here are the thoughts of this Democratic strategist sympathetic to the Clinton campaign who spoke on the condition of anonymity: "It seems to me that the only real shot (and it is obviously not a great shot) is to: (1) hold an event on Wednesday where she stands up and (a) congratulates Obama; (b) says what a great country we live in; and (c) takes personal responsibility for the campaign and apologizes to her supporters; (2) puts in place a new team (because you need that to try to turn the page and pivot) but does not blame the old team; (3) announces that the campaign is going to re-launch — that ‘she is in it so America can win it’ — where she will be specific about changes she envisions and what it will take to accomplish those changes; and (4) says the re-launch means she is going to pass Nevada and South Carolina and, instead, focus on the Feb. 5 states of California, New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas — and puts up spots in those states (at least California) immediately — and does a series of events in each state beginning Wednesday through Friday."
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Har Har!
Posted by: Lord Har Har | January 7, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
Why doesn’t Queen Hillary just declare the entire primary process null and void and have the MSM annoint her right away. These pesky elections are so costly and time consuming and she really needs to get on with the work of creating change. I think she should skip ALL the primaries and run as a write in come November. She can spend all the time between now and then working on her plans for socialized healthcare, tax increases, repealing the 2nd amendment (or just taking all our firearms in spite of it), granting amnesty and voting rights to all the illegal aliens, and designing a “vacancy” sign for the Lincoln bedroom. Oh yes, and having the Secret Service keep a VERY close eye on the First Laddie. Can’t have him getting into more trouble, now can we? Game over, Hillary. It’s time to leave the stage.
Posted by: Mark James - Chicago | January 7, 2008, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
All you doubters of Obama are simply wrong. The lies about him being muslim have been exposed as lies, and are only brought up by desperate republicans running scared. No one respectable is still spreading those lies. No one’s stopping Obama now and he will be an excellent president. If you don’t like the sound of that, it’s going to be 8 long years for you and as far as I’m concerned you retreat to your private little pathetic existences and let those of us interested in fixing this country, being PROUD of this country again, do our business. Your days of fear & smear are over. Get lost.
Posted by: Joe, Chicago | January 8, 2008, 2:06 am 2:06 am
there are no REpublicans running scared. They would love to see Barack on the ballot. They know the country will not vote for a un-seasoned bag of wind like him . Hillary, now she, they are afraid of.
Posted by: charles risner | January 8, 2008, 2:17 am 2:17 am
The republicans can’t wait until Obama is nominated – they are salivating at the teeth. He has practically zero experience having spent most of his time in the State Senate, running practically unopposed for his US Senate seat, and having not even completed 1 term.
McCain was an agent of change in the 00 election. He represented in many ways the same ideals Obama purports to represent now and the Republican attack machine took this POW war hero and his straight talk express and ruined him.
Clinton is BATTLE TESTED she knows HOW and WHEN and WHY to defend herslef – they don’t let the Republicans punch without them punching back harder.
I like Obama alot. Although, I don’t appreciate his misleading position on the war (prior to 2004 he stated he and George Bush felt the same way – after 2004 he all of a sudden was always against the war). I’m sorry but after 04 both Clinton and Obama had the same exact positoin. I also don’t appreciate someone insulting my intelligence by suggesting living abroad as an adolescent helps him understand the complexities of world politics. That is a complete joke. But, however, he is inspiring. From my perspective we are in one of the most complex and dangerous periods of time in our nations history. Inspiring is not enough. We need experience and leadership. Hillary/Obama (in that order) is the dream ticket.
Posted by: Jim | January 8, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am
After looking at her erie yearies,
on Capitol Hill Hillary. It’s cleary deary that Obama has less old baggie waggie.
Posted by: Jar Jar Binks | January 8, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am
jim, i totally agree with you. this is not the time for a novice in the presidency. it is a far too dangerous and complex time, as you said, in our country for that. god help us if we don’t make the right choices.
Posted by: betsy lake | January 8, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Hillary! Hillary! Faux! Faux! Faux!
Hillary! Hillary! NO! NO! NO!
Posted by: laurie | January 8, 2008, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
The enemy and the rest of the world saw her cry over her repeated, me, my, and I. It’s an election. I was listening to the radio an hour ago and listened to a female soldier call in and said her and her militry friends said she showed the first signs of weakness in battle. That she is not going to get their vote and something about being left on the battlefield.
Posted by: Jar Jar Binks | January 8, 2008, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
I can’t bear to read political comments sections any more… Just a bunch of idiots spouting empty campaign rhetoric and bad rumors.
Enjoy your idiocy, kids.
Posted by: Brian in NYC | January 8, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm