Huge Mistake

Hillary! Clinton's proposal to buy votes outright by giving babies a $5,000 "baby bond" appears to have been a huge mistake. In fact, she may have really shot herself in the foot with that little gem of pandering. None other than Larry Sabato says as much. And the poll numbers are blistering.

Sixty percent (60%) of America’s Likely Voters oppose giving every child born in the United States a $5,000 savings bond, or “baby bond.” A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 27% support the concept suggested on Friday by Senator Hillary Clinton.

“The baby bonds proposal is one of the few mistakes Hillary Clinton has made in her campaign,” according to University of Virginia Professor Larry Sabato. “Should Clinton become the Democratic nominee, she may have handed a powerful issue to the Republican candidate.”

At a Congressional Black Caucus forum, Clinton said, "I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time. So, when that young person turns 18, if they have finished high school, they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to put that down payment on their first home, or go into business."

Clinton’s remarks were reportedly well received by the friendly audience, but Democratic voters nationwide are less enthusiastic—38% support the idea and 47% are opposed. According to Sabato, “It will be interesting to see if any of her Democratic opponents challenges her on this. They may not do so, fearing the idea will sell among the activists that vote in Democratic primaries and caucuses.”

Even a majority of Democrats are against this idea. Oh, but the Republicans have been handed a club of almost biblical proportions. A greasy little attempt at pandering that might just have done real damage. It is to laugh.