How worried Is The Clinton Campaign?
The Politico is reporting that a new poll shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton in Iowa – within the error of margin of the poll, but leading. Could this be why her campaign may be attempting some dirty tricks?
Sen. Barack Obama is statistically tied with Sen. Hillary Clinton for the lead in the make-or-break state of Iowa, and considered trustworthy by twice as many people, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.
"There’s going to be a caucus and not just a coronation," said Bill Burton, national press secretary for the Obama campaign.
The poll found 30 percent supporting Obama and 26 percent for Clinton – a statistical tie, since the poll’s margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percent.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, at 22 percent, was also tied with Clinton. After that, 11 percent backed New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
An analysis by Gary Langer of ABC News says those are little changed since July: Edwards is up four, Obama is up 3 and Clinton is unchanged.
Asked which candidate is “the most honest and trustworthy,” 31 percent of respondents said Obama; 21 percent said other, none or no opinion; 20 percent said Edwards; 15 percent said Clinton; and 13 percent said Richardson.
That last item may be the most damaging item in the poll. Obama is seen as more trustworthy than Clinton by more than a two to one margin? That is a very bad sign, indeed. After Clinton's last performance in a debate, many pundits said she had stopped her slide or turned things around. This poll indicates that the damage may already have been done and a good debate might not be enough to fix things.
In a fairly evenly split electorate, a candidate with high negatives cannot afford to lose any votes at all. To be seen as untrustworthy may be enough to seal the fate of the candidate. We'll see. But this does not bode well for Clinton. At all.
Other Links to this Post
-
Blue Crab Boulevard » Running Scared In Iowa — November 23, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
By Anthony (Los Angeles), November 19, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
I think it’s fairly scary that 20% think Edwards, a modern-day mix of Elmer Gantry and Huey Long, is the most honest person in the race.
By Gaius, November 19, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Had you noticed that the left is trying to rehabilitate Huey Long? They are.
By Jim C, November 19, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Apparently CNN is playing it’s part in her rehab as well. Blitzer’s performance in the last debate was disgusting. In addition to that, many of the questions posed during the debate by “undecided” voters were framed in her favor, and were asked by people with ties to the campaign… And the Dems have the nerve to call FOX News biased…
Jim C
By martian, November 20, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
It didn’t get a lot of publicity in the MSM (of course) but there was some mention that Blitzer was warned by Hillary’s campaign before the debate, that tough questions that might “ambush” Hillary would NOT be tolerated. He was specifically warned against “pulling a Russert”. The history of both Clintons in making sure to control any and all circumstances during any facet of a campaign well defined.
The Dems have the nerve to call Fox News biased? Haven’t you noticed they hurl the loudest accusations against their opponents for activities and attitudes of which they themselves are most guilty? The liberal left virtually controls all of the MSM. The main news sources are so biased against the right and even the middle that it’s almost comical. So what do they do? Loudly and repeatedly accuse the Fox News Network of having a right leaning bias while dismissing any suggestion that the rest of the media is biased in their favor as ridiculous.