Breaking The RPM Barrier!
The Clinton campaign is generating spin at unprecedented levels today, with one of her surrogates saying she has accomplished everything and a third place finish is hokey-dokey. Yeah, sure.
As the presidential candidates engage in furious pre-caucus spin, one of Sen. Hillary Clinton's most prominent Iowa supporters said Wednesday that she's already accomplished what she needs to in Iowa and can declare success even if she finishes in third place.
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack told ABC News that Clinton has shown that she can appeal to a wide swath of Democrats, which is what she came to Iowa to do.
"She has done what she needed to do here," Vilsack said shortly before a Clinton campaign event in Indianola. "When she started the process she was way behind — it's now by all standards a competitive race."
Asked if the order of finish matters, Vilsack deflected the question.
"She absolutely had to be competitive, and she's accomplished that," he said. "Obviously, everybody's interested in winning, and I think we're going to do well. It's tight. There's no question about that."
Vilsack's comments stand in marked contrast to optimistic predictions he has made in the past, including last May, when he endorsed Clinton's candidacy.
Offhand, I'd say Vilsack is angling for the VP nod. Certainly a high-ranking cabinet post. But he's an Iowa pol – and he knows darn well he is spinning at extreme rpms. In fact, he puts these guys to shame.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), January 2, 2008 @ 8:20 pm
I wonder if he got another check from the Clinton campaign. (They paid off his campaign debt after he gave up a brief run for president.)
By martian, January 3, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I love the way Dems re-write history. Vilsack states “When she started the process she was way behind”. Assuming that by “process” he means campaigning for president just when was she EVER behind? She started the race as the presumed and “inevitable” nominee and even now, while she may be a little behind in Iowa, she’s still the front runner nationally. She started with the bigeest war chest and still has more money than anyone else (though Obama is catching up). Is Vilsack trying to turn the tide in Iowa by appealing to the “underdog sympathy” vote? I agree with Gaius, it sounds like he’s challenging Richardson (who has also been genuflecting for Hillary) for the VP slot.
By Tom, January 3, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
If Hillary wins, every Democratic voter in Iowa gets a free John Deere tractor!
By Al in St. Lou, January 3, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Since you are new to this planet, let me offer this explanation: Democrats always lie.