Let The Obituaries Begin
Robert Shrum writes a pre-obituary for the Hillary Clinton campaign in today's New York Daily News. It is not at all pretty. He sees one final chance for Clinton to recover - but doesn't think it will work. Given all the times she has shifted and recalibrated any change she makes now is just going to be seen as still more shapeshifting.
The Clinton industry, encrusted with the beneficiaries and acolytes of the first and probably only Clinton presidency, has turned Hillary into a product whose sell-by date has passed. In a year of change, she has been positioned as the establishment candidate. The relentless appeal to "experience" reinforces that - and too often elides into a dubious attempt to take credit for some of Bill's accomplishments.
More fundamentally, Hillary seems to be making an argument about herself, not the future or the voters. No wonder she is losing to a young senator who comes across as the leader of a revolution in our politics.
There could still be a Clinton miracle, but by tomorrow night she is more likely to be the KOd Kid than the Comeback Kid.
She will have to get off the mat and recast her case. Contrary to the caricatures, Hillary Clinton is a real person, often funny in private, with engaging qualities that have been well-hidden in this campaign. But the hour is late and even if the real Hillary emerges, voters might see it as just another contrivance.
He makes one very startling remark in the piece. He says the Clinton machine is starting to hurt for cash and may actually be struggling to reach the February 5 giant primary day. I had not heard that before - but it doesn't surprise me a lot, either. Donors don't want to see their money dragged under when the candidate's ship sinks.
By DavidL, Monday, 7 January , 2008 @ 9:21 am
Bob Shrum’s column is interesting. Yet his conclusions are dubious. Shrum thinks Mrs. Clinton should run on her thirty-five years of experience. Yet Mrs. Clintno has nothing to show from her experience save her cattle future profits.