Bill’s Whining Again
The conventional wisdom about the way the states compressed the time frame of the primaries was that those changes would benefit the candidate with the most money and best organization. In other words, it would be a boon to Hillary Clinton. When the Clinton campaign was riding high, nary a word of objection to those moves was heard. Yesterday, however, Bill Clinton began whining about how the compressed primary schedule now works against Hillary and for Obama's momentum.
CLAREMONT – Former President Bill Clinton said the timing of the New Hampshire primary is to blame if his wife, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, doesn't beat Illinois Senator Barack Obama in their quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Asked by a voter in Claremont how the Clinton camp planned to propel itself past Obama, Clinton said, "The answer is there might not be enough time, because New Hampshire made a decision that I didn't agree with."
He said the state gave up much of its political sway by holding its primary so close to last Thursday's Iowa caucus. With more time, he said, more voters would begin to question the substance behind the Obama campaign.
"The point is the momentum is broken when people get to think for themselves and not get caught up in the press hysteria," he said.
The former President attacked Obama, saying that although he claims to oppose the war in Iraq, he has consistently voted to fund it, a point, Clinton said, negates the Illinois senator's entire campaign.
"The central logic of the Obama campaign is that it doesn't matter that I don't have experience because I have good judgment because I was against the war," he said.
It actually got worse for Bill Clinton yesterday, too. Students began walking out on him during a campaign appearance at Dartmouth.
HANOVER, N.H. — About thirty minutes into Bill Clinton's nearly two-hour stop here at Dartmouth College, a steady stream of students started walking out of the venue.
Moments later, Clinton — his voice hoarse, sometimes cracking — took arguably the toughest question of the night, courtesy of a tall, blond 19-year old freshman wearing a bright red sweater. "My main concern is, if Hillary were elected, it would create a dynastification of American politics. Bush, Clinton, Bush. What do you think?" asked Sebastian Ramirez, standing less than a hundred feet from the former president.
Clinton responded, to rolling laughter across the room, "I'm not responsible for the 12 years that the American people gave to the Bushes." He continued: "I actually tried to talk Hillary into leaving me when we were in law school, that's the God's truth. I told her, 'You have more talent for public service than anybody in my generation that I have met… I shouldn't stand in your way.' She looked at me and said, 'Oh, Bill, I'll never run for office.'"
That got a few cheers from the crowd of about 600, most of them students, with their backpacks and books in tow. But many of the students in the room, judging from more than two dozen interviews, are supporters of Sen. Barack Obama. They plan to vote for him tomorrow night.
I have said before that seeing a former president whine is spectacularly unappealing. It would appear that I am not the only one who thinks so.
By Uncle Pinky, January 8, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
He does have a point about momentum. Aside from the psychological lift it gives a campaign, it is almost entirely a media phenomenon combined with a natural liking on the part of some people to get on the bandwagon. However, having benefited from this in the past, it is kind of hypocritical for him to be decrying it now.
Oh, wait. I forgot it was Bill “More Janus-y Than Hagel” Clinton speaking. Please disregard my surprise at the hypocrisy.
By martian, January 9, 2008 @ 10:39 am
He was even more whiney yesterday at campaign stops. However, that and Hillary’s almost tears seem to have helped since she won in NH yesterday. Not by much, but even a 3 point lead is a BIG win for her after Iowa. It seems we’ll be stuck with her at least through Super Tuesday.
However, this is an advantage for the Republicans. It means that she and Obama are both still in the race and will start inflicting more and heavier damage on each other. Let the battle begin!