Will Hillary Hurt The Rest Of The Ticket?

Democrats Worry Sen. Clinton Is Too Polarizing For The Party's Success

(AP)  Looking past the presidential nomination fight, Democratic leaders quietly fret that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the top of their 2008 ticket could hurt candidates at the bottom.

They say the former first lady may be too polarizing for much of the country. She could jeopardize the party's standing with independent voters and give Republicans who otherwise might stay home on Election Day a reason to vote, they worry.

In more than 40 interviews, Democratic candidates, consultants and party chairs from every region pointed to internal polls that give Clinton strikingly high unfavorable ratings in places with key congressional and state races.

"I'm not sure it would be fatal in Indiana, but she would be a drag" on many candidates, said Democratic state Rep. Dave Crooks of Washington, Ind.

Unlike Crooks, most Democratic leaders agreed to talk frankly about Clinton's political coattails only if they remained anonymous, fearing reprisals from the New York senator's campaign. They all expressed admiration for Clinton, and some said they would publicly support her fierce fight for the nomination — despite privately held fears.

The chairman of a Midwest state party called Clinton a nightmare for congressional and state legislative candidates.

A Democratic congressman from the West, locked in a close re-election fight, said Clinton is the Democratic candidate most likely to cost him his seat.

A strategist with close ties to leaders in Congress said Democratic Senate candidates in competitive races would be strongly urged to distance themselves from Clinton.

"The argument with Hillary right now in some of these red states is she's so damn unpopular," said Andy Arnold, chairman of the Greenville, S.C., Democratic Party. "I think Hillary is someone who could drive folks on the other side out to vote who otherwise wouldn't."

"Republicans are upset with their candidates," Arnold added, "but she will make up for that by essentially scaring folks to the polls."

In national surveys, Clinton's lead over chief rival Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has widened. Her advantage is much narrower where it counts most — in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. In matchups against potential GOP presidential candidates, Clinton leads or is tied.

The Clinton campaign points to those figures to make a case for her electability in a constant stream of e-mails, letters and phone calls to jittery Democrats across the country. A key to their strategy is to give Clinton's candidacy a sense of inevitability despite her negative ratings, which aides insist will go down.

"All the negatives on her are out," said Clinton's pollster and strategist Mark Penn. "There is a phenomena with Hillary, because she is the front-runner and because she's been battling Republicans for so long, her unfavorability (rating) looks higher than what they will eventually be after the nomination and through the general election."

What the Clinton campaign doesn't say is that her edge over potential Republican candidates is much smaller than it should be, given the wide lead the Democratic Party holds over the GOP in generic polling.

The problem is her political baggage: A whopping 49 percent of the public says they have an unfavorable view of Clinton compared to 47 percent who say they hold her in high regard, according to a Gallup Poll survey Aug. 3-5.

Her negative ratings are higher than those of her husband, former President Clinton, former President George H.W. Bush and 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry at the end of their campaigns.

[sgtrds]

I think the idea that she'll somehow hurt the rest of the democratic candidates is right wing wishful thinking and propaganda to try to make democrats turn against her. I'm an Edwards man myself, but if she gets the nomination I'll have no problem supporting her over any republican running and not just because the republican field just plain sucks this time around. I think she'll make an excelient president and think that anyone who'd vote against a democrat running for Congress or the Senate would have done so no matter who was on top of the ticket. Much ado about nothing here.

[jegibbons]

Perhaps I have more faith in the wisdom of the American electorate than is warranted at this troubled period in our nation's history, however, I really can't imagine anyone actually wasting a precious vote on this truly horrible Mrs. former President.

Even if you loved Bill, you won't be getting Bill you'll be getting Hill, and HOW.

[coffeehead-2009]

Hilary had my vote -
Until she refused to address WHO will pay for the millions of poor entering this country. Her compassion only extends as far as the immigrants, not those who will be pushed OUT of the dream via the national cost. It is just pure STUPID for Americans to support legislation that will be the end of American Sovereignty and middle class citizens.


Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program.
Proponents recommend voting YES because:

Voted NO on declaring English as the
official language of the US government.


Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program.



Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.


Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship


Opposes illegal immigration, but doesn't vote to follow up

[donnie900]

But thats why I'd vote for her. Because I know, see.. that republican hardliners and the like don't like her. There'd be such a scurry hairy spaz attack on that vast right wing lunatic basement? You'd feel the earth rumble.

Frankly, I think Hillary is a product of a ******* up republican imagination. A republican karma.. they they deserve. For once I'd like to condemn them, instead of having them condemn me all the time..

[donnie900]

.. even if it means a little smelly mufffdive'n.

[rayuk-2009]

Like so many of you, I don't want Hillary to get the nomination. We can't win with just the Northeast and West. I blame the party leadership for not seeing the great danger with her as the selection. Nor do I believe that the inexperienced Obama has any chance of being elected.

So what do we do? The first thing is to let our voices be heard. We did not say enough in 2004 when Kerry was making mistake after mistake and the hand was writing on the wall in the summer of 2004. Edwards is the logical choice, but how do we promote him when all the money seems to be for the two front runners, both are losers?

[stephen1500]

I think that these people are fools to say that Hillary would hurt the rest of the democratic ticcket. I say that because people just don't like Hillary because she is a strong women and won't take any mess. Yes, she has made mistakes but she has learned from them. That is what gives her the experience. I would rather have someone with experience at the top of the ticket then someone like Obahma who has no experience what so ever as a freshman senator. It is ashamed that people in her own party of scared of a women who has experience and can bring change and doesn't take mess.

[coffeehead-2009]

Yes, she has made mistakes but she has learned from them. That is what gives her the experience

xxxxxx

AND that is what is so rank about it.
She has true american leadership to her...
She just doesn't want to have an "America"....



Exclusive "world power" attendees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bilderberg_attendees


What "bilderberg" represents.... *** scary.

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/bilderberg_2007.html

[donnie900]

Here's my logic (and excuse its lack of education):

There is obviously a vast right wing conspiracy. Iraq proves it. Executive privilege proves it. The head of the CIA, and Valary Plame proves it. So its obvious that Hillary doesn't not represent a legacy, per se. But the opposite thinking. The anti-legacy. Because, with her husbands experience, and her own signature on all the bills, they're going to get to the bottom of the GOP debacle. Whether the GOP likes it or not.

So all you news hungry news reporters out there? Vote Hillary. All you anti-war moveon.org conspiracy theorists out there? Vote Hillary. Because she is going to go after the 3 inch peckkkker responsible for this whole thing.. with a curling iron in her hand.

[donnie900]

I can see the republican fox news headline even now: "Sexxxxy brunette lady can't get vagggina juice off her skirt! Says its Hillary's!"

!

[pepperp1]

What Krap, Hillary is pragmatic and just what this country could use a smart politically savvy female who will do a great job leading this country if elected. Let the right rip her to shreds they do it to everyone, John Kerry was a white male war hero and look what they did to him with their bought and paid for swift boat bull schit their tactics are gutter politics and the only ones clueless to their impotence appears to be they. They have cried wolf to many times to be believed the attack lying machine is a thing of the past the RNC hate misters and the party has no credibility, they would not ever vote for a Dem anyway she should ignore them a go for the middle and the Dem base. After the Republican president and vice president have called the Dems every name in the book outrageous book, traitors, terrorist sympathizers, yellow I do not believe to many Dems will cross over to the Repug ticket either no matter who the candidate. The Republicans went out of their way to alienate Dems and they succeeded there is a true divide and it will not heal soon. And the Republicans can not or will not govern in the interest of the country, run-away debt, run-away spending, corruption, acting out of sexual perversion and their party leaders uniquely unqualified to hold any ethical office. Any one of us can refuse to pay more towards our bills and keep spending on other pet projects incurring more debt but sooner or later the bill has to be paid to sustain the household.

[formrusmcsgt]

"They say the former first lady may be too polarizing for much of the country. She could jeopardize the party's standing with independent voters and give Republicans who otherwise might stay home on Election Day a reason to vote, they worry."

I know one independent who could NEVER vote for her - ME!

[formrusmcsgt]

What Krap, Hillary is pragmatic and just what this country could use a smart politically savvy female who will do a great job leading this country if elected.
Posted by pepperp1 at 05:08 PM : Aug 12, 2007

Hillary is as self-absorbed and adept at speaking out of both sides of her mouth as Bush is.

I see no improvement in supplanting one version for another.

This two family dynasty that has controlled politics in this country for the last 20 years has to end.

[ringading3]

Senator Mary Landrieu I hope you make many apprearences with your "blond look a like", just as you did with Gore and Kerry! Louisiana will defeat you and your mentor, Hilary!

[sharncedar]

dumb Democrat write: "I would rather have someone with experience at the top of the ticket then someone like Obahma who has no experience "

uh ... duh .. they have both served 1 term in the US senate ... duh ... but Obama served before that in a state legislature ... while Hillary had what prior experience, let's see, she spread her legs for a former president in his youth ... uh ... she had phyisical relations with a former president even married him ... she sat with a former president in the White House as did every member of his staff ...

Gee, I'm a Democrat, I'm Dumb! hooray!

Your logic would have you vote for George Stephanopolis, perhaps you would, gee ain't you jes a Democratic poster child of sheer stupidity.

[formrusmcsgt]

while Hillary had what prior experience, let's see, she spread her legs for a former president in his youth...
Posted by SharnCedar at 06:29 PM : Aug 12, 2007

I would submit that such might be subject to debate. She appears as butch as Kucinick does wuss.....

[j-whitman]

stonebog,,,, If any republican is half as good as you think they are ---- How come terrorists are coming accross the border with Mexico & Canada & our fence not finished ???

[likeitis5050]

kittykatzmom That's not boredom. She looks like that when she's not plotting against someone. She probably was genuinely listening and forgot to put on her 'game face'.

She's a politician and probably as close to being a match for any of the good ol' boys as will ever be found to run. She's just as sneaky and two-faced as any of them, but in all fairness, let's not single her out based on gender. As politicians go, she's six of one and half dozen of the other. None of them running have an ounce of honesty in them and couldn't care less about the 'issues' outside of what kind of votes they can generate depending on what 'stand' they take tomorrow. We really are scraping the bottom of the barrel and Rudy and Hillary are at the bottom of the heap.

[j-whitman]

Please keep a few things in mind folks as you formulate your opion on actual accomplishmets not rhetoric --
--- This GOP Administration is rapidly losing in 2 theaters of war & the entire War on Terror,, They have hurt our military, our children, our elderly and National Security

[donnie900]

Yah, but you got some ******* up ******* notion on Israel, j.

[tucano2]

I will not be voting for anyone who supports AMNESTY for illegal aliens.

[condumism]

Hillary is only polarizing because of the unrelenting smear coming from the reicht winged neocons and fascists that control the Repuglicon Party. The dumb white male syndrome that is embedded in Repuglicon culture could also be the permanent undoing of these morons. Barack Obama is the clear choice for the Democrats. Obama, with Bill Richardson as his running mate will be unstoppable. PALEEEEZE CONDUMBS: Pick Mitt Romney as your man in 2008. PAAAAAAAAALEEEEEEEZE!

[jankebenz]

Right now? Justice is a bonnner. With ****** and.. balls the size'a peanuts.
Posted by donnie900 at 01:28 PM : Aug 12, 2007
Yah, but you got some ******* up ******* notion on Israel, j.
Posted by donnie900 at 07:54 PM : Aug 12, 2007
+
the only peanut sized item on your posts is obviously what is lacking with you-a brain.Clean up your mouth and act or spew your filthy lanquage in your back yard outhouse
Posted

[donnie900]

Oh, sorry..

[incog-nito]

Time for Dems to stop nit-picking and close rank and vote for the nominee, period. Can't afford another 4 four years like the past 7. And if you're a cynical independent or "Green" party still hoping for a Nader comeback, well, it won't happen, but good luck anyway.

[sgtrds]

Oh, sorry..

Posted by donnie900 at 08:49 PM : Aug 12, 2007

Well most of the rest of us still like you donnie....even if we disagree with you sometimes......so post all you like!

[notbuynit]

She is way underestimated. More likely she will do everything right and lay waste to whoever gets in her path. My money is on her for all the marbles, no matter who does not like it. She is tougher than anyone gives her credit for. The ones who hate her are the ones who will be crying.

[firebirdguns]

Duh, has everyone forgot the whitewater scandal.If hillary makes it as president then we deserve what ever happens to us as Americans. And I really hate to see whats coming.

[lastdance2]

Comrade Hillary :
Who invests money into (India) a country.
That allows men to : - Burn - women alive.
Because - of some minor infraction.

Comrade Hillary's Gift :
To the women of the world.

Comrade Hillary:
Who gives Visas, to people from India.
To come to the United States.
In order : To train for American jobs.

Comrade Hillary's - Patriotic - gift to :
The American Work force.

Comrade Hillary :
The hopes - continuing dreams and aspirations of :
Criminal Corporate America.

Comrade Hillary - Citizen Bill
The favorite friends and allies of :
The Bush Administration and The Republican Party

Hitler and Musalinni could - Not - have better allies than :
Comrade Hillary - Citizen Bill and the Bush Administration.

Same Mentality - Same Ideology
They have demonstrated this :
By their own actions and behavior.

Their own actions - Tell a lot more - About them
Than what they have to say! ! !

Lastdance

[rhs648]

How ironic! The top runner could hurt the candidates at the bottom. Sounds similar to some Republicans running from George Bush. Can Hillary succeed with unfavorable feelings among half of the American people. This may give Republican candidates the edge. This could be an interesting election.

[mikekleber]

After seven years of lies and disregard for our country, anyone, and I mean anyone, will be an improvement. I think Hillary would be able to handle any situation thrown at her very well. Besides, I am curious to see what a yutz Bill will be as first man.

[jegibbons]

I'm amazed how many people cannot or will not see the forest for the trees, when it comes to Hillary. This women has all of her husband's character flaws, without an ounce of his charm & charisma.

The very idea that she could be the representation of what a woman ought to aspire to in the political arena today, speaks poorly for all American women. She is nobody's champion. Her interests are purely selfish.

It's all about character, people. This woman has NONE! Like John Kerry, she will say anything to get elected. Just one real solution to the myriad of problems our government is facing would be a start.

HILLARY IS NOT THE SOLUTION!

[infidel_us]

Hillary is a fatlly flawed candidate. If she's the candidate of choice, we WILL retain the white house.

"Izzz no ways tireddddd.......I comes too farrrrrr"

[advanceus]

Would JEGibbons like Hillary bettter if she had Betty Crocker's apron on? We are not the stay at home people dominated by males any longer, we now realize that we have the right to speak our opinion and that we also have the brains and guts to say it! You sound like a typical 60+ MALE that cannot accept the fact that women are coming out of the closet!

[toldyouso21]

The problem with Hilary--is not only the mistrust and dislike by many Republicans, it is the very real truth that Hilary is not anything. She blows whichever way the wind blows.

Want a war? Hilary is for it. Don't want a war? Hilary is still for it, but would have fought it differently. Need to win the Democratic nomination among a group who by and large are against the invsion under any circumstances? Then Hilary begins to regret the war.

When I hear Hilary speak, my stomach curls. Both she, and most Democrats are counting on the angst and dislike of the Republicans and our wish to avoid another Bush moment----to out trump our angst and dislike of Hilary.

There is something very ruthless and ugly about having only the conviction of winning. Winning, forget about scruples or true stands on issues--just win. By trying to be all things to all people and placing her personal agenda of winning above the party and the country---Hilary has shown her true colors. A more decent person, just as polarizing would not have placed personal ambition above the need for the country to heal and move away from the right. But Hilary comes first and by doing so--she may represent the greatest loss of an election ever.

please Al Gore, reconsider running for the sake of your party and the country.

[toldyouso21]

Duh, has everyone forgot the whitewater scandal.If hillary makes it as president then we deserve what ever happens to us as Americans. And I really hate to see whats coming.
Posted by firebirdguns at 11:36 PM : Aug 12, 2007



Puhleeeese. I am no fan of Hilary Clinton's but she can certsinly do no worse than Bush. That man took this country to lower than zero. Now...no matter what, any move away from Bush and the neo con agenda will see the US go no where--but UP.

[Razzl]

I disagree with a lot of the specifics of this analysis--a lot of it is based on believing that the efforts of Republican spinmeisters to demonize Hillary have left a permanent impression, but I tend to believe that she will come across very favorably across from pretty much any of the Republicans running, especially the feisty Giuliani. How polarizing she will come across with Republicans and Indendents will be a function of who she faces, not how she was seen in the past.

Hillary will be most polarizing to her own hard-core Democratic rank-and-file because she is a conservative (not "centrist") candidate trying to head the ticket of the country's liberal party, and it rankles. She may still be defeated in the primaries despite her high polling if she can't drop her militarist attitudes anytime she talks about post-Iraq foreign policy...

[tuckerndfw]

If Democrats want to continue their losing streak, all they need to do is nominate Hillary as their presidential candidate.

Those negatives are not going to improve which means Hillary has to carry every single vote of people who do not oppose her. Which is not going to happen.

Hillary is more divisive than George Bush. If she was elected (which she won't be), we would hear the same "I hate her/I love her" for the next four years we have heard for the past 16 years.

We desperately need a candidate who will unite the nation. We do not need another polarizing figure in the White House.

Hillary is the worst candidate available.

I would vote for George Bush before I would vote for Hillary.

[hwy71so]

I'd just as soon vote for Oggie Doggie as vote for Hillary.

[oleander8]

Being the first woman seriously in contention for the presidency is bound to be polarizing - get past it. Think Golda Meier, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi. The time is now.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by oleander8 at 09:49 AM : Aug 13, 2007

It has nothing to do with race or gender.

Hillary's reputation is well known. And, it is one of corruption, lying, and catering to her own little cabal of special interests, which are dominated by homosexuals and feminists.

I am an independent, consider Bush to be the worst and most corrupt president in US history. But he is superior to Hillary Clinton.

[oleander8]

"Duh, has everyone forgot the whitewater scandal...."
Posted by firebirdguns at 11:36 PM : Aug 12, 2007

That was a scandal-wannabe - nothing came of that multi-million dollar investigation by republicans.

[oleander8]

(I am an independent, consider Bush to be the worst and most corrupt president in US history..." Posted by tuckerndfw)

Tucker, you are about as independent as Harriet Meier.

[infidel_us]

That was a scandal-wannabe - nothing came of that multi-million dollar investigation by republicans.
Posted by oleander8 at 09:52 AM : Aug 13, 2007

Probably cause Clinton FIRED the US Attorneys working on the investigation. But you're tooooo busy whining about Gonzales and Bush's 8 to worry about trivial things like that.

[tuckerndfw]

In 1994, Hillary Clinton agitated for the "Violence Against Women Act" (VAWA).

Which shoveled one billion (reduced to $800 million by Congress) US taxpayer dollars to her feminist friends so they could finance their "we hate men" campaign.

Hillary Clinton shovels money to her homosexual and feminist friends the same way Bush shovels money to his evangelical and Catholic friends.

[infidel_us]

Hillary's reputation is well known. And, it is one of corruption, lying, and catering to her own little cabal of special interests, which are dominated by homosexuals and feminists.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:51 AM : Aug 13, 2007

I agree 100%! She is a train wreck waiting to happen. When the REAL election gets going and the republicans pull out the campaign ads pointing out her lies, it's going to be GLORIOUS!! :)

[tuckerndfw]

I agree 100%! She is a train wreck waiting to happen. When the REAL election gets going and the republicans pull out the campaign ads pointing out her lies, it's going to be GLORIOUS!! :)

Posted by infidel_us at 09:58 AM : Aug 13, 2007

We agree.

Repubs would love for Dems to nominate Hillary.

That's their best hope for retaining the White House and regaining Congress. I suspect Repubs are shoveling as much money at her campaign as they are at their own candidates.

I don't know how she plays anywhere else, but in my neighborhood she's viewed with less favor than OBL.

[b48151]

This cu8t will turn out the rep voters in doves.

[jack3213]

Perhaps, then, it is time for her to bow out. I am sure, so many would agree, it is for the best. The fact that they spin this to sound as if it is because she will drag others down confirms once again, that admitting she is WRONG for the USA, to begin with, would be just too much for their ego's.

[tuckerndfw]

Tucker, you are about as independent as Harriet Meier.

Posted by oleander8 at 09:55 AM : Aug 13, 2007

Thank you for demonstrating my point about her divisive nature.

Can't suppport your candidate, attack her opponents.

That sounds very familiar, seems I've heard that somewhere else before.