Clinton Finds Emotion On The Trail

CBSNews.com Reports: Former Front-Runner Fights Back Tears On Eve Of N.H. Primary

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter David Miller.

---

Since her third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Democrat Hillary Clinton has tried to project an image of strength, sounding as confident as when she was her party's front-runner, and even getting a little angry when talking about the man who has supplanted her in that spot, Barack Obama.

But it was a simple question that, on Monday, may have shown the intense pressure Clinton is facing in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary is getting to her in the campaign's closing hours. At a café in Portsmouth, the last question from a group of undecided voters came from Marianne Pernold, a freelance photographer who is torn between Clinton and Obama.

"How do you do it?" she asked - curious more about the physical rigors of the campaign than anything else, she said afterward.

But Clinton answered the question in a broader sense, and her emotions revealed themselves - her voice cracked and quavered, her eyes turned watery.

"It's not easy, it's not easy and I couldn't do it if I didn't passionately that it was the right thing to do," she said. "It's not just political. I see what's happening. We have to reverse it. Some people think elections are a game - who's up, who's down. It's about our country. It's about our kids' futures."

---

Analysis: Choking Up In New Hampshire?
From The Road Blog: Clinton Fights Back Tears
CBS Evening News: The Woman Who Elicited Clinton's Emotion

---

The emotion building - as cameras zoomed in and photographers snapped away furiously - Clinton, speaking softly, reiterated what has been her core argument the past four days: readiness.

"We do it, each one of us, because we care about our country," she said. "Some of us are right and some of us are wrong. Some of us are ready and some of us are not. Some of us know what we will do on day one, and some of us haven't, maybe, thought that through enough."

It would be hard to blame Clinton for cracking - even just a little - given the circumstances she's facing. She has been outflanked by Obama, who has turned his campaign into a movement that has drawn in large numbers of independent and young voters. Her third-place finish in Iowa has made New Hampshire a crucial test. An Obama win here - and polls are predicting just that - could give the Illinois senator even more momentum for Clinton to overcome.

"It's a genuine moment - she's talking about her passion for the country," Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said of the candidate's emotional response. "For her it's about people. That's all it's about for her. That's why she does this."

Right now, however, Clinton's opportunity to be president appears to be slipping away, and her campaign is trying to right the ship while stealing momentum from Obama. But her aides suggest that isn't going to happen in New Hampshire, which they now portray as merely the first part of a lengthy national campaign for the nomination.

"New Hampshire is the 'first in the nation' primary, not the 'first and last in the nation' primary," said Clinton strategist Doug Hattaway. "So, you know, we're working hard to do well in New Hampshire tomorrow, but there's lots of other states to go."

Among those states is South Carolina, which holds its primary Jan. 26. The state is home to a large contingent of black Democrats which could benefit Obama, with his win in Iowa proving to them his viability. After that come nearly two-dozen states on Feb. 5, a day which is widely expected to effectively determine the Democratic nominee.

Clinton held large leads in those states throughout 2007. But a new national survey from Rasmussen Reports suggests that is changing - Clinton's lead over Obama was down to 4 percentage points, equal to the poll's margin of error.

The campaign hopes, however, that the run-up to Feb. 5, and the increased time between contests, will allow people to examine Obama more thoroughly and decide that Clinton is the better choice.

"I think what you'll see is people looking to get though all the talk, because everybody is talking about change," Hattaway said. "And when people look past the talk is when you start to see the distinctions."

But time is running out and the challenge Clinton faces is a tough one. Proof of that might be seen in Marianne Pernold's reaction to seeing the New York senator on the verge of tears, showing the emotion she's often criticized for lacking. She said the moment made her cry, too - but that even though she was now leaning toward voting for Clinton, she was still undecided.

"Obama moved me to tears, too," she said. "I'm smitten by Obama. I'm smitten by him. But Hillary showing that emotion just really - I found that really refreshing."

[katg21]

Well, we can criticize Hillary all we want but her crying worked. Had a feeling it would too, there are way too many suckers out there.

[bizzzz-2009]

Keep up the crying Hillary. That''s what I look for in a strong leader- Alot of crying.

[bizzzz-2009]

Keep up the crying Hillary. That''s what I look for in a strong leader- Alot of crying.

[bizzzz-2009]

Keep up the crying Hillary. That''s what I look for in a strong leader- Alot of crying.

[wfbdem]

billysmith6... this guy looooooves the ****.

[katg21]

Not much else you say is worth anyone''''s time anyway.
Posted by rudy654

Ooh, that was way too easy...gave it to ya.

[rudy654-2009]

Ha, ha, ha!!! That''''s all I can say...ha, ha, ha!!!
Posted by katg21 at 05:03 PM

Not much else you say is worth anyone''s time anyway.

[katg21]

I am just curious..but, does it require a certain level of whiteness to belong to the KKK?Posted by rudy654

Ha, ha, ha!!! That''s all I can say...ha, ha, ha!!!

[candide777]

If your clarion call for Hilary''''s experience is her being a senator then she is in the same boat as Senator Obama.
Posted by b-easy63 at 02:14 PM : Jan 08, 2008

I don''t have a "clarion" call for anything on Hillary. My point was simply that being a U.S. Senator does not equate to zero experience, plain and simple. As for her other experience, I don''t need to detail it. Hillary has more than enough experience, perhaps too much experience, so move on to a real issue, please.

[dallaswolf1]

Let me tell you first I am an Independent leaning to the Republican side. However, if I was to chose between Obama and Clinton I would pick Clinton. This is the reason for this, I am confident that Obama is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Democratic party which has mouthpieces such as Pelosi and Fienstein. The Democratic party has become a liberal platform with little values other than to go against the majority of Americas beliefs. The more radical the better. Clinton although a Democrat, can and has done things outside party lines. She has experience. Something that Obama lacks and needs if he has a chance to succeed. Of course, in the end does it really matter. No! All the presidency has become is a trophy to either party. Its a flagrant foul to the other side. Snubbing their nose and saying we showed you.

[infidel_us]

Both Clintons are as disingenuous as the day is long.
As rightfully stated by Geffen, "the Clintons lie with such ease it''s disturbing."

Anyone who would vote for Hillary (and by default, her husband) deserves to have their head monkey stomped!

[bubearcats08]

To be truly electable, one must be a force for change, not represent the status quo of increasing political infighting and calculating rhetoric....followed by planned histrionics and theatrical emotions....which are staged...and have to be explained by her advisors....so people can be brainwashed.......into thinking her mental breakdown is real...even so, it is inexcusable...name any female political leader, Bhutto, Aquino, etc...and see if they just break down in public for political gain.....or if they are actually true leaders!!!!!
What a horrible example we would set if Hillary is our most "electable" female president...I think most women who are CEOs are extremely intelligent and they wouldn''t dare want to follow Bush''s disaster....and do not support her...

This is not the time to just blindly follow Hillary just because she reminds you of pre-Bush "golden years".......She didn''t do anything!!!

I live in NY state and she hasn''t done anything in the Senate despite all her supposed accomplishments!!!!

I moved here from Bill''s home turf after Bush stole the election and Hillary didn''t do anything as First Lady that could be spun into experience for a Presidency....besides make it extremely embarrassing to live in the South.....

[bubearcats08]

I am a Democrat so it is despicable when Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats wrestled control of Congress only to be completely powerless to stop Bush''s vetoes...so I can already envision Hillary also not doing anything along the same lines.....or just funneling money from hard-working overseas to private groups for oil/coal, she already gets her campaign funds from PACS...when she got caught recently, she just got her wrist slapped....what happens when she is President????

Who do you think PACs work for????? Middle class???wake up

[bubearcats08]

Hillary wasn''t the one baking Bill''s cookies, Monica was!!!!

And Hillary stuck with the philanderer???? For what, I would like to know, if not for the future political ambitions, of a conniving, calculating and sneaky manipulator with no morals....

If this is your idea of a change from Bush, you need to slap yourself.....like she should have done to Bill.....instead of being a cowering 50s era wife to stick with the hubby no matter what, but then again, that is who is her main demographic blindly following her not even reading this because they don''t know what the internet is....crashing into people because we have no public transit and crumbling infrastructure, or voting absentee from nursing homes, and don''t give a *** about the future of this country because they won''t be around to witness the effects already occurring from climate change....

Hillary regurgitates her failed 1993 health care plan like she regurgitates NY Gov. Spitzer''s campaign slogan, "on day one"......what changed???? the butts in the chairs....is about all.....she hasn''t done anything at all for NY State except use it as a staging ground for her Senate run....anybody in Arkansas ought to boycott her....

Maybe Hillary''s running mate can be Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons......

[bubearcats08]

Hillary''s proposed 1993 health care plan was an abject failure when Bill was President, it was unaffordable then in a budget surplus, how can it possibly be affordable now when the giant sucking sound is not jobs going to Mexico, but all our tax dollars to the Middle East and Iraq????

In what alternate reality does some poster who points to this as a positive live???? It never passed, it was delusional and unaffordable, and anythint but universal, it was pie in the sky, the same thing she is touting now without any way to pay for it....you don''t have to be a CPA to look this up yourself, if you wanted to!!!!

[bubearcats08]

Clinton is very dangerous with her false bravado and sense of entitlement......without any credibility at all...here in NY she couldn''t even make up her mind about issuing driver''s licenses to illegals until after the Gov. changed his mind, and then she just jumped right on board....like she was against it all along....this is her style of leadership????

She goes right along with Bush like an obedient puppy and then says now she is going to change what exactly "on day one"????? Is her compromising going to extend to the rest of the world....including our morals, she has none or she still wouldn''t be with Bill....but I guess if she breaks down enough, she has to be excused...I wonder what truly powerful women think of her inability to even make up her mind.....Wait we alredy know since Oprah wholeheartedly supports Obama!!!!

The Presidency is a tough job.....it is very sad I live in NY and her erratic behavior and mental breakdowns are very disappointed, and disheartening....

Finally, Hillary is ill-prepared to change our heavily lobbied federal government which has neglected ordinary citizen''s rights, leading to debacles such as the current housing mess, since she is already entrenched with several lobbyists....

"To change the future, you need to remember the past"---Buddhism
"Be the change you wish to see in the world"----Ghandi

[b-easy63]

HILLARY CLINTON HAS TOLD US WHAT SHE WILL DO EVEN ON HER FIRST DAY. LET US VOTE FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE THIS TIME AND NOT LET OUR COUNTRY BE SOLD OUT.

VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON SHES THE RIGHT CANDIDATE, CHOICE AND WILL BE THE ONE TO REALLY CHANGE AMERICA.
THANK YOU
GOD BLESS AMERICA

Posted by Prayerman3 at 01:52 PM : Jan 08, 2008


Hilary has promised us more of what Bush did--only she will be wearing a Blue dress and so the Democrats will all of a sudden support her war and what we do. On top of that, she will do what Democrats do best--find lots of hand out programs to saddle the country with--spend up lots of money and then raise taxes to pay for it all. What did the Dems do as helpless/hapless hostages of the Iraq WAr? Why INCREASE the level of spending and give Bush even more money for the war than he asked for. They can''t help it--they see all that money and just drool for the chance of wasting it all....

[b-easy63]

Ya know, some of us actually remember way back then, and Hillary''''s efforts to put together health care reform legislation (something Americans are even more concerned about now than ever). Yeah, she may be going too far by implying that being First Lady is her presidential experience, but it''''s not hard to believe that Bill and Hillary actually discussed what was going on in his daily life. They themselves touted the "Two for One" thing, and like it or not, they delivered. It was the conservatives at the time all bent out of shape because instead of being a "good First Lady" and meeting with fifth graders to bake cookies with them, Hillary was actually out there trying to make a difference. Now folks are upset because she''''s actually touting that experience? Talk about wanting it both ways!

Posted by pakaal at 01:47 PM : Jan 08, 2008

discussing issues with a spouse or even brainstorming is not experience. She has had the experience of being married to a President and the experience of being humiliated by what her husband did. She at least has had the dubious experience of witnessing how lack of forethought and control can derail a Presidency and almost cost a legacy. So she will be good in watching her back. As for experience--no person has experience in being President and running this country except for perhaps the VP--everyone else only have an idea--not true experience.

[b-easy63]

As for no experience, what do you call serving as a U.S. Senator? Just admit it. You can''''t stand to see a strong woman in charge! Get over it!

Posted by Candide777 at 01:46 PM : Jan 08, 2008


If your clarion call for Hilary''s experience is her being a senator then she is in the same boat as Senator Obama. If that is the sum of experience--she comes to the table with no more than he does--but she IS someone who defends the war and who voted for and supported it--Obama had the sense to see it for the end gambit and sham it was. Two thumbs up for at least being discerning. Obama 2 HIlary--none.

[bubearcats08]

Hillary is a total phony and even more manipulative than her philandering hubby Bill....as for the older female vote, any self-respecting feminist wouldn''t dare vote for this sad woman who would choose to stay in a loveless marriage with an unfaithful unrepentant husband for the sake of her future political aspirations.... She has no moral center, she is not grounded, as she has spewed vitriol and then, moments later, broken down about "how hard it is to campaign"...then when another candidate was asked to respond to her crying jag, and said "being a President is tough", she feigns being insulted and cries "no fair".... Are we in kindergarten now??? She is as shameful as Bush is arrogant......and would be a huge mistake, talk about increasing partisanship.... Are her supporters also paid off by PACs? Otherwise, what is one concrete thing she has done for NYers, since she is not from here, she just moved her to run for the Senate with future presidential ambitions in mind. I live in NY state, so don''t try to pull wool over my eyes...I already know she stole her campaign slogan, "on day one" from Dem. Gov. Spitzer''s campaign last year.....very pathetic campaign....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To change the future, you need to remember the past"---Buddhism
"Be the change you wish to see in the world"----Ghangi