Back From The Brink

Washington Post: A Triumphant Night In New Hampshire For Clinton Supporters Fearing Worst

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Dana Milbank.

---

"I come here tonight with a very full heart," Hillary Rodham Clinton told a gym full of screaming and chanting supporters here a few minutes after 11 p.m. Tuesday. The unexpected victor in the New Hampshire primary, she vowed to "give America the kind of comeback New Hampshire has just given me."

In truth, it wasn't as much a comeback as a return from the political dead.

Even her own aides had seemed to believe the worst. They had booked the big gymnasium here at Southern New Hampshire University -- the same spot Howard Dean filled in 2004 -- and put the numerals "20:08" on the time clock and the words "Hillary" and "Clinton" in the home and away spots. But instead, they decided to hold the event next door, in a dank auxiliary gym half the size -- an irresistible metaphor for a dying campaign -- and the crowd of 400 was too small to fill the place.

But then, a few minutes after the polls closed, CNN broadcast an unexpected announcement: The candidate was not, in fact, deceased. It was, the cable network announced, a "close race" -- and the numbers crawling at the bottom of the screen even showed an early, narrow Clinton lead.

Fair-weather supporters rushed to join the party, and reporters, their Clinton obituaries already filed, hurried over from their hotel rooms. Finally, 2 1/2 hours later, the CNN broadcast made it official: The presumed-dead candidate had, in fact, won the New Hampshire primary. The wake thus terminated, Clinton aides and supporters screamed and danced, waving "Clinton Country" placards for the cameras.

Tom Thompson and his brother were in the middle of the celebration. "If you asked me last night, I would've said Obama's a lock," confided Tom, wearing a button of President Bush and the words "Good Riddance." But now, he said, "I'm loving every second of it."

It was not supposed to be this way. A Gallup poll released on the eve of the election showed her trailing Barack Obama, the buoyant winner of the Iowa caucuses, by 13 points. Reporters wondered if the margin would be even higher, and Democratic operatives began to hatch ways to nudge her gently out of the race.

Against those expectations, even a narrow defeat would have been a soaring victory for the new comeback kid -- and Clinton aides were ready to celebrate their victory over expectations.

At about 8:30 p.m., Phil Singer, Clinton's peripatetic spokesman, began to circulate in the gym, looking giddy.

"I'm not giddy," he said, smiling. "I had several beers before I came over."

Prematurely drowning his sorrow?

"No comment," the spokesman answered, and then he allowed himself to savor the moment. "People were writing her obituary -- I read it several times this morning," he exulted.

Her advisers in recent days seemed to be feeling their way through the five stages of grief, spending most of their time in the denial and anger phases. "This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen!" Bill Clinton, employing his famous squint and finger point, said of Obama on Monday.

Hillary Clinton herself seemed to be grieving in a particularly poignant and public way. The day before the election, when a woman from Portsmouth asked her, innocently, about how she gets out of the house in the morning, Clinton choked up and tears formed. "This is very personal for me," she said. "It's not just political."

As supporters waited for the doors to open here Tuesday evening, televisions in the gym disbursed the conventional wisdom about Obama's triumph. "We haven't had anything like this since maybe Bobby Kennedy," said Jack Cafferty. "Might she shake up her campaign?" asked Wolf Blitzer. "This is a tidal wave" for Obama, said Donna Brazile. "This is a tidal wave that will not be stopped after tonight."

And yet, in the hallway outside, waiting to enter, the Clinton faithful continued to hope. First in line: Phil Luber from Acton, Mass., wearing a Clinton button and waiting 2 1/2 hours to get in. "I spent much of last night with my wife, railing at the television" as correspondents forecast an Obama victory, he said.

The crowd hadn't even been let in the room when the early returns began to appear on television. But word filtered into the hallway, and a muffled cheer could be heard in the gym after the words "close race" appeared.

"As of this afternoon, I thought it was going to be Obama by 10," said Bill Thompson, one of the first Clinton supporters in the room.

At that moment, CNN flashed a graphic showing Clinton ahead by 40 percent to 36 percent. The crowd cheered. "Wow, look at that!" marveled Tom Thompson.

A late wave of exit polls began to filter through the assembled reporters, standing on and around risers in the back of the gym. The new numbers: A slim 39 to 38 Obama lead. Reporters looked at one another and shrugged.

Young Clinton aides, no longer grieving, lurched back into autocratic mode, ordering reporters to keep away from the supporters in the room, who were glued to CNN on the big screen, the volume turned up loud. They cheered for Blitzer at 9:25 p.m. as he read out a 39 to 37 lead for Clinton with 42 percent of the precincts in. They grew silent when Gloria Borger said that Clinton aides were "nervous" because Obama-friendly college towns had not yet reported. They cheered anew when Borger announced that women were turning out for Clinton in large numbers.

By 10 p.m., the crowd of about 400 had doubled. They watched CNN as if viewing a football game. Clinton up, 47 to 34, among women: Big cheer. Obama up, 42 to 30, among men: boos. Clinton up, 45 to 33, among Democrats: cheers. Obama up, 41 to 34, among independents: More boos. CNN then went live to the Clinton crowd, and they responded with chants of "Hillary! Hillary!" and "Comeback Kid!"

Nearby, Jay Carson, a young Clinton aide, newly in demand, spoke with NBC's Andrea Mitchell on the camera risers. "Yesterday, the Drudge Report was doing a death watch for when she'd drop out," he exulted. "This morning, the reports were about who's going to be fired."

Soon surrounded by reporters, Carson continued his celebration. "There were no shortage of people ready to declare us dead," he said, acknowledging that he was preparing to be a pallbearer himself. "I felt the same thing when I woke up this morning," he said.

[quetzal666]

I guess theres more sensible people in New Hampshire who look at the issues, and who seem to have a bit of education to make educated oppinions,
a far cry from bible thumpers in where is it Ohio? Iowa? i forget......

[gunownerdan]

How many decades of Bush/Clinton?
And I thought America was against monarchy.

[rowdytexan2]

Quetzal666, well said! They woke up out of their hate bias and listened to the message!

It''s one thing to talk the talk like Obama, but it''s another to have been in the trenches for 15 years trying to do good things for this country.

Obama didn''t even have a plan until a month ago when he and Edwards were booed at the debates. And then they woke up and realized maybe they better make a plan and discuss the issues. So they take Hillary''s plans, jiggled them around a little and now claim they''re the ONLY one with a plan!

You have to watch and listen to them ALL to be able to make a thoughtful vote! Sitting in front of the tv with a clicker watching wrestling, NASCAR and CSI and then going out to vote is disastrous!

Nobody bothered to check out that Dubya was a failure at everything in his life, including all but ruining Texas government. Everybody just chose to swallow the Neocon propaganda. Wake up folks, their big dollars buys the best spin!

Congratulations, Hillary!!! Keep up the good fight!

[prinzowhales]

Two stolen elections and Diebold & friends are still counting votes...Why bother with elections? Why bother with polls? These machines must be taken out and democracy restored. Employees even admit there are back doors...there have been convictions for the theft of the Ohio vote in 2004...the theft of Ohio that gave us four more years of Bush with the cooperation of his Skull & Bones brother and blood cousin John Kerry.

[prinzowhales]

The anti-war, anti-Demopublican corruptionists throughout the political spectrum need to start working together and get behind a single set of candidates...From the early voting it looks like we will have no candidate from the major parties to back unless a miracle happens.

[prinzowhales]

micheal302--What you have been "hailing" is just a new poster boy for the Establishment policies we are enjoying under Bush. I am of two minds...the devil in me hopes you get exactly what you are voting for...

[misands]

I think there are several dynamics at play here, and that''''s why the polls could not predict the outcome last night in NH:
1. After Obama won in Iowa, people in NH, while enthusiastic about the Obama win, took a closer look at Obama and quickly became concerned that he is more style than substance.
2. Everyday we are hearing bad news about the economy, and people are focused less on the Iraq war, so Hillary''''s "yes" vote for the war is not as important to the voters right now.
3. The economy woes are making people nostalgic for the better economic times under "The Clintons".
4. The Northeast has always been Clinton territory from the beginning.
5. The last few days it looked like the media and other candidates were devoted to ganging up on and tearing down Hillary, so a backlash developed. Women came to her rescue.
The question now is how does she fair outside of the Pro-Hillary parts of the country (Northeast and West Coast). Can she win NV, SC, and MI? Are voters all over the nation focusing and reaching the same conclusion about Obama? If so, then he should run out of gas quickly. Or was last night just a lucky night for Hillary and a hiccup for Obama?
I can''''t wait to watch it play itself out in the next few weeks!!

[random_radar]

More than anything, the voters in New Hampshire decided to keep the presidential campaign going. Good for them. Its way too early to declare the winners, and the rest of us deserve a chance to vote, too.

Hardly anything has been decided about the presidential race so far. The campaign is still wide open, so there will be plenty of opportunity for kissing babies, pressing the flesh, and telling more lies. That''s what democracy is really about!

[downsteamjim]

To Prinzof whales: An election is fair only if a Democrat wins.

[dogsoul]

I just love to watch liberals beating themselves up...

And it''s an added bonus to STILL hear them whining about this ''stolen'' election etc... Bush won fair & square you babies - get over it already.

What''s funny is that during the primary, you actually get to hear liberals ADMIT to all the problems with their socialist no substance party - at least as it pertains their their competing Democratic candidates - then after the primary, they all hunker down & act like they never said it...

Liberals - can''t even stand eachother

[xlib]

Pollsters & pundits wrong??? My goodness, let''s see, if this were say, the past two presidential elections and a Repbulican won there would be all kinds of screams of voter fraud. However, madame clinton pulls one out of her derrier and, WHAM! a miracle in NH. Funny how that works.
As for people finally getting her messege&^% of change. Guess if you want to go from democracy to socialism because that''s the only messege the biotch has been putting out. If you like the same ole same ole of class envy messege sent by a ultra wealthy biotch then she is for you.
As for my take, it wouldn''t surprise me that the election was rigged because I certainly hope that there aren''t that many stupid people in NH.
Another tid bit, there isn''t a bats bit of difference between hill and obams. Both are putting out a socialist messege.

[hawksprings]

Yeah Josh,
Hillary''s really done a lot in her life.
She took a $100,000 cattle futures deal that was nothing more than a bribe.
She married a guy who''s cheated on her more than anyone you know, but stays with him to ride his coattails to power.
She did a secret health care committee that failed.
She jumps states to New York pretending she''s always been from there so she can run for the senate.

There''s a lot of things she''s done.
Now she needs to just go home (whereever she claims that is today) and bake cookies.
Her and Bill have done enough for our country.
They need to go home.
They should do it for the children.

[dogsoul]

"To Prinzof whales: An election is fair only if a Democrat wins. "

exactly - when a Democrat loses a close election... THEEEEEN we need to go to court, re-examine the electoral college, scrutinize voting machines... revamp the ENTIRE process if necessary to ensure that this (Democrat losing a close election) never happens again....

Liberals - playing by the rules, when it helps them win

[downsteamjim]

The theme of ''change'' is strange. If it''s correct, I guess we should vote for the homeless. They are always talking about ''change''. "Hey buddy, spare change."

[hawksprings]

"Liberals - playing by the rules, when it helps them win"
Posted by dogsoul

And Liberals are only interested in Free Speech and the First Amendment when you agree with them. When you dissagree with them, then they try to pass laws like "The Fairness Doctrine."

[mrconservatv]

The PTB%u2019s win another election it%u2019s amazing how Republicans whine all the time about the Democrats and Democrats whine about the Republicans while the establishment laughs in the face of the majority of Americans.

Hence the 2000 election, 2004 election and now the current charade of 2008 working class Americans, seniors and the poor make up the majority of US voting citizens. And most of those people know that G.W. Bush is complete failure rhetoric aside. Now in 2008 look at the candidate%u2019s big surprise who%u2019s leading right? Oh sure change is coming all right; things are going to get worse how about that for change, although the bamboozling media will continue to print it%u2019s share of propaganda the shell game is over.

I would not vote for McCain or Clinton if they both had heart transplant so good luck folks as you continue to argue about left versus right, I already figured it out. America is screwed!

[dogsoul]

The whole ''change'' thing is so incredibly cliche'' - then again, so is the Democratic party... but I''ve always said, they know how to market themselves... The Democratic party understands superbly well that their base is a combination of the mindless drooling sheep occupying the lowest rung of society who are looking for handouts & Godless superficial liberal socialists who like to think of themselves as their caretakers - so these kinds of snippets, soundbites, slogans & mantras work very well - and can be effectively employed over & over again...

Liberals - your race, your gender, and your class is what WE''RE interested in

[davek455]

every person without health care (47 million in the U.S.) has a little bit more reason to hope due to last night''s win....every uninsured person with cancer may have a better chance at living with Hillary one step closer to the white house

[rafterman1]

You can tell the neocons are scared. Their hate rhetoric is at full capacity.

[harrydoghiny]

Good for them. Its way too early to declare the winners,

It''s way too early to be interested in this *** at all. The MSM has got to do SOMETHING to keep Iraq/scandals/US attorneys off the front pages.

[nlm2383]

Ah politics...

[dogsoul]

"And Liberals are only interested in Free Speech and the First Amendment when you agree with them. When you dissagree with them, then they try to pass laws like "The Fairness Doctrine."

Oh I KNOW - how funny is THAT! They''ve got 90% of the mass media continually beating a drum to their liberal chorus - while we conservative have to sit back & take it because, hey - that''s free speech - and over the last 15 years or so we finally start to see a crack in the armor with little ol'' Fox News - and some big gains in talk radio - and it drives liberals absolutely NUTS! They can''t shut UP about Fox News - you can''t hold a conversation with one without them foaming at the mouth about Limbaugh or O''Reilly or Faux News or Coulter etc... They''re like spoiled little children who don''t want to share even one tenth of their toys...

How about the whole swift boat thing - a major broadcaster was going to air the swift boat documentary right before the election & the Dems tried to SUE to stop it... eventually DID stop it with boycott threats & patted themselves on the back for ''excercising their right of protest'' - yet their all aghast when radio stations stop playing the Dixie Chicks for the same reasons... and have absolutely no problem with Michael Moore''s propoganda machine which gets 50 times the coverage any swift boat movie would get...

Liberals - what''s the fun of being us if we can''t be total hypocrites?

[downsteamjim]

To Rafterman1; Your problem is that you have been reading Hillary supporters talking about Obama.

[mrconservatv]

Liberals - your race, your gender, and your class is what WE''''RE interested in



Posted by dogsoul at 11:17 AM : Jan 09, 2008

Take a look in the mirror what have you done for your brother lately. Your mind is a slave to right wing politics; you''re trapped in a cycle of concern outside or your own control.

[rafterman1]

===To Rafterman1; Your problem is that you have been reading Hillary supporters talking about Obama.===

Actually, I liked Bill Richardson.

[dogsoul]

"You can tell the neocons are scared. Their hate rhetoric is at full capacity."

Ah yes... the latest liberal flavor of the month - ''hate'' talk... my God, you really WILL repeat whatever they tell you.

Liberals - don''t be a hater, agree with us

[prinzowhales]

Posted by dogsoul at 11:06 AM : Jan 09, 2008
---------------
People have gone to jail for the voting fraud in Ohio. I don''t understand how you can make a ''liberal'' or ''conservative'' thing out of it...unless that kind of childish dualism is the only way in which you are able to interpret reality.

The election in 2004 was not just an isolated incident of the organized theft of an election. Buchanan faced this in the primaries the last time he ran...that he didn''t try to make a case out of it is one reason why I don''t trust him.

The Establishment controls both parties...like a coin, one side as a ''liberal'' face, the other a ''conservative''...dishonest elections don''t serve democracy or the Republic--and people who support them are an enemy of both.

[gunownerdan]

Hitlery is more of a warmongering neocon than some republicans are.

[craigh9]

Hillary is cold, calculating, and only interested in power and the money that comes along with it. She really has no experience and has not proven herself to be more than an average Senator, which she only became through shopping for a state that was overwhelmingly democratic and whose power brokers owed favors to her husband. She always speaks about her experience - but you never hear anything about accomplishing anything. She is truly the old gaurd as far as politics go - if you want the same old thing, then vote for her and her political baggage - but if your tired of backroom politics (read payoffs) then look elsewhere.

[mrconservatv]

It''''s way too early to be interested in this *** at all. The MSM has got to do SOMETHING to keep Iraq/scandals/US attorneys off the front pages.


Posted by HarryDoghiny at 11:24 AM : Jan 09, 2008

That''s the Liberal/Conservative media; the right wing sheep are caged in on the farm of morass and the left wing sheep are stuck on the farm of quick sand. The few that stray off the farm see the world for what it is and when they report back their is hissing and gnashing of teeth from the animals.

[kittin_101]

I am SHOCKED and Appalled at all the NEWS MEDIA. I thought they were NOT supposed to take sides? All I ever hear when I turn on the TV is Clinton this and Obama that... oh I am sorry... McCain got a slight mention. I think this is the worst case of Media trying to influence votes that I have ever seen. It is YOUR DUTY to report fairly on ALL candidates not just Democrats. It is SHAMEFUL! I have been watching the news almost every day lately trying to find out about all the candidates and what they stand for so I can make an informed vote. But I hardly even know the NAMES of the other runners let alone what they say they are going to do! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE to correct this!

A vote for Hillary is going to be a vote for BILL ~ He''s gonna be able to sit in the white house and have the girls line up again saying... Oh Bill! I am ready for you to make me a Star!

I am sorry... the founding fathers should have written that no husband wife combo could be in the white house for more than 2 terms. because you are totally ignorant if you think that Bill won''t be pulling hillary''s strings from behind.

[mrconservatv]

Hitlery is more of a warmongering neocon than some republicans are.


Posted by gunownerdan at 11:31 AM : Jan 09, 2008

Pretty close and McCain is a senile old man with good posture.

[mrconservatv]

I will report back to you right wing slaves and left wing robots later although some of you have also left the farm and will do just fine until I return.

[prinzowhales]

dogsoul--How do you explain FOX? How do you explain Judith Miller at the NEW YORK TIMES who lied, lied and lied in support of the Bush war against Iraq? How do you explain the media wide black out for Paul, Kucinich and Gravel...while boosting Hucksterbee shamelessly in Iowa? There is a CORPORATE MEDIA in America and it propagandizes 24-7 for the policies of the Oligarchy...

...Your ''conservative'' president and congress left the borders open and passed Patriot Act and gun control laws...Your ''liberals'' like Liebermann, Clinton and Edwards supported him...They didn''t even read the Patriot Act and voted for it!! Why?-- Because Corporate America wants open borders, war in the Middle East, thrives on corruption and needs the support of the usual chumps--the working people of America to pay the taxes and provide the cannon fodder for their wars!

[mike71067]

Whether Obama or Hillary get the monination doesn''t matter - either one is a win-win situation for the GOP. If Hillary wins the nomination, she will lose the general election, and we won''t have to listen to pompous posturing by her or her buffoon husband ever again. If Obama wins the nomination, again, we won''t have to listen to Bill or Hillary ever again.

The Clinton era will be dead and gone forever. To quote Martin Luther King, Jr., "I have a dream..."

[craigh9]

Do you think having Bill Clinton and Sheep discussed in the same post is just a coincidence

[barbaraf4]

I don''t know if I can take 4-8 years of Hillary posing for the cameras - even the calculated pointing to someone off camera is becoming old.

I always thought B. Clinton posed for affect - frequently using poses similar to JFK''s pictures. Now we have Hillary, eyes raised to the heavens and a smile molded on her face.

PS....I am a democrat. I wish we had someone worth electing!

[mike71067]

"PS....I am a democrat. I wish we had someone worth electing!"
-Posted by barbaraf4 at 11:43 AM : Jan 09, 2008

Now you know how we feel on the GOP side.

[Razzl]

The worst is yet to come for Hillary. She won''t be able to mobilize busloads of elderly women who nostalgize for the feminist movement to win every state. She also won''t find a party apparatus to call in favors from in every state. It was instructive that she was able to mobilize her base, but in the end she and Romney are still hated more than loved by the public and will not prevail in the primaries...

[davek455]

Hillary is my senator. She is loved greatly by folks here in manhattan and in upstate, rural country. She has a record of accomplishments in NY and nationally, from health care reforms to national security and agriculture to environmental protection. Those who say she has accomplished nothing haven''t seriously and objectively searched for the truth. Hillary could make a ton of money in the private sector. She''s not after the money. If she loves the power, and if that translates into better lives for the majority of us, great.

[craigh9]

dear davek455 please explain what healthcare reform she has accomplished? Tried yes - done NO

[radiob-2009]

"PS....I am a democrat. I wish we had someone worth electing!"
-Posted by barbaraf4 at 11:43 AM : Jan 09, 2008

Now you know how we feel on the GOP side.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mike71067


There are no candidates running on either side that are worthy of a vote, regardless of party. Whoever out of this group of misfits wins in November will be a one term president of mediocrity. Not a single candidate is addressing the problems of America, the continued outsourcing of jobs, the dependence upon foreign energy which have had over the last 30 years socio economic consequences and which both political parties are responsible for.

[craigh9]

She has a record of accomplishments in NY and nationally, from health care reforms to national security and agriculture to environmental protection.
Posted by davek455
Hillary is a master at making people think she has done something - but any movement on any of these issues was incidental on her part. She really doesn''t have experience - I live with and share my life with my wife, that doesn''t mean I should be considered to replace her if she leaves her job - I wouldn''t be qualified. This is the only experience Hillary has that ALL the other candidates don''t - and its bogus.

[nordeck52]

It''s not over yet, that''s for sure. I fully expect something unexpected in this election, and this *****''s "comeback" is not it.

[davek455]

craigh9 - Hillary is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves. She strengthened the Children''s Health Insurance Program, which increased coverage for children in low income and working families. She authored legislation that has been enacted to improve quality and lower the cost of prescription drugs and to protect our food supply from bioterrorism. She sponsored legislation to increase America''s commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. She is fighting for expanded use of information technology in the health care system to decrease administrative costs, lower premiums, and reduce medical errors. She''s working to ensure the safety of prescription drugs for children, with legislation now included in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act.
w
ant more?

[archiej2]

All os us have elected these senators to do a job for us and as far as I can see, they''ve avoided their jobs for the last year and plan on avoiding their jobs for the next 11 months and are still being paid to campaign and fly around the country by us beholden taxpayers. Tell your boss that you''re going to take 2 years off from your job to campaign and what do you think your boss will tell you?

[antoniof123]

She has a record of accomplishments in NY and nationally, from health care reforms to national security and agriculture to environmental protection.
Posted by davek455
Hillary is a master at making people think she has done something - but any movement on any of these issues was incidental on her part. She really doesn''''t have experience - I live with and share my life with my wife, that doesn''''t mean I should be considered to replace her if she leaves her job - I wouldn''''t be qualified. This is the only experience Hillary has that ALL the other candidates don''''t - and its bogus.

Posted by craigh9 at 11:58 AM : Jan 09, 2008

No that is not true she is really liked in New York because she really does work with her voters. That is something the decider party doesn''t do. Oh wait we voted them out in 06''

[archiej2]

All of us have elected these senators to do a job for us and as far as I can see, they''ve avoided their jobs for the last year and plan on avoiding their jobs for the next 11 months and are still being paid to campaign and fly around the country by us beholden taxpayers. Tell your boss that you''re going to take 2 years off from your job to campaign and what do you think your boss will tell you?

[gunownerdan]

The best prostitutes will always get the most media attention.

[davek455]

I think why I like Hillary is for her strength, determination and ability to forge alliances for the greater good. I cannot think of anyone whose personal and professional life has been scrutinized and attacked more than hers, yet she fights on. I cannot think of anyone else who has endured more nasty, mostly unfair and untrue accusations, yet she fights on. A lesser man or woman would have called it quits, made more money in the private sector and taken on the role of bomb thrower from the side bench. Her strength, grit, experience and abilities are what this country really needs right now.