Five Reasons Clinton Should Be Worried

Politico: Current Trajectory Of Campaign Reveals Obstacles For New York Senator

(The Politico)  This story was written by by Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen.

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Hillary Clinton survived a Super Tuesday scare. But there are five big reasons the former first lady should be spooked by the current trajectory of the campaign.

Longtime Clinton friends say she recognizes the peril in careening between near-death primary night experiences and small-bore victories.

Although the friends did not have details, they believe she may go ahead with the campaign shake-up she had been planning just before her surprise victory in New Hampshire.

Her team is girding for trench warfare, telling reporters that the nomination will not be decided until at least the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, if then.

Clinton aides told reporters on a conference call today that the Democratic Party’s complex delegate allocation rules mean that neither candidate is likely to take a sizable lead in the foreseeable future.

While Clinton’s campaign gloated about having the most total delegates for the cycle so far, her staff nevertheless recognizes that Super Tuesday was no triumph. Here’s why:

1. She lost the delegate derby. Pure and simple, this is a war to win delegates, one that might not be decided until this summer’s Democratic convention.

And when the smoke cleared this morning, it appeared that Barack Obama had ended up with slightly more delegates in the 22 states.

Obama’s campaign says the senator finished ahead by 14 delegates.

With results still coming in, Clinton’s campaign says the candidates finished within five or six delegates of each other. Either way, Super Tuesday was essentially a draw.

Clinton may still hold the edge overall, but Obama is closing in rapidly.

2. She essentially tied Obama in the popular vote. Each won just over 7.3 million votes, a level of parity that was unthinkable as recently as a few weeks ago.

At the time, national polls showed Clinton with a commanding lead - in some cases, by 10 points or more. That dominance is now gone.

One reason is that polls and primary results reveal that the more voters get to know Obama, the more they seem to like him.

This is especially troubling for Clinton since the schedule slows dramatically now and a full month will pass before the next big-state showdown.

All of this allows candidates ample time to introduce themselves to voters in each state - which plays to Obama’s core strengths.

3. She lost more states. Obama carried 14 states, six more than Clinton, and showed appeal in every geographical region.

His win in bellwether Missouri was impressive by nearly every measure, marked by victories among men and women, secular and churchgoing voters, and urban and suburban voters.

4. She lost the January cash war. Money chases momentum, so Obama crushing’s 2-to-1 fundraising victory last month is revealing.

He raised more than $31 million; Clinton raised less than $14 million. The implication is hard to ignore: Democratic activists and donors are flocking to Obama at a pace that could have a profound effect on the race going forward.

5. The calendar is her enemy. Now that more than half the states have weighed in, there is a fairly predictable formula for determining who is most likely to win the upcoming contests.

In caucus states, Obama’s organizational strength shines: He has won seven of eight. Up next are three more caucus states, Washington, Nebraska and Maine.

Obama also runs tremendously well in states with large African-American populations, another promising sign since next Tuesday’s three primaries are in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia - all of which have significant percentages of black voters.

Then comes another caucus state, Hawaii, where Obama is viewed as a native son.

The bottom line is that it figures to be another month before Clinton hits a stetch of states - places like Ohio and Pennsylvania - where she will be strongly favored to win.

So it couldn’t be any clearer as to why the supposedly inevitable candidacy is anything but - even when she’s supposedly winning.

[beauley]

Is Hillary Clinton for "The Citizens" of America? That is the function of the "President", or is it for personal gain? Yes, she WILL garnish our paychecks.
Just check the 1996 bill submitted to congress by Hillary Clinton and look who saved all America''s butts, which includes all our children. Please begin your learning experience here:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/discover-and-imagine-ron-paul/successfully-fought-hillarycare-lite/

[kstar42]

And, I can give you ONE reason America should be worried: OBAMA!

If Obama gets the Democratic nomination, I will turn my back on the Democrats and vote for McCain! Has anyone noticed that no one has bothered to do a poll on how many Democrats would vote for McCain? Lieberman must know something good about McCain. I''''m following his lead.
Posted by GeorgiaGrl1 at 09:16 AM : Feb 10, 2008

IF BO GETS IT, I''M NOT VOTING! IN FACT I''M GONNA PUT A BUMPER STICKER ON MY BUMPER THAT READS (I DIDN''T VOTE THIS TIME)

[kstar42]

Are the people voting for Hillary the same ones who thought it was a good idea to re-elect Bush? I hope Obama continues his pace. It is time for some HONEST leadership!
Posted by craftylady38 at 09:44 AM : Feb 10, 2008

Your presumptions are wrong! I did not vote for that man and nor will I vote for BO! And I''m not voting for Hillary because she''s a woman! But may I remind you that the black populations are voting for him because of his color! you do the math!!!! and also bring out the college kids that have know idea what the heck there doing, ask them one question, " why are you voting for BO? I think he''s cool!!! whatever

[sjc_1]

A lot of the primary rules vary from state to state. Some allow Independents to vote for anyone. Some allow Republicans or Democrats to vote for anyone. I am not saying that this has changed the outcome significantly, but before you come to conclusions on the results, it is good to know the rules in each state.

Imagine that the Republicans have concluded that McCain will win the nomination, so they will vote for Obama. They would rather have McCain face Obama in the general election, so they are going to do what they can to make that happen. This may not be what the registered Democratic voters truly wanted.

[craftylady38]

Are you kidding about Obama? You would rather support a woman who lies and changes her positions to get votes? A woman who sends her husband out to lie and look ridiculous to gain momentum over Obama. I personally witnessed how the Clinton machine worked in the NV caucus. It is scary that people support her behavior. McCain wants her to win the nomination because the Republicans can beat her. They are seriously wooried about Obama and should be! Are the people voting for Hillary the same ones who thought it was a good idea to re-elect Bush? I hope Obama continues his pace. It is time for some HONEST leadership!

[georgiagrl1]

And, I can give you ONE reason America should be worried: OBAMA!

If Obama gets the Democratic nomination, I will turn my back on the Democrats and vote for McCain! Has anyone noticed that no one has bothered to do a poll on how many Democrats would vote for McCain? Lieberman must know something good about McCain. I''m following his lead.

[ammovet-2009]

And if Obama wins, I will vote McCain. ike his mentor Rev. Wright, Obama''s religion appears to be essentially racial and political rather than universal or spiritual or behavioral, although they appropriate traditional Biblical vocabulary for expressing it. The Old Testament expresses a primarily racial religion as well, so it''s better suited to Wright and Obama''s wants than the universalist New Testament. Similarly, the Afrikaaners'' Dutch Reformed Church found much inspiration in the Old Testament. In summary, Reverend Wright went with Minister Farrakhan to visit Col. Gadaffi in 1984, three years before Obama decided to join his church out of all the churches he had visited as part of his ethnic organizing. And in November 2007, Reverend Wright gives Minister Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award named after himself. There seems to be a pattern here, one that somebody as astute as Sen. Obama would have noticed long before. The Farrakhan connection is not an anomaly, it''s a window into the now-historically important question of who Obama ... well, not into who Obama is (that''s a complicated question), but into who he has long wanted to be.

Why would a minister of the Christian religion be giving awards to to Black Muslim? Because he''s a ajor "African-American leader," and that trumps his religion.

And Obama? He doesn''t hate anyone-he''s going to be a uniter, not a divider, like Bush was. And if you believe that, you''ll believe anything

[wiretechs]

Look folks - A race that is filled with this Race rhetoric needs to be put to rest. Case in point; A so called leader of a women''s movement organization posted a remark about Obama not being "full black" and is avoiding his "white" heritage. First - What the hell is "full black"; the truth is that there is simply no such thing as a full African African American. Second - It hasn''t really been but to the test but the estimates are that 75% of all supposedly African Americans or "Blacks" are of Native American Descent as much as African descent along with having some white heritage. That would leave the other 25% to be solely white and black. A truer name for Black people would be African Native American. With that said, that would put Obama in the 25% category. But of course there is and always will be the "one percent rule.%u201D And we surely do not have to explain that one, do we. Obama is a "man of color.%u201D That would make him historically a distinction indeed when we consider who has been allowed to even participate in the electoral system let alone become it''s primary representative in any party. So vote for a woman as a woman if you so choose, but please, keep your racial inaccuracies and obvious need to put a label on those you oppose and this Race sh**t to yourself.

[jheckerman]

Their tax statements do not matter.All of the candidates running for President are Rich. They are people of privelage. They will show they are rich. They hang with the best. Obama, Hillary or McCain would not hang with you or me if they were not running for office. Every candidate will have to pay back their campaign money to special interests. yes even Obama. George Bush was a "Newbee" no experience- see how well that has turned out. Who will stand by their word under pressure? Who will really create change for our children and families. Help us with all the concerns of our nation? For the Health, Welfare and Safety of America vote for Hillary.

[jheckerman]

%u2022 Eleanor Roosevelt understood that every one of us every day has choices to make about the kind of person we are and what we wish to become. You can decide to be someone who brings people together, or you can fall prey to those who wish to divide us. You can be someone who educates yourself, or you can believe that being negative is clever and being cynical is fashionable. You have a choice. Hillary Rodham Clinton- Women are not an extension of the good or bad deeds of their husbands. They have their own destiny and birthright. Between a new wine or a vintage wine. I choose the vintage.

[blakartist20]

If you vote for Hillary than you wasting your vote because if she win she will not get anything past in Congress because the Republicans don%u2019t want to work with her and she will not get a mandate. I the truth is that she won%u2019t win the general election anyway because her husband alienated the black votes with his racial codes, she wont pick up any young votes but young white girls and she will stimulate the republican voters because they hate her.

The smartest thing to do is to vote for Obama because he has the most promising position to get a %u201Cmandate%u201D by beating McCain by a great margin. I don%u2019t understand why the media haven%u2019t talked about the possibility of a mandate?

[blakartist20]

Please someone tell me why do you thing Hillary suppose to have all of this experience because she sleep beside Bill when he was Governor and President? I%u2019m an accountant and I wouldn%u2019t allow my wife to prepare my taxes because she was with me for several years. OK, she do have several years experience in the Senate but can you tell me one bill did she draw up that help you?

If you are just voting for her because of her experience then you should vote for McCain because he has more experience than anyone running does. Who said that experience is a good thing when the guys in the White now have the most experiences and they are giving our country away.

[rocketman421]

beader59: Try reading the response from TRueprogress at 12:35 PM : Feb 09, 2008. That is why people think many women are voting for Hillary just because she is a woman. And your arguments at the end aren''t very good. Almost anyone will be better than the last 8 years. I seem to remember scandal after scandal with the Clintons in the white house. I remember the largest economic bubble since the 1920''s created during their time in office and popping while they were still there. Bill Clinton was a habitual lier, "I didn''t inhale". It''s nice to have a candidate who tells the truth. Who cares what Obama is "accused of". Both have been accused of things there is no evidence of. Why would you believe accusations leveled at one candidate but not the other? And if you think Obama is inexperienced, then you must also think Hillary is inexperienced as she has less time in elected office.

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[friscodisco9]

Why is Hillary not showing her tax records? What is she hiding? Where did the 5 million come from? maybe money laundering? She has way too many skeletons in her closet and she owes way too many favors to lobbyists and others. Her 10 top donors who donated millions are anonymous. This is a huuugggge red flag.... She received millions through poor workers from Chinatown in NY. Can you say sleazy special interest? She owes favors to the Chinese government. Hillary is a disaster. Vote Obama!!!!

[trueprogress]

A Women''s day National Rally is scheduled for Sunday, tomorrow around various City''s in America. As a leader Professor of Social and Women''s Studies, I will be speaking. I enourage your support as women speak out, and find our voices for Hillary, as the true progressive Woman''s candidate. A vote for a man is a vote for continued servitude for women.