Dem Pollster: Clinton More "Approachable"

Political Players: Former Edwards Aide Says Obama Has Work to Do Among Blue Collar Voters

(CBS)  Political Players is a weekly conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. This week, as the two Democratic candidates prepare for next Tuesday's critical contests in Indiana and North Carolina, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with John Edwards' campaign strategist and pollster, Harrison Hickman, about his former boss, about superdelegates, and about connecting with blue collar voters.

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CBSNews.com: What is the practical impact of Governor Easley's endorsement of Senator Clinton in North Carolina?

Harrison Hickman: Well, I think there are a couple of practical benefits for Senator Clinton. The first is she obviously picks up one superdelegate. In a race this close, that's nothing to be laughed at. Secondly, I think she has been starved for good news over the last couple of months. And it is a very good piece of news in a very important state.

CBSNews.com: How much of an impact does he have with Democratic primary voters there?

Harrison Hickman: Governor Easley is certainly popular. He doesn't have a particularly deep political machine as some previous governors have had in North Carolina. But he's popular and for a lot of voters who like both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, it's the kind of thing that can make a difference to them.

CBSNews.com: The expectation in North Carolina is for an African American turnout of about 35 percent of the total vote. And if you assume Obama gets 90 percent of them, Clinton needs something like 70 percent of the white vote to have a shot at winning. Is that possible?

Harrison Hickman: Well, I don't think there's any question that Obama will win the state. He's won every state that has a black turnout of over 30 percent of the primary electorate. And he's also won every state that's less than 5 percent black. But I think this is about expectations.

In many ways, people set the wrong expectations for Pennsylvania, which would have been a great victory for Obama if it were close. I think it's the same in North Carolina. It would be a great victory for Senator Clinton if she were within ten points of Obama.

CBSNews.com: Your former client, John Edwards, attracted many of the working class white voters who are now being fought over between Clinton and Obama. Why do you think Clinton is resonating so much more with them?

Harrison Hickman: Well, first of all, I think they see in her a life experience that is probably something they can identify with more. She is obviously a powerful person, and they are an economically successful family, at least since they left the White House. But she has been through some tough times, both in her political and her personal life, that are very well publicized. I think people can see that not everything has been a bed of roses for her.

And while she obviously went to Yale law school, she doesn't put out the aura of having an Ivy League attitude. I mean, I think she has much more of an approachable personality.

CBSNews.com: What does Obama need to do to connect better with them?

Harrison Hickman: I don't know. The first thing these people normally pick up on is someone who's phony. And so, I think sort of trying to be something you're not, would be the worst approach.

I think one thing that would be helpful for him would be to talk in a little [different] language. These are not people who necessarily buy into a lot of rhetoric.

They tend to buy in much more to pragmatic programs, "This is what I'm gonna do, this is the problem, and this is how we're gonna fix it." As opposed to some of the more amorphous political language that politicians use--not just Senator Obama, but lots of people use it.

CBSNews.com: And what is the effect of Reverend Wright’s comments this week and Obama’s response?

Harrison Hickman: I think as a short-term matter, he gave the press another chance to applaud Senator Obama. I think the long-term effect of it, though, is it raises more questions for him around the central issue that any newcomer faces, which is, do people know where you're coming from and know what you're all about.

People are trying to get a handle on who this guy is, and I think [Wright’s speech] makes it harder to do that, since it's so alien to the experience of most of the swing voters in this country.

CBSNews.com: Now, the New York Times reported this week that Elizabeth Edwards favors Senator Clinton. Can you confirm that?

Harrison Hickman: No. I've certainly heard her say myself that she thinks Senator Clinton's health care plan is superior to either Senator Obama's plan or Senator McCain's plan. But beyond that, I haven't heard her talk about it.

CBSNews.com: Is there any sense of who John Edwards favors?

Harrison Hickman: Well, I don't know if they have a write-in slot on the North Carolina ballot. I imagine he still thinks he would be the best president, but as to who he's going to vote for, he hasn't shared that with me, and I can't imagine he's shared it with anybody else. I know him pretty well.

CBSNews.com: Is he going to make that preference known before the North Carolina primary?

Harrison Hickman: I don't think so. He does not come from a background, you know, of giving and taking endorsements. He's not a career politician. And so that's not really his currency and trade. My impression from talking to him is he thinks this is a decision that voters can make. They know these candidates pretty well, on their own, and that he has a larger responsibility of trying to help pull the party together before the more important campaign, which is the one against John McCain.

CBSNews.com: Senator Clinton obviously needs to win the vast majority of the remaining superdelegates to win the nomination. What do think turns the tide for them? Because up until now, they've come out even more for Obama than for Clinton.

Harrison Hickman: Well, I think that's a little bit unfair. I mean, she started with such a huge advantage in the race. I mean, if you start from the point where superdelegates began declaring, she's still ahead.

CBSNews.com: Yes, but by a rapidly shrinking margin.

Harrison Hickman: Well, she was the known commodity. Our thought in the Edwards campaign was that anybody who emerged as the alternative to her would win the majority of remaining superdelegates. And so, I don't look at that necessarily as a particular failure of her campaign.

I think one thing that's overlooked is that neither candidate is going to go into Denver with the majority of delegates pledged to their candidacy. Because almost any of these people who are--quote--endorsing are free to vote for the other person, or for another candidate, once they get to the convention.

CBSNews.com: So you're raising the possibility that a number of these superdelegates who have endorsed people could switch sides between now and when the nomination is decided in Denver?

Harrison Hickman: Right. These are PR events; they're not contracts. The superdelegates were created to be a critical mass of delegates who could change and get the nomination to a person who would be the best candidate.

CBSNews.com: What have the results thus far told us about who would be the more electable Democratic candidate in the fall?

Harrison Hickman: I don’t know that the primaries tell us a hell of a lot at all about who would be most electable candidate. I mean, you're dealing with two completely different universes of people. I don't know that these campaigns really tell. The nominating process has a spotty record at best of identifying the best general election candidate, whether it was Governor Dukakis, or Senator Kerry being the most recent example. And I remember in both of those cases--quite clearly--people arguing that those would be the best general election candidates.

[jack3213]

IN HIS RETORT AFTER WRIGHT GAVE HIS SPEECH, OBAMA SAID :" I FEEL THAT HE HAS PERSONALLY INSUTLED ME" OF COURSE, OBAMA FEELS THAT IT IS PERSONAL, BECAUSE HE IS AS SELF- RIGHTEOUS AS CLINTON, WHEN NIETHER DESERVE SUCH ADMIRATION - HOW DARE THEY THINK THEY DESERVE SOME KIND OF ACCULADES FOR ALL THE NONSENSE AND LIES THEY SPEW. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DUPED BY THEM. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS- IT IS STUPIDITY.

[realtime09]

Barak sat his kids and wife down in front of Wright-- for twenty years.

Now Barak is suddenly shocked-- because the man who he calls his spiritual advisor, has a different spirit than Barak thought, after all that time and commitment to him in his book.

Obama is a very bad judge of character-- and he couldn''t pick his "advisers" any better in a shorter available time-- than he picked his pastor.

Wake up.

[mfm-canada]

KMCCLIMENT, imagine waking up this morning getting on the treadmill after reading a passage from Pastor Rick Warren espousing the real doctrine of Christ Our Lord, and coming across your inane posting. "Black Theology" "Stealth Muslim"? When are you people going to stop? Senator Barrack Hussein Obama is my brother in Christ. And, if you wish to comment on the works of Mr. Wright, then also, please have the Christian decency to comment on Mr. Parsley, and Mr. Haggee. God Bless.

[mfm-canada]

The analysis of an experienced and successful political pollster and his ilk shoud be taken into consideration by Senator Obama and his supporters as not a negative commentary on any objective analysis of their candidacy or suitability for office in advance of Senator Clinton - but rather - the unfortunate and manifestly ingrained success of pnadering to every and all forms of hysteria, divisiveness, prejudice, and fear as a tool for avoiding serious political discourse and systematically manipulating the electorate to keep entrenched political actors in power - it is not simply an American disorder - it is a global phenomenon. Unfortunately, no one has more clearly typified this "scoarched earth policy" maksed as "approachability" more so than President and Senator Clinton.

[blackyowe]

Obama is for snobs. I am a working class, white women and I can''t relate to Obama, sorry. He has not said anything at all that gives me any hope. I all I see is we will continue on the course where the urban and suburban elite get all the perks. Two thumbs down for the pretty boy who models swimming trunks. I was for Edwards because he was addressing the disappearing middle class and other social issues. Obama is more of the same just in a nice slick new age package. I am not impressed with packaging only in content. I watched Hillary talking to working people in PA and saw again how comfortable she is with regular folks and I knew I had made the right call.

[miami32002]

please take a moment to watch Bill Moyer''s follow-up commentary on Rev Wright interview.

Email this link to everyone you know.

thanks

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05022008/watch.html

[leighg1]

Do you seriously question Obama%u2019s patriotism? Obama%u2019s character, integrity and sea mind demonstrated through this whole drama is what exactly this country needs if we stand any chance at all for a more perfect union. Ordinary person may leave a church on disagreement, but IF YOU WALK AWAY, HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE UNITY? This is exactly the difference between an ordinary person and an extraordinary leader whom we can count on for making our country a better place for all.

On relationship with Wright: My husband and I have married for 27 years. Lately, I always have a feeling that I don%u2019t know him in many ways. That%u2019s not uncommon even between couples. Human beings are complicated creatures, and one can only be held responsible for one%u2019s own conduct, not one%u2019s kids, not one%u2019s parents, not one%u2019s spouse, never one%u2019s pastors. How can people do not care Hillary%u2019s lies, but care Obama%u2019s pastor%u2019s lies?

A fact on Obama%u2019s life: After graduated from Columbia Univ., Obama took a job in IL at $12000/year plus $1000 for a car in the poorest, dirtiest neighborhood as a community organizer. All his family and friends thought he was crazy. How many of us can do that???

[leighg1]

Hillary just got a big boost by spinning gas tax. Experts say the suspension would only hike oil company profits! The trouble is not she got the problem wrong, but she got it wrong purposely to fool the voters.

150 Economists, including 3 Nobel Prize Winners, issued an open letter today opposing suspension of gas tax for the summer and called it a bad public policy:

Brookings'' Henry Aaron sends over a statement (.pdf) signed today by 150 economists opposing the gas tax holiday. They include Nobelists Joe Stiglitz, James Heckman and Daniel Kahneman, as well as a Clinton O.M.B. director, Alice Rivlin, and Robert Shapiro, the chief economic adviser to Bill Clinton''s 1992 campaign. The letter says "Signers of this letter are Democrats, Republicans and Independents.%u201D

Link for the open letter here:
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM43_080502_list_gastax.html

Besides, the suspension would cost 7000 construction jobs in NC because of the lost $9 billion highway fund

[pepperwood2]

More approachable by the Oil Corporations, Drug companies, Foreign countries ( China ) seeking most favored trade status.

Show me the money and Hillary makes herself approachable. Why she hasn''t missed a fund raiser yet?
What a slick trick!

We''re talking about the the average person on the street. I know, I know Cher, Barbara Striesand, Ed Rendell, Geraldine Ferarro, Gov Stryer, Super delegates are all approachable. How disingenuine & out of touch can you get with the people.

Hubby''s former aide to host Hillary meeting Brown

ABC News logoMedia analyst Bob Knight says he has no problem with former Clinton administration staffer George Stephanopolous hosting a live Hillary Clinton town hall meeting Sunday in Indianapolis on ABC News.

The Clinton forum will be hosted by Stephanopolous, who helped run former President Bill Clinton''s election campaign and acted as his policy advisor before joining ABC News.

Not to mention that Hillary is expected to be compensated rather nicely by ABC just for showing up.
What a sham!

[kmccliment]

OBAMAS HIDDEN AGENDA:
WELFARE FOR THE WORLD- Most importantly due to Black Theology- Africa.

Source:Newsmax.com (following)
the Global Poverty Act (S.2433). According to some conservative sources, this disastrous legislation could eventually force U.S. taxpayers to fork over as much as 0.7 percent of the nation''''s Gross Domestic Product -- or $845,000,000,000.00 -- on welfare to third-world countries.
***This is being sponsored by Senator Obama.

His true agenda is to TAX,TAX,TAX and promote Black Theology.

[spoonerfineart]

IS CHRIS MATTHEWS OF HARDBALL, A RACIST????

I have noticed everyday for the last two weeks Chris Matthrews on Hardball has brought up the Rev Wright Controversy without exception. Other media outlets have dropped this subject but not Mr Matthrews. So Mr. Matthrews, If you dont drop this issue I can come to only one conclusion.... Chris Matthrews is racist. He continues to ignore the Blunders and Bill Clinton and drops the issue of the Columbian trade matters regarding Mark Pen and Bill Clinton in one day. SO Mr Matthrews, Are you Racist? I feel I must ask this question till you become far and balanced and Unequivocally State for the record that you in fact or not Racist.

[missglo]

I live here in NC, and Hillary is Not the favorite. It does not matter that the Gov. endorse her. Edwards aid has his opinion, and thats it. How can this man tell anyone. That Obama has his work to do. My job went overseas, thanks to Clinton. And I am a Blue Collar Worker. No one told us that Hillary has our Votes.

[Lai K W]

2025 refers to the pledged delegates. Superdelegates can always change their mind and they are the tie breakers when neither candidate reach 2025 pledged delegates in convention.

Day in and day out you have OBAMA fanatics making up things smearing the truth with figures.

OBAMA is a sitting duck who is afraid to go one one one with Hillary. He is a wimp in and out with hollow ideology and no specifics.

In November election, the only count which is important is electoral votes. By that, OBAMA is in alandslide and way down.

Now, the party is sending out ex-chairmen telling people to vote.
Let the people vote, and let their voices be heard. That is democracy. The party is not above the people. They should work for the people.

OBAMA gets his pledged delegates from small turnouts in caucases and Hillary wins from large turnouts in primaries. In actuality, Hillary wins more votes than OBAMA.

OBAMA has to start with 48 gift wrapped Michigan and Florida to McCain. OBAMA AND CAMPAIGN told them: Your votes do not count and your voices are not heard.

Obama invents new rule: of Obama, for OBAMA and by Obama in contrast to of the people, for the people and by the people.

Hillary walks her talk with hard work and brilliance.
Obama talks his talks and walks his walks with lies and BS like inspiration; hollow be it.

[omaar-101]

Posted by eatmochickn: VOTE OBAMA -- TIME FOR BLACKS TO RISE !!

TIME FOR THE RACIST ULTIMATE FEARS..TO COME TRUE !!!


RUN AND HIDE THE WHITE WOMEN & CHILDREN !!!

YOU LOW LIFE RACIST ARE SO ***..PATHETIC !!


EAT MO CHICKN: I GUESS (RACIST WHITE PEOPLE) LIKE YOU...DONT EAT CHICKEN, PORK, BEEF OR ANYOTHER FORM OF MEAT...

RACIST WHITES: LIKE EAT MO CHICKN, MUST CONSUME, OTHER FORMS OF MEAT ??

EAT O CHICKN: WHAT A SICK, SAD & SMELLY, SACK OF ..SH! !!!

[omaar-101]

Polls Do Not Decide a Presidential Candidates Fate.. Numbers are the Only Thing that Matters !!

Poll All Year Long...Polls Do Not Matter !!

Total Delegate Count

Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch

OBAMA (1,733)

CLINTON (1,599)

EDWARDS 18

Republicans | 1,191 Needed to Clinch

MCCAIN 1,241

HUCKABEE 231
ROMNEY 149

CBS News estimates. Includes super delegates.


Call me when Clinton EVENS or SURPASSES Obama...Please

Until that Mystical, Majical, Majestical Moment Happens...

Youre Blowing sand out of Your ...A$$''''s

Complain...Make Excuses...Race Bait, Race Hate, Race Fear...Hate Monger...All Day, All Month, All Year & for All Times...

Barack Obama is kicking Hillary Clintons A$$est !!!

[libra127]

This is a MUST READ article:

"The Truth vs. Barack Obama"

http://savagepolitics.com/?page_id=326

[enlightened-]

Excuse me, eatmochickn, but if I were to say "Vote for Hillary...time for Whites to Rise!" that would be considered racist and would offend a lot of people. I in turn (and many other "typical white" people) have been offended by you racist comment about Obama.

[enlightened-]

Obama genuine? "Have you seen the price of Arugula at the Whole Foods store" (Obama). "I could not sooner disown Reverend Wright than I could disown my own white Grandmother (remember her, Obama called her a "Typical White woman)." Look out Grandma, this guy will do anything to get elected. First he denounces Wright, obviously out of political convenience, then he will denounce the American people. For the sake of the country, Unite and vote for Hillary!

[blackyowe]

Obama is hardly a real Black man. He has never struggled. His white mamma raised him and he went to all the best schools. His ancestors where not slaves and he talks like a yuppie from Wall Street. He can''t help anyone but the other lawyers like himself. He is shallow and niave.

The Democratic Party is pushing Obama because they are afraid of the backlash from Al Sharpton. He has already stated that if the nomination is taken away from Obama there will be trouble. The tide is turning against Obama. Voters are realizing that he is not ready to be President. He makes great speeches and does well in all his rallies, but if you put questions to him directly he is lost. He will not debate Hillary because he knows she will wipe the floor with him. I would love to see a one on one debate between them. I would also love to see Obama on O''Rielly. He would be uh, uh, uh all during the questions. Why is it that no one is talking about the black people being racist? Before the primary Hillary was ahead in the polls, but after Obama was a candidate, the black people voted for him because of his color. They turned against President Clinton and called his racist. They seem to forget in their quest to elect a black President how much he did for the black people when he was President. As Sheri said on the view, for the first time there is a presidential candidate that looks like me. What a way to choose a president. This is not a popularity contest.