Could Clinton Have Palin-Proofed Dems?

Politico: As McCain Gains Female Support After Palin Pick, 'What If' Question Hangs Over Obama Camp

(The Politico)  This story was written by Glenn Thrush and Martin Kady II.
Republican Rep. Candice S. Miller says Barack Obama had only one shot at Palin-proofing the Democratic ticket - and he missed it when he passed over Hillary Rodham Clinton as his running mate.

“Every woman in America knows what Barack Obama did to Hillary Clinton: He looked at her and thought, ‘There’s no way I’m doing that,’” said Miller. “If Hillary was on the ticket, he’d be in a much better position to win women voters.”

Sarah Palin’s presence - coupled with Clinton’s absence - may be altering one of the great verities of American politics: that women voters overwhelmingly favor Democrats.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week showed white women swinging hard against the Democratic ticket. Obama left Denver with an 8-point lead among white women; by the time John McCain pulled out of St. Paul, Minn., with Palin at his side, he had taken a 12-point lead.

Former Clinton strategist and pollster Mark Penn on Tuesday said that it’s too soon to know where women will wind up in November, and he declined to engage in any “woulda, coulda, shoulda” speculation about how things might be different if Clinton were on the Democratic ticket.

But another former Clinton adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the “Obama people have got to be kicking themselves” for not putting/choosing Clinton as his No. 2.

Julia Piscitelli of the American University’s Women and Politics Institute agreed.

“I don’t think Palin would be seeing these kind of gains if Hillary was on the ticket,” she said. “When Obama picked Biden, it gave Republicans an opening, and they are taking full advantage of it. ... The question is: How long will it last?”

The answer, some Democrats say, is not long.

“I don’t think this is a real swing [in the polls] until it’s been a week, said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of Obama’s busiest female surrogates. “We’ll need to see whether Sarah Palin is willing to answer questions. ... No one will be a stronger advocate for Barack Obama and Joe Biden than Hillary Clinton.”

Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln (D-Ark.) also sounded the Palin-will-wilt-in-the-spotlight theme.

“Sarah Palin delivered a great speech, but we haven’t heard anything else about what she’s going to do,” Lincoln said. “American women are smart, they’re bright and this election isn’t just about Sarah Palin. This is about what they want to do for the country.”

The Obama campaign has denied that it has a serious problem with female voters.

On Monday, campaign manager David Plouffe told a Washington Post reporter, “Your poll is wrong,” adding, “We certainly are not seeing any movement like that. Polls, time to time, particularly on the demographic stuff, can have some pretty wild swings.”

That view won support from two unlikely sources Tuesday: Penn and a Republican senator who backs the McCain-Palin ticket.

Penn said that women are going to be “the absolute swing vote in this campaign, and it’s not clear which direction they are going to go in.

“I don’t think it’s a Hillary backlash we’re seeing,” he added. “With Palin on the ticket, we’re going to be seeing this thing swing back and forth.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has had a strained relationship with her state’s governor, downplayed Palin’s power. “I find it difficult to believe that many of the Hillary supporters are going to come over just because of Sarah Palin,” Murkowski said. “It should be about strength of positions” and policy.

But Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is locked in a tough race of her own, says several women - former Clinton supporters - have come up to her in Maine to say Palin gives them a reason to back McCain.

“I have never seen such excitement in the Republican Party as we’re seeing in response to Sarah Palin,” Collins said. “I’ve had a lot of Democrats and independent women in Maine who say they’re happy to see a woman on the ticket. Many of them saw an Obama-Clinton ticket as unbeatable. ... That is significant and remarkable.”

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Assistant Director Peter A. Brown said the Obama campaign is fooling itself if it discounts the importance of the problem. “This isn’t about Hillary; it’s about Obama’s problem with white women voters,” he said. “Hillary won about 10 million votes from women voters in the Democratic primaries - there are 52 million women voting in the general election.”

Clinton has said she’ll hit the road for Obama, but her team says she refuses to be an anti-Palin “attack dog.” Further complicating matters for Obama, Hillaryland fundraiser Susie Tompkins Buell is leading a group that will fight media sexism against the Alaska governor.

[jmmalone2]

If You were The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts,
stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high
prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage
crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually
critical election year.

Let''s look at the educational background of the
candidates and see what they bring to the job:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a
specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna *** Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in
political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 out of 899
(meaning that, like George Bush, McCain was at the bottom of
his class)


Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire to lead the most
influential nation in the world?

[mswade33]

When does reality set in. Americans are being bamboozled once again and the real tragedy is what is looks like to the world. Pathetic. And this Palin/McCain ticket is a joke. She has no substance and the interview was a clear eye-opener that this woman does not have any experience not for VP and since McCain may not last term in office not as President.
The woman that supports this ticket just because she is a woman is so ridiculous, and as she mosey along and butcher the state of the US further - just as she did in that interview, would set women back further and unravel all of the hard work that real, experienced, and reputable women have struggled to put together. She is no Geraldine Ferraro, and certainly no Hillary Clinton she is just a woman, a "soccer mom", what the hell is that. THis is a joke and the media should be ashamed for the way that they soft stroke Palin and the facts. And I am sorry but the state of the US is too serious right now and this joke is not funny. Heavan help us.

[kopana]

it is not funny.....look who you get...
mccain and palin oh please!!!


bye bye bye America

[grammawhamma]

I just love how the polls suddenly mean nothing to the Democrats now that McCain is leading. LOL!! Too funny.

[trrrorislamj]

STOP AMNESTY,,, VOTE GOP,,,

ummmm it is the DEMONIC-RATS that want to grant amnesty to illegals,,, including HUSSEIN,,,

HUSSEINs solution for illegals is to grant them amnesty and have americans learn SPANISH,,,

words out of his own mouth,,,

AMERICANS NEED TO LEARN SPANISH,,,

Obama to America--Learn Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7srmHLclw

Barack Obama: Your Children Should Learn To Speak Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZprtPat1Vk

HUSSEIN SUPPORTS AMNESTY TO THE FULLEST,,,

from his own website,,,

Barack Obama On Amnesty
Barack Obama supports amnesty to the fullest.
http://www.barackobamawin.com/barack-obama-amnesty.htm

[tbweb]

Many women like the fact that Sen. McCain picked a women as his running mate but many women also are starting to see the choice of Sarah Palin for what it is, an election year gimmick! The real question is will women support a female candidate just because she is a women at any price, the price being she happens to be opposed to women voters on key issues! I don`t think women are that shallow personally and that the McCain bounce from Sarah Palin will be short lived. Women are smarter than that!

[trrrorislamj]

HUSSEIN IS IN THE POCKET OF FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM,,,

New evidence has emerged that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was closely associated as early as age 25 to a key adviser to a Saudi billionaire who had mentored the founding members of the Black Panthers.
In a videotaped interview this year on New York%u2019s all news cable channel NY1, a prominent African-American businessman and political figure made the curious disclosures about Obama. (See Video Clip Below)
Percy Sutton, the former borough president of Manhattan, off-handedly revealed the unusual circumstances about his first encounter with the young Obama.
%u201CI was introduced to (Obama) by a friend who was raising money for him,%u201D Sutton told NY1 city hall reporter Dominic Carter.
%u201CThe friend%u2019s name is Dr. Khalid al-Mansour, from Texas,%u201D Sutton said. %u201CHe is the principal adviser to one of the world%u2019s richest men. He told me about Obama.%u201D
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/obama_sutton_saudi/2008/09/03/127490.html?CFID=1173319&CFTOKEN=52737457

HUSSEIN plans to GUT the MILITARY if he becomes PRESIDENT,,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

he will basically disban our military and hault all new weapons programs,,,

and leave the usa defenseless to our enemies,,,

[eroosevelt08]

Women who vote for female candidates just because they are female are idiots.

[kopana]

Who is delusional, oh I guess you are right 100%..WE WON THE WAR IN IRAQ.....BUSH HAD HIS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...BACK IN 2003...I FORGOT AS OVER 4,000 ARE NOW DEAD..AND THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST DEADEST YEAR YET,,BUT WE WON THE WAR....THE ONLY THING IS WHAT IS THE MISSION??? YOU ARE NOT VERY SCIENTIFIC ARE YOU, MAINLY A DREAMER...WELL, THE FACTS ARE::::::DUE TO THE DOCUMENTED HIGH INFLATION RATE THE FEDS ARE SET TO RAISE THE INTEREST RATES IN OCTOBER. PLEASE READ THE NEWS AND BE INFORMED.....

[alanrobisch]

I was afraid of the Bush Administration eights years ago and rightfully so.. and now with MCCain nad Palin...Oh please....


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

Posted by kopana at 09:39 PM : Sep 11, 2008
+ report abuse

I hope you don''t go home and cry. Maybe you should your attitude toward John McCain is delusional. He is a man among men and he does want to see change. You apparently would have been unhappy with bush even if we won in Iraq and had no terrorist attacks since 9/11 Gee it seems thats happening. We''re winning in Iraq and we have had no further terrorist attacks. I guess you want us to have low unemployment. Gee we do. Low inflation we have had it.

[kopana]

If you really believe that McCain & Palin are for "CHANGE"......Oh please...we have had an basically an idiot for a leader for the last 8 years....(ie., no definition war, shaky economy,zillions in debt, energy crisis, global warming, unaffordable college education, health care only for the rich who can afford it,) and you think McCain who is for a WAR IN IRAQ for eternity and beyond...who has voted for BUSH 90% of the time..where is the change???? and Palin who believes that we need to teach creationism in the public schools not science.....and that women should not have pro choice in the cases of rape and incest...Oh please America.....and you are afraid of the terrorists....... I was afraid of the Bush Administration eights years ago and rightfully so.. and now with MCCain nad Palin...Oh please....

[heartwords]

I saw a little blue bird sitting in a great oak tree singing a song of freedom. Then came a hunter with his sling shot loaded and ready to fire.

Will he choose to take the life of this sweet bird. Or let the bird live to continue singing the song of freedom.

FREEDOM.. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.. NATIONS ARE WATCHING!!!

CHOOSE WISELY..

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS...

Sarah are you & senator McCain really going to shake up Washington??

Will you do something about the due nothing Washington crowd??

Will you clean up the messes and stand for what is right??

If you really can... WE THE PEOPLE of this Great Country will STAND with you.

We''''re ready for a real CHANGE.

Are you & Senator McCain ready to make the changes???

SARAH.. be our voice.. be strong & courageous.

[pastdue1]

------------------------------------------------------Posted by ubrew12 at 03:27 PM : Sep 11, 2008

You explained exactly what has happened and if we elect this republican slate, we are in for more of the same.
And yet, we hear people saying the Dems will raise our taxes. It''s time they understood that their taxes will be raised under this republican, not to benefit the people, but to bail out the institutions who have been rid of all regulations under the Reagan administration and his trickle down economy. US taxpayers could be paying corporation CEO''s for a long time.

[kopana]

It is well documented, on where Palin stands on the issues...just read...... not just watch the "TV" or one debate.....MAKE NO MISTAKE....PALIN IS ANTI-CHOICE ON ABORTION EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THE WOMEN''S LIFE IS IN DANGER...THEREFORE SHE IS AGAINST PRO-CHOICE IN CASES OF INCEST AND RAPE. PLEASE FIGURE THE REST OUT ON YOUR OWN.....TO HAVE A WOMEN BELIEVE IN THIS.... ONLY PUT A BIG BIG RED FLAG AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE OVER YOUR OWN BODY THAT IS ENSLAVEMENT!!!

[downtowner97]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5hZ4WNcLns

See what Bill Oreilley thinks about Palin and her daughter.

[downtowner97]

McCain is saying he is different from Bush, but his voting record shows he is not different from Bush. Bush has a 30% approval rating, but McCain has 50% of the vote in polls. Where does the extra 20% come from? People who aren''t comfortable with Obama''s skin. If the campaign were being conducted via radio, McCain would be way behind.

[amrt5016]

The issues in this election haven''t changed. What Republicans found is a woman which makes them feel good about their brand of self-delusion. Nothing to do with Obama.

[downtowner97]

McCain is supposed to be qualified because he was a navy pilot in Vietnam. He crashed 5 planes before being captured, and spent 5 years in a Vietnamese prison. This does not make him qualified to be president.

McCain''s experience in the federal government has been voting with a man so unpopular he wasn''t invited to the convention 95% of the time.

The only qualification I look for in a president is intelligence, pure and simple. Obama sounds more intelligent than McCain, so he has my vote.

[pregnanteen2]

hey where is palin? did she go back to her other country called alaska?

[samthetvcat]

---"to put an unqualified woman in the third most important position in the country?"---
Posted by downtowner97

But the gritty reality is that a lot of whites feel like a vote for Barack would be akin to putting an unqualified person in the first most important position in the world.

The seem equally qualified to me - I''m just saying . . .