Hill's Group: Why Hillary Clinton Has an Advantage Heading Into the Flint Debate

[BlueMTexpat]

http://time.com/4248784/clinton-sanders-flint-debate/

The Sunday night debate was a late addition to the schedule, but unavoidable given the crisis given the water disaster in the city. “This is a crisis. We cannot drink the water,” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said. “What happened in Flint could happen in any community.”

Former President Bill Clinton spent his Saturday in Detroit, encouraging union members to work for his wife’s bid. Although the powerful UAW, Teamsters and the AFL-CIO were not going to take sides, others such as AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers and LIUNA were knocking on doors for her. “She’s got the unions—or at least their leaders. You can’t overstate that impact,” said one neutral Democratic operative in Michigan whose clients include Clinton and Sanders backers. “It’s hard, if you’re a shift worker, to tell Bill Clinton no.”

It’s why Team Clinton is spending every day ahead of Tuesday’s balloting here. She has proven successful in winning over more diverse states, while Sanders has found success in largely-white states. A win in Michigan could prove immensely helpful ahead of March 15, when other swing states Ohio and Florida cast ballots. While Clinton has yet to clinch the Democrats’ nomination, she’s obviously looking ahead to the general election—and gleefully imagining a contest against GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.

“The stakes keep getting higher, and the rhetoric you’re hearing from the other side keeps sinking lower,” Clinton said Saturday night, making an allusion to Trump. It’s clear she’s ready to pivot to a head-to-head race with the man Establishment-minded Republicans see as being dragged to the muck by the New York billionaire. Keep in mind, Clinton delayed Sanders while her fight song echoed through the Detroit casino ballroom. She’s betting luck is on her side. So far, it has been.

I wish both candidates the best tonight. I know that Hillary will do us proud!

[Control-Z]

1. What time and channel?

Do you know? So I can set my recording.

Is this a Republican or democratic debate. I've become confused.

[George II]

2. It's at 8PM Eastern on CNN.

It should be one of the better moderated debates - Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon are doing it.

[Control-Z]

6. Dem or republican? n/t

[George II]

7. Some would say "mixed" - Clinton vs. Sanders!

[Control-Z]

8. Oooh. You funny.

[DemonGoddess]

3. I'll be watching

I KNOW she'll do well. She's very good at debates!

[Thinkingabout]

4. Hillary is working hard to win, working in every state, she saw the big

Problem in Flint, sent some staff members to investigate, she went herself, made phone calls and is bringing attention to the water problem. She will work for all Americans in this same manner.

[comradebillyboy]

5. For the life of me I can't understand why Sanders

wanted more debates. Hillary mops the floor with him every time. They give Hillary more free air time as well.

[SunSeeker]

11. Yup, NYT and WP declared her the debate winner tonight.

Sanders looked even angrier than usual, and he had some pretty glaring gaffes, like his "white people" comment.

[BlueMTexpat]

15. The finger shaking at Hillary

really got to me - so much so that it distracted from what he was saying.

[Cha]

12. he wanted more debates in the beginning.. evidently not realizing how strong she is

at debating. Take tonight for example.

It wouldn't look for him to turn down any now.

[riversedge]

9. This is the BEST part of the article. ha ha.....

http://time.com/4248784/clinton-sanders-flint-debate/


................Bernie Sanders was coming off fresh wins in Kansas and Nebraska when he took the stage late Saturday night to speak to the Michigan Democratic Party’s fundraising dinner in a Detroit casino’s ballroom. The Vermont Senator looked like anything but a winner, though.

In fact, his entrance had been delayed by rival Hillary Clinton, who spoke before him and lingered with the donors and activists who lined up by the stage to meet her. For 15 minutes, as her campaign soundtrack blasted, the former Secretary of State posed for pictures and shook hands with her biggest fans. Sanders, meanwhile, waited and waited. “This is my fight song!” the sound system blasted. It was clear Clinton was in fighting mode.

The Chairman of the state Democrats, Brandon Dillon, tried to hint that Clinton needed to wrap things up. He took the stage and urged supporters to let her go, even though she was in no rush to cede the stage. It was all smiles and selfies. “I think everyone understands how important Michigan is going to be,” Dillon said, nudging her out. It didn’t matter. “We’re going to let Secretary Clinton work the rope line,” he said, clearly losing control.



Finally, Sanders himself burst forth, pushing through the heavy blue curtains and started working the audience from the other side of the stage. Clinton’s soundtrack faded, and the pair passed within feet of each other. Sanders attempted to take the stage that was now his for a brief time, but Clinton would not yield. Even as he started his speech, she hung around for just a few more pictures.

This is essentially what Democrats are watching now in their party: Clinton, even in loss, still is in control. .....................................

[BlueMTexpat]

10. Thanks, rivers!

I thought it better to post the part I did, for fear of ... you know ...

[Cha]

13. Thank you for that excerpt, rivers!

[riversedge]

16. I have to take my little chuckles when I can with him.

[Cha]

14. Mahalo for this, Blue.. very interesting!