The Clinton campaign is crumbling in Iowa

[CoffeeCat]

Look at this photo of Clinton's rally in Toledo, Iowa yesterday (Monday 1/18). Her crowds are dwindling. This is worse than 3 weeks ago, no doubt about it. Clinton's last Iowa campaign appearance was in eastern Iowa (Toledo is more central) more than five days ago, so she should have had a decent crowd. This is...dire for her, in my opinion.



Several months ago, Clinton's "inevitability" was foundational to her lead in Iowa, and elsewhere.

Two weeks ago, the big news from Iowa was that Sanders had become a formidable opponent with a strong campaign; and that he was competitive in both IA and NH, while Hillary was losing serious ground.

So, the secret is out (and has been out for two weeks). Hillary is no longer inevitable. Without that foundation, it appears that her support is eroding even further.

How can you have crowds that small, as a Presidential candidate, two weeks before the Iowa caucuses? This is the critical time when crowds peak, because Iowans are making decisions and plugged into the campaigns. Clinton's crowds continue to dwindle further.

I think Iowa Democrats have serious Clinton fatigue.

She is running the exact campaign formula that she ran in 08. She started with inevitability, lost ground, started attacking when threatened and turned to kitchen-sink mode. To see this re-run of failed tactics is not only only tiresome, it's troubling. Furthermore, she's in attack mode, and she looks desperate. It's nearly impossible to gain ground when you're operating from a very visible position of weakness and desperation.

This formula gave her 3rd place in Iowa in 2008.

Most likely, serious movement toward Sanders will continue until caucus day. Without her inevitability to shore up support, she's lost her primary messaging point for keeping her support. Meanwhile, Sanders is drawing huge crowds and amassing enthusiasm for his campaign.

I think she will definitely lose Iowa and NH by wide margins.

[Still In Wisconsin]

1. But wait! Hill has now unveiled her "Vote with your head, not your heart" stump speech

She has also informed those ignorant farmers that "being President is hard."

That will surely turn the tide in favor of Madam Pantsuit.

Oh, and just in case.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Got it...head, not heart.

I didn't really understand that whole head/heart thing.

Does she think that we are voting for Bernie because we find him smokin' hot?

Not getting it. But maybe I'm missing something.

[daleanime]

4. As long as Jane thinks he cute....

it's all good.

[lewebley3]

94. Hillary is up 21 Iowa

[daleanime]

97. And that affects his marriage how?

[CoffeeCat]

133. What are you talking about? Polls from April 2015?

Have you picked up a newspaper lately?

[draa]

7. It's more condecending attitude from Clinton toward the left in this party because we support Bernie

Basically what she's saying is Sanders' supporters aren't smart enough to use our head and think for ourselves. Screw her. I'm smart enough to not vote for her ass.

[artislife]

9. Oddly, she used the same tactic on Obama and all his flowery speeches.

It didn't work out too well back then either.

[CoffeeCat]

18. Yes, I just posted that, GMTA!

Remember, during her "Shame on you, Barack Obama" tirade (the one being used against her now), how she said, "Enough with the speeches and the rallies!"

If you think about it, how insulting. The high attendance at his events was because of the people there who admired him.

WTH?

[artislife]

20. She is crazy pants......suits...

[CoffeeCat]

32. LOL! (nt)

[draa]

68. ----

Congrats, you win the internet for the day.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

13. '...Bleeding heart liberals...'

Old timey hippy punching.

[draa]

22. Exactly. This DFH punches back though.

[DirtyHippyBastard]

33. +1. nm

[Volaris]

69. yep. and for all the good it will do her,

she may as well have just gathered the media for a presser, and then kicked a puppy.

[druidity33]

73. I'd rather have a bleeding heart...

than a cold, dead one.

[CorporatistNation]

62. THIS IS A Beautiful Thing!!!!!!!

We Must remain vigilant however as the Powers That Be will not go away easily IF Ever... Bernie must be mindful of his own safety. Watch out for "lone Woves" who are not really lone but ... "on assignment..." This is dangerous territory for America!

[Duckfan]

66. Here Here !

[liam_laddie]

117. I always thought it's "Hear, Hear!"

As in "Listen to this person; I agree with him/her!" Actually, I'm asking for clarification of the meaning and spelling of the
phrase. It's just my mild obsession with akewrat (sic) language. Maybe use "here, here" when ordering a drink at a bar? YMMV
Now back to our regular programming...

[raindaddy]

85. Interesting, when the Clinton's use their heads who prospers and who loses?

The plutocrats...

Voting for the war in Iraq.. The military contractors and major TV networks.

Blowing up Glass Steagall.. The Wall Street banks..

NAFTA... The global corporations... And of course, the poor and middle class takes the hit.

[A Simple Game]

96. Here I thought Hillary supporters were the ones using their hearts. What other

reason could anyone have for picking Hillary over Bernie but gender, and that is a heart decision not a head decision.

Wanting to maintain the status quo is certainly not a head decision unless you are in the 1%.

[AlbertCat]

15. Got it...head, not heart.

A vote for Sanders IS voting with your head.


Voting because of name recognition or because of gender is voting with some other organ.

Talking to us like we're a bunch of teenagers just makes my head hurt.

[winter is coming]

24. I guess she's trying to reach out to the "I like Bernie but I'm not sure he can win" crowd.

Not sure how many people that is anymore, though.

[loyalsister]

58. And increasing numbers

in the I'm not sure Bernie can win, but I sure don't want Hillary to be president.

[JDPriestly]

67. Is it sort of supposed to connect in the brain to the 4-H thing???

Some attempt to seem at home in Iowa with the 4-H theme?

[dixiegrrrrl]

112. This may help explain it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511033056

[Gene Debs]

61. When my head votes, it votes for Bernie Sanders.

[jwirr]

99. Exactly - issues.

[left-of-center2012]

79. "being President is hard."

She stole that line from George Bush.

[Still In Wisconsin]

84. In my opinion, the HRC campaign has stolen/borrowed much from Bush.

Opposition to universal health care, coddling Wall Street, hawkish foreign policy,...

[A Simple Game]

98. I doubt she had to steal any of it. I'm guessing they're having weekly phone conversations

where Bush is secretly giving her campaign advice.

Next weeks advice? Speaking from experience, if all else fails, steal the election. But you will have to find a new inside connection in Florida.

[kenfrequed]

109. yup

Ok, voting with my head. I added up her donations and financial support over the years and made a quick calculation as to who she is more likely to listen to and then compared that to Bernie Sanders.

Calculation done.

Sorry Secretary Clinton, you lose my vote.

[Still In Wisconsin]

120. Those financial firms got that big and rich in large partby getting a return on their investments...

why would they not expect a return on their purchase of Madam Pantsuit?

[pangaia]

118. And we CERTAINLY do not want to elect a Communist. Nosirree..

[John Poet]

119. Don't forget the "Bernie's a commie" meme!

Going all-Nixonian is SURE to make matters clear to Iowa Democrats...

[JonLeibowitz]

2. Hi CoffeeCat, I always enjoy reading your analyses. K&R

Did you attend this event in Toledo? Can you speak to the mood, both of Clinton and of the crowd (be they supporters or just interested folks)? What about the talking points (head over heart?) ?

Thanks Coffeecat. Oh, and your Push Poll thread this morning Made My Day!

[CoffeeCat]

11. I did not attend this Toledo event

I did attend her rally in downtown Des Moines a few weeks ago. The downtown rally happened just prior to the latest round of polls were released, showing the race tight between Clinton and Sanders.

The mood at that rally was very subdued. I imagine her camp knew about their polls dwindling.

The downtown event was held at the Des Moines Historical Society. The crowd was around 350, but she had so many campaigners running around. 75-100 of them arrived by coach bus. They travel around with her and get people to fill out those "commit to caucus" cards. They are all very professional and nice. They really do great work for her and are great ambassadors for her campaign. However, there are so many of them. It kind of distorts her actual crowd sizes, especially when the crowds are on the small side.
This rally should have been very well attended. It was held in the heart of downtown at 5:45. A very convenient time for "working women" and others to pop over after work.

Contrast this with her 2007 rally that was held in the same location. There were 2,000 people there. The place was packed. I think that's a stark contrast and I think it's meaningful, as much as her supporters suggest that rally attendance means little.

That's just not how the Iowa caucuses work. We're crazy people during the last two weeks--attending rallies and events, making final decisions and just enjoying the political and media circus.

So, this very sparse attendance this week, seems very bizarre to me. It feels like a flat out rejection of her. Maybe her next few events will make clearer what is happening. And I'm sure a few new polls will be released soon too.

[JonLeibowitz]

44. Thanks for the wonderful "state of the race".

I do indeed hope Iowa votes with their heads and backs Sanders. I wasn't of voting age in 2008, but the enthusiasm I am feeling now (CA Primary) mirrors what my older brothers seemed to have about Senator Obama at the time. I hope the crowds Bernie is attracting means he can pull off an upset like Obama.

I have never felt more American and Patriotic than when I donate and work for Bernie.

[riversedge]

108. here are some other pics from the event that may

give you a better idea of the evening. Enjoy



http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511028493#post20

[JonLeibowitz]

115. Nice cozy crowd. Thanks

[CorporatistNation]

64. WE Must Be Mindful of This Group of "Campaigners" How Many Will She Bus In For The Caucus?

Bringing in ringers is NOT out of the question for Clinton INCORPORATED!

[CoffeeCat]

102. Well...

I share your concern about possible dirty tricks. However, there are 1700 precincts in Iowa and each precinct will have a caucus. All caucuses start at 7:00 p.m. on Feb 1.

So, Clinton would have to disseminate legions of "campaigners" all over the state. Furthermore, sending a few supporters to every precinct probably wouldn't change much.

To get into the Iowa caucuses, you have to show proof that you live in Iowa. Most of her paid staffers are from the east coast. I just can't imagine her pulling that off successfully. I imagine that she'll deploy these paid staffers to key caucus site, to speak for her. That is allowable. These people can't vote, but they can pitch their candidate to the room.

In my experience, outside pitch people are viewed as an annoyance. It's much more effective to have Iowans or someone from the nearby community leveraging the candidates. It's more authentic. Caucuses are comprised of people who live in a common area. We caucus at local schools, libraries, community rooms. Many people know each other personally. An outside pitch person does not always fit in with the localized tenor of our caucuses.

[thereismore]

75. Great reports CoffeeCat!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. Loved that push poll thread too Coffee... been sayin for months Hillary's campaign crumblin...

... took a lot of heat, but people finally comin around to the fact that Hillary is toast. Go Bernie!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[zentrum]

5. "Clinton Fatigue"

…is the perfect phrase. I couldn't believe it when she declared months ago. Couldn't they tell how beyond exhausted the country is with the Clintons in the WH?

[CoffeeCat]

17. You make a good point

Because I think there is a "general" fatigue with Clinton as a candidate.

In Iowa, I think it goes beyond that, because we're seeing and experiencing her campaign up close and personal. The fatigue is on a micro level, because we're seeing the exact campaign tactics (negative campaigning, attacks during debates, similar messaging).

For example, she accused Obama of being an eloquent speaker and holding large rallies that mean nothing. She claimed that she was the serious candidate with all of the experience and foreign-policy bona fides--while he was out giving pretty speeches.

Well, she's currently telling Iowans to vote with their head and not their heart. Essentially, saying the same thing about Sanders--that you may "like" Senator Sanders and love his speeches and the excitement surrounding his campaign, but I'm the smart one with the experience.

I'm just waiting for the big part of the kitchen sink to be thrown. You know it's going to happen.

[zentrum]

40. Yes, I forgot that...

…that you in Iowa get a really good look at candidates over time if they keep running, and running and running…..

I do remember she said very unpleasant things about Obama. I always felt he made her SOS, because he was following the mafia dictum, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." It kept her too busy to keep making trouble.

[magical thyme]

86. agreed. and I read not too long ago that the reason she logged so many travel miles

was to keep her as far away from the white house as possible.

[PatrickforO]

43. I feel sorry for Clinton. I really do. She's been waiting so long,

but that isn't a good enough reason to vote for her.

I can remember back in 08, when I was a big Obama supporter, seeing footage of a Clinton rally and she seemed desperate.

Like I say, it is really sad to see Clinton get pathetic here at the end, but again...not enough to keep me from voting for Bernie.

I'm not explaining this very well - it feels almost like a horrible angst. You see her, look at her eyes and they are dead, cold, calculating, empty. I just don't think Clinton cares very much about me. Or my family. She doesn't care about my kitchen table issues, like the high cost of shitty healthcare, the fear that Congress is going to fuck me over after I've paid into Social Security and Medicare for over 40 years, inflation sucking up my purchasing power. Wall Street people making megazillions a year while my kids struggle even to live.

She lost me back in 93 when she told the two MDs who were pitching single payer to 'tell her something real.'

My issues are real, and Bernie cares about them. I feel like he cares about me and about my wife, children and great grandchildren. I feel like he gives a shit about this earth we are killing to turn a profit.

Clinton just doesn't speak to that at all. I don't think she can. I don't think that's how she's put together as a human being. When they were handing out empathy, I feel like she was probably in the ambition line.

[Peace Patriot]

52. Thank you, PatrickforO! Your writing moves me!

[JDPriestly]

70. Excellent post! You speak for me.

[restorefreedom]

77. very nicely said. but you are clearly a nicer person than me

i do not feel sorry for her. she was first lady of ark, first lady of u.s., sos, and senator. that is a good resume to retire with

she has lived a life of privilege beyond what most here can even imagine.

and on top of all that, as you point out, she seems not to care about us. her desire for potus is driven by personal ambition, not a burning passion to help the less fortunate or to better the country.

she had chances to win. she didn't.

[INdemo]

82. If Bill Clinton would have had an elected

Official VP Gore, or a cabinet official Single payer might have stood s chance
Congress was pissed because the First Lady was assaigned to the Project.
It cost taxpayers 1.6 million for Hillary rejected plan

[bread_and_roses]

90. You speak for this 65 year old woman too (n/t)

[Saviolo]

95. Wish I could K&R this post.

[A Simple Game]

100. My vote for post of the day. Thanks for the touching and relevant post. n/t

[Lifelong Protester]

105. Great post, PatrickforO

You stated a lot, and you are 'real' (hope that makes sense).

[Political_Junkie]

116. Hear! Hear!

Exactly what I've been feeling since the first time she ran.

[bunnies]

81. This is the same way it feels in NH.

Shes doing exactly the same crap as last time. Sending Chelsea over here to lie about Bernie was a fatal error in her campaign. I cant wait until next month and we dont have to deal with this shit anymore.

[CoffeeCat]

104. I am glad that we have you in NH

to report on the front lines.

I see so many lies and such disinformation about Iowa that is easily debunked.

Great to hear that you are in NH because things are going to be heating up real quick in your area.

I cannot wait to caucus and be done with this circus. I have thoroughly enjoyed the caucuses every year that I have participated, but I find this year to be completely intolerable and emotionally draining. Clinton's baloney has just sucked all of the fun out of our state.

I can't wait to caucus for Bernie. Feb 1 can't come soon enough. Bernie will win and she can pack up her shit and head far, far away so I don't have to deal with the attacks and Rovian nonsense that she's spewing all over Iowa. I'm sorry that she'll be headed for your state, but this will end for us soon.

Poor NV and SC!!!

Just be prepared for both Iowa and NH to be criticized and positioned as the most horrible states in the nation with terrible people. Clinton isn't exactly known for her stellar sportsmanship.

[bunnies]

113. I feel your pain.

I dont think Ive ever been in such a hurry to get the voting done with. If this didnt feel like an exact repeat of 8 years ago, maybe I'd feel different but... Im sick of the lies, Im sick of the shape-shifting, and Im sick of the smear campaigns. Enough already!

At least NV and SC dont have to tolerate it for months and months and months like we do. Yeah, its great to "count" but I swear sometimes it feels like torture. Repeatedly being told how much our states suck for various reasons doesnt help much either.

[morningfog]

6. It is really something to watch, again. Thanks for the post.

You boil it down well. It's going to be an intersting two weeks. Will Hillary keep going negative? Of course. Will it keep draining her support? Likely.

What else has she got? There is no authenticity to her.

[morningfog]

8. And this is where, shared with Brooklyn office,

She's spending 90% of her budget. It's going to get quite bleak.

[HassleCat]

10. She gets votes, but not crowds

Don't ask me how she does it. I wouldn't have any interest in seeing her in person, but I may end up voting for her. I guess that's how she does it.

[CoffeeCat]

27. To your point

Many people in Iowa may feel that they all ready know her. She spent months campaigning here in Iowa in 08, and that was a high-profile, contentious race.

She's been campaigning here since the summer, and maybe Iowans feel that they know enough about her.

That's one line of thinking.

However, she lost 7 points in Iowa, in December--AND her rallies have poor attendance. Not exactly the best indicators of a robust campaign that will have a strong showing in the Iowa caucuses.

[SheilaT]

37. If a candidate I'm interested in holds an event

I can get to, I go there. I don't sit home thinking that I needed bother to show up because I'm going to vote for that person anyway. And I suspect I'm not alone in my thinking.

The dwindling crowds do mirror the dwindling poll numbers.

[questionseverything]

91. i am firmly in bernie's camp but

if i was close enough to see hc speak i would go out of curiosity

the dismal turn out shows had bad her campaign is going

[SheilaT]

92. Even more to the point.

I'm sure some reasonable percentage of people who attend rallies are there out of curiosity also. Maybe hardly anyone is still curious about Hillary any more.

[Dawgs]

110. When? She finished third in Iowa in 2008.

[WillyT]

12. Ouch !!!

& Rec !!!

[SoapBox]

14. It's almost stunning, how dumb her campaign is...

But I guess when you are in a bubble, surrounded by big powerful 1%ers and their big, big money...then you get arrogant and can't see beyond the bubble. Her campaign will probably be textbook studies in the future, about how to lose 2 campaigns by having no message and tunnel vision.

Oh well!

Go Bernie!

[jalan48]

16. Let's face it-the woman is boring.

[demwing]

19. CoffeeCat - you're our Cat on the Scene!

How's MOM really doing? Any chance he pulls an Edwards and pushes Clinton into 3rd?

[CoffeeCat]

36. Everyone in Iowa loves O'Malley

but the problem is that he just isn't seen as a serious contender.

He's such a great guy and Iowans like him. He doesn't get a fair shake in the media either. They cover him, but I think it's been hard for him to get traction. He only has a couple of offices here.

It will be interesting to see what happens with his supporters in the caucuses. Maybe there will be some surprises?

No matter what, he will leave Iowa with his integrity and dignity intact. Iowans got to know him (and are still getting to know him) and they like and respect him.

[demwing]

39. Let me ask you a hypothetical caucus question

Everyone picks a 1st and a 2nd choice, right?

If Bernie and Hillary each took 50% of the 1st choice votes, and O'Malley got ALL of the 2nd place votes, would he get any delegates at all?

I know I'm not catching the intricacies of the caucus, but I'd like to get a basic understanding of how the 1st/2nd choice thing plays out

[JonLeibowitz]

41. That's easy: no..

You only realize the 2nd choice votes when their candidate is no longer viable. Which, with a 50/50 split is mathematically impossible because nobody else is left!

[demwing]

45. Stinker! lol...ok, try this one

Bernie and Hillary each get 45%, leaving 10% for OMalley (who gets 100% of the 2nd Choice). THEN what happens?

[JonLeibowitz]

49. Well, everything is determined precinct by precinct, so my comment will apply at an individual level

If O'Malley gets 10% then he will not be viable (the threshold is 15% most places I think, but it may vary by # of delegates for that precinct, I get fuzzy here, but it doesn't affect the overall point). His supporters will have to choose their 2nd choice, and a final tally will be made. In such a situation, O'Malley will get 0 delegates despite winning 10% of the 1st choice vote.

Here's an eye-opening look into the process, from 2008 (so the candidates' names are easily recognizable):

Also, in your scenario, O'malley is those voters' 1st choice, not their 2nd. It doesn't matter at all if Bernie's supporters prefer O'Malley to Clinton, since Bernie will be viable everywhere in Iowa. See also CoffeeCat's description.

[demwing]

51. Got it now! So the nonviable (<15%) candidates

are the only ones where the 2nd choice matters, and all of O'Malley's theoretical 10% would be divided between Clinton and Sanders.

thanks for the patient explanations

[JonLeibowitz]

55. You got it!

The O'Malley supporters are critical, because at 5% of the current polls they represent a substantial swing factor. And nobody really knows what they'll choose as their backup, but many people suspect, based on polling that they go Bernie 2-1 or so.

It sure will be an interesting few weeks here!

[JonLeibowitz]

56. Wanted to add, that this is truly democracy in action. Seeing this should tell people why

Instant Runoff Voting is a much superior system than the stupid 2-party system we have.

[CoffeeCat]

48. Caucus goers picks ONE candidate

A voter who attends the caucus, can only caucus for one candidate.

When the caucus begins, everyone gathers in their "candidate camp." Hillary supporters go to one side of the room; Sanders supporters in another; MOM supporters in another area. Then, the precinct chair does a preliminary count of the number of supporters in each candidate camp.

Then, it is determined which candidates are "viable." Generally, you have to have 15 percent of the room to be viable. If MOM has only 7 percent of the room, he will be declared not viable in that precinct and his supporters have three choices: 1.) Join Hillary's camp; 2.) Join Sander's camp; 3.) Sit it out and not be counted.

Then, the fun begins. Each candidate camp tries to woo supporters to their group. People may give speeches, they can walk over to the other camps and talk to supporters. And if there are supporters who are without a camp (due to their candidate being declared not viable), the other camps work hard to woo them into their group.

Then, a final count is taken. Results are reported to state central (and there are 1680 precincts in Iowa; so 1680 caucuses happening simultaneously!).

That's how it's done.

It should be interesting. I saw that MOM supporters prefer Sanders 3 to 1 over Hillary. Sanders is at about 5 percent in Iowa. So, that 5 percent (if not viable in most precincts) will go mostly toward Sanders. That's quite a bump, especially in a tight race.

There's also this...I really believe that Hillary is just tanking in Iowa. I wouldn't be surprised if MOM picks up some of her support. So, he may rise a bit, in the polls and I think she sinks like a stone. So...who knows. I don't think it's possible that he gets close to Sanders or Clinton, but it could get interesting.

[demwing]

57. It's really old school democracy

I've never lived in a caucus state, and I think the process is a little mysterious. I also think I'm not alone in that thought!

thanks for the illumination!

[PatrickforO]

46. I don't think this is the first time we will see O'Malley in a presidential race.

He did great during the last debate, and I expect to see him in future. He's a good guy and like Bernie, his heart's in the right place.

This whole 'vote with your head' thing sucks, because if you don't have passion, you're gonna be a shitty president. At least that's my own two cents.

[Duckfan]

71. Thanks CoffeeCat

A very interesting analysis.

And it may be so: Iowa has Clinton fatigue from 08.

I'm looking forward to Caucus night.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. That's about 100 people not counting the media.

[Trajan]

23. Not enough billionaires in Iowa to have a decent campaign rally ...

Great analysis, btw ... It may not be a runaway, but the enthusiasm gap is real ...

I guess they don't have enough money to buy a crowd ?

[WillyT]

28. LOL !!!

[CoffeeCat]

30. I think we have a few billionaires in Iowa

but they were all at the Trump rally.

[Trajan]

35. Hah ...

My company's headquarters are in Iowa ... They do well as a corporation, but I'm pretty sure upper management haven't attained billionairehood yet ...

[draa]

25. K+R

Thanks CoffeeCat.

[glinda]

26. Between the Conservatives hammering her, questions about various past

and current affiliations and actions, people are indeed tired. Life is hard for most and many feel it is time to turn the page. To save their energy to actually enact change. Do or die mode figuratively and literally.

[winter is coming]

29. Wow. I've been to PTA meetings with larger crowds. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

38. LOL! (nt)

[Gene Debs]

31. Her biggest personal flaw—apart from her many terrible public policy stances—is her

unfailing ability to make stunningly tone-deaf errors in judgment coupled with an equally stunning inability to learn from her past mistakes. It's not something easily hidden from voters.

[INdemo]

83. If Hilkary had not sold her sole to the

Corporate Mafia,Wall St ,Goldman,and insurance companies ....she could have been a decent candidate

[Babel_17]

34. Interesting post

It's up to those who make the effort to participate. This is going to be fascinating.

[99th_Monkey]

42. You mean "NO WE CAN'T!" isn't winning hearts and minds in Iowa???

Gee, who woulda thunk?

[global1]

50. We're Asked To Vote For A Person That Hasn't Learned From Past Mistakes.....

The OP says:

She is running the exact campaign formula that she ran in 08. She started with inevitability, lost ground, started attacking when threatened and turned to kitchen-sink mode. To see this re-run of failed tactics is not only only tiresome, it's troubling. Furthermore, she's in attack mode, and she looks desperate. It's nearly impossible to gain ground when you're operating from a very visible position of weakness and desperation

.

Doesn't seem like a quality we'd like to have in a President. One would think that the problems she had in '08 would have been etched in her mind and that she would have made sure that she wouldn't duplicate the same mistakes.

Weakness and Desperation - don't instill a lot of confidence in me.

Kind of makes you wonder - doesn't it.

[progressoid]

53. It's more than just Iowa Democrats that have serious Clinton fatigue

[retrowire]

54. knr nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

59. Wow...I knew her crowds were small, but that

is just embarrassing.

She should save face now and get out before Iowa. It looks like 2 Landslides for Bernie in Iowa and NH and that will just raise Bernie's numbers in Nevada and SC. With the FBI investigation she has the perfect excuse to exit the race.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[PatrynXX]

60. well doubt Chelsea did any good

Hillary pretty much blew off her own leg sending her daughter out to outright lie about Sanders. and that pretty much did it.

[Feeling the Bern]

63. Good. I want to vote for someone, not against the Republicans for the first time in my life.

[Betty Karlson]

65. She repeats the same mistakes she has been making for years

(which in itself should disqualify her from the presidency: remember some of the mistakes she might repeat? - opposing same sex marriage, TPP, Keystone, palling around with Wall Street and the prison industry, palling around with Kissinger, the IRAQ war vote...)

[Iwillnevergiveup]

72. I've wondered all along

why she even subjected herself to a campaign in the first place. I get that she's hyper-ambitious and absolutely driven, but still. She and Bill had a pretty good run along with scandal after scandal. When is it all enough?

K&R for excellent info from CoffeeCat.

[Punkingal]

74. kick

[Sedona]

78. Toledo, Iowa population 2341

and it was below 10 degrees out Monday night. Not a time and place to expect a huge crowd.

[GeorgeGist]

80. You win this thread.

The absence of critical thinking -other than yours- is terribly distressing.

[riversedge]

106. -and here are some more pics form the event so

enjoy



http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511028493#post20

[Metric System]

122. Thanks for the truth.

[magical thyme]

87. read post #11

A significant # of the people there were bused in from her campaign to do the card signing thing.

And Des Moines drew just a few hundred a couple weeks ago versus 2,000 at the same time back in '07.

[CoffeeCat]

89. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. In fact, it's not accurate at all.

Yes, it's true that Toldeo, Iowa has a population of 2340. However, Toldeo isn't just sitting there by itself in the middle of nowhere. It's not an island.

Marshalltown is fifteen minutes down the road and there are 27,000 people living there.

Toledo is one town surrounded by clusters of small towns that make up the Tama/Toledo area. When you add up the populations of the Toldeo area, you've got about 9,000 people. That's not including the 27,000 in Marshalltown.

So, there's that.

And the weather was most likely not a factor on Monday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday in central and eastern Iowa, we were dealing with -20 degree temperatures. It was horrible. The 10 degrees on Monday was like a heat wave and most likely did not affect Clinton's attendance. In fact, it may have helped--because everyone had been inside during the weekend when people were discouraged from going outside because we had freeze warnings.

So, there's that too.

Sorry!! I feel like such a meanie. But you people post half truths that are so easily debunked by someone who lives there.

[alcibiades_mystery]

88. OK, Bernie's the favorite in Iowa

He better win, though.

[tombennett91]

93. BERNIE

In Bernie we trust!

[JonathanRackham]

101. Hillary not Berned. More like nuked.

[riversedge]

103. You have an early in the evening pic. Here is a better one.....and other pics.

for you viewing enjoyment:

More pics at link....The tweets and pics give an alternate view



http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511028493#post20

Hillary for Iowa ‏@HillaryforIA 3h3 hours ago Toledo, IA

Kevin, in Tama: we can't let anyone rip away the progress we've made—especially affordable health care. #ImWithHer

[Lifelong Protester]

107. Thank you for your post (s)

(I liked the one about 'push polls' too.) It is good to have someone 'there' to tell us what they see (I'm in WI so I have a pretty good view, but you are THERE). And you will go through the caucus procedure, which I am sure you will tell us all about, yes?

[riversedge]

114. Here are some more pics from that Town Hall......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511028493#post20

[CoffeeCat]

125. Yes, I will be posting as much as I can

while it is happening and I'll give the final results from our precinct as soon as I can.

[Lifelong Protester]

130. Thank you!

[Ivan Kaputski]

111. Should have had a cash bar. Can't expect people to stay and listen without a stiff drink.

[DonCoquixote]

121. Hillary knows Iowa killed her last time.

And even Debbie does too.

[dinkytron]

123. What election has Hillary ever won? Oh yeah, the 2000 race for NY Senate only after Rudy Giuliani

was forced to pull out due to all kinds of personal problems only to be replaced by Lazio. And Hillary had to spend a ton of money to do so in the most expensive Senate race in history. Hillary's invincibility was always an illusion.

[kenfrequed]

131. Yup

Basically handed one of the easiest places for a Democrat to get elected over more progressive candidates and she still nearly screwed it up.

[Lordquinton]

124. Her next rally

Will feature a stunning rendition of "All by myself"

[Autumn]

126. I think more than just Iowa Democrats have serious Clinton fatigue.

I sure do.

[juxtaposed]

127. I do not normally post in these threads but, I've heard HRC organizers are heading out of Iowa

and heading south for warmer weather.

[CoffeeCat]

129. If that's true, then it's as bad as it looks for her.

Tanking polls, very small crowd sizes during the peak, frenzied period of the Iowa caucuses--and maybe staff being allocated elsewhere.

That would signal a total loss that she knows is coming.

It sure feels that way on the ground in Iowa.

If that's true, then her situation is dire in Iowa. She is completely sinking in NH by staggering margins.

It's possible that this is happening in Iowa as well.

[juxtaposed]

128. I've talked to ppl. that are saying HRC is looking for more organizers down south b/c they are run

ning short all over the country..
They need the south and are having a hard time winning the few northern primaries ...

[ILLIOWA]

132. The South, Latino & African American Voters

Hillary is trying to lean hard on African American voters. To be honest, as a Latino, I don't get it. The Clinton's have a terrible history of mass incarcerations and supporting tough on crime laws that have been compared to the Jim Crow Laws. She is close with Rahm Emanuel. Not to mention the ethically terrible campaign she ran against Barack in 2008. Honestly, I think once Latino and African American voters get to know Bernie more that they are going to break for him. The truth is that Hillary and Bill Clinton were practically the faces of 90's tough on crime legislation that sent nearly 3/4 of a million people, mainly minorities, to jail under these laws. Voters should be reminded of that. She might have endorsements and photo opportunities to point to but the voting history just isn't there. And can someone who was once practically the face of the problem be the solution to it? Logically speaking, in my eyes, that's a tough sell for Hillary to make.