Clinton’s Enthusiasm Gap with Bernie - even the NY Times is covering it!

[dorkzilla]

DES MOINES — Iowa Democrats are displaying far less passion for Hillary Clinton than for Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont three weeks before the presidential caucuses, creating anxiety inside the Clinton campaign as she scrambles to energize supporters and to court wavering voters.

The enthusiasm gap spilled abundantly into view in recent days, from the cheering crowds and emotional outpourings that greeted Mr. Sanders, and in interviews with more than 50 Iowans at campaign stops for both candidates.

Voters have mobbed Mr. Sanders at events since Friday, some jumping over chairs to shake his hand, snap a selfie or thank him for speaking about the middle class. “Did you get to touch him?” asked one woman who could not get close enough after an event here on Saturday.“We love you, Bernie! Enough is enough!” Nathan Arentsen, 29, cheered several times at another event in Des Moines as he stomped his feet to signal support for the candidate.

Audiences for Mrs. Clinton have yet to grow to consistently match those for Mr. Sanders, and the typical reception for her was evident on Monday in Waterloo. About 300 people welcomed Mrs. Clinton enthusiastically and listened to her diligently, but many of them, still unsure, rebuffed Clinton aides trying to get them to sign “commitment cards” to caucus for her.

What’s with the fucking pledges?????

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-supporters.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[dorkzilla]

1. The biggest sign that the wheels are falling off her campaign

In the words of the late, great Yogi Berra “it’s like deja vu all over again”

On Monday, Mrs. Clinton proposed raising the income tax by four percentage points for people earning more than $5 million a year, an idea virtually out of the Sanders playbook. At the same time, she is going hard on the offensive on gun control and health care, undertaking relentless attacks on Mr. Sanders that can feel somewhat forced, like portraying him as an ally of the National Rifle Association. To amplify her criticisms, she has even taken to calling in to MSNBC news shows that are popular with Mr. Sanders’s liberal base, a level of engagement with the news media that she has rarely displayed, especially with erstwhile critics like Chris Matthews.

She is also increasingly trying to tap into the popularity of President Obama and former President Bill Clinton after insisting for months that she was not running for a third term for either man. She held her Waterloo event with Mr. Obama’s transportation secretary, Anthony Foxx, a North Carolina politician whose endorsement had little resonance here, other than his ties to the president. And Mr. Clinton is being dispatched to Iowa on Friday for his second campaign swing in two weeks.

Honestly, whoever is advising her on campaign strategy seems to be a complete moron. It smacks of desperation, just like her sudden desire for a debate with Sanders.

[SoapBox]

4. Also ditto about the moron/morons at her campaign.

It's like watching a train wreck...and continues to amaze that she is so in a bubble, that she and her Entrenched Establishment Bunch can't figure it all out...like talking consistent issues and stop the old dirty politicking.

Oh well...all that much better for the best candidate.

[SoapBox]

2. Ditto the WTF is with the cards?!?!

It's a strong arming tactic.

And that shit would just piss me off.

[dorkzilla]

3. I agree, and I think that’s why people are flat out refusing to play along

Also, what are they going to do if those people don’t uphold their pledge? Arrest them? Kick them out of the party? I understand the signing of said cards is largely symbolic, but her campaign has employed this tactic since the beginning and its bound to turn people off - how is that working out for her?

[artislife]

5. Those pledge cards

Interesting, it may be used to get people to feel they made a promise that they cannot break.

How could you?

There is no way to go back and talk to the campaign and say, that one has thought it over and will not be voting for Hillary. It is kind of reminds me of those pledge cards some Churches gave that had young girls promising they would remain virgins until marriage. It is a guilt/shame maneuver.


The person doing the promises that cannot be broken, should be the candidates themselves.

[dorkzilla]

6. "The person doing the promises that cannot be broken,

...should be the candidates themselves.”

Well said, artislife, well said!

[HereSince1628]

7. The pledge thing is...once people make a commitment they often don't change

Getting a person to make -any- commitment even something like signing a card is an important psychological step.

[libdem4life]

8. I'm hoping the MSM is beginning to notice the excitement elicited towards Bernie?

Doesn't he start a campaign run through black and brown venues soon? That ought to cinch it. He's still in the national introduction stage and gaining with every appearance. Excitement builds excitement...and you can't fake it, certainly at this level.

[jalan48]

9. Hillary has as much passion as a wet dishrag. Her persona screams "Beltway Insider".