Clinton, Obama Clearing The Field

[cal04]

Without Declaring, They Beat Back Would-Be Rivals


Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, trading on star power, the capacity to raise tens of millions of dollars with relative ease and an ability to dominate media attention, are rewriting the script of the 2008 Democratic presidential campaign, driving potential rivals to the sidelines and casting a huge shadow over all others who may run.

What once shaped up as a sizable field of Democratic candidates is now shrinking. Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.) announced on Dec. 16 that he would not seek the Democratic nomination, a surprising decision that came just days after he witnessed firsthand the megawatt voltage of Obama's drawing power in New Hampshire. As Bayh drew small crowds on his seventh trip to the Granite State, Obama enjoyed sold-out audiences and saturation coverage on his first.

(snip)
At this point, Clinton and Obama are eclipsing a group of Democratic heavyweights that includes the party's presidential and vice presidential nominees in 2004, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and former senator John Edwards (N.C.), as well as several other senators and governors with impressive r?sum?s, from Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) and Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) to governors Bill Richardson (N.M.) and Tom Vilsack (Iowa).

Only former vice president Al Gore might be able to command the kind of attention Clinton and Obama receive, say veteran strategists. But he has made no serious moves toward running.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/23/AR2006122300970.html

[Dinger]

1. Goaddamn I Am Sick Of This Shit

And you ALL know what I mean.

[Lena inRI]

3. Yeah. . .I sure do know what you mean, Dinger. . .

and I'LL add that all this HYPE-INIZING is by people who have some BIG STAKES in getting the Clinton and/or Obama ticket SOLD or RAMMED DOWN OUR THROATS because it means a job or something financially lucrative for them. . .nothing to do with getting the best people for the job. . .

Geezlouise I'm so sickened by these undeserving opportunists. . .I'm seriously thinking of getting outta here and consider this political message board a big waste of time.

Adios, Dinger. . .carry on against these numbskulls without me!
:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant:

[jefferson_dem]

6. "undeserving opportunists" vs. "the best people for the job"

Nifty labeling scheme there. I'm sure it makes the choice rather obvious.

[Sparkly]

14. Yup, but...

Try to keep it in perspective, in terms of the calendar. :hi:

[Lena inRI]

2. Oh good grief. . .

shut up already with the hype about the hype!

And this little news bite is supposed to convince me that Clinton/Obama HAS to be the 2008 ticket?

Get out of my face and leave me alone. . .what a depressing forecast for this time of merriment and goodwill.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[AtomicKitten]

4. I for one am mesmerized by Obama's ascent.

And, quite frankly, I'm thrilled he's giving HRC a run for her money.

[renaissanceguy]

9. Agreed!

Obama represents the future, Hillary represents the status quo. I look forward to watching them duke it out in the primaries.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/479862

[Leilani]

10. I agree!

Without Obama, Hillary could be coronated, rather than being elected.

[Jim Sagle]

5. How impressive the media inevitability trolls are.

And no, I don't mean the op for posting it. I mean WAPO.

[cyclezealot]

7. a media show is enough to make me quit politics.

Reason, money rules and it's just a horse race without substance. God, forbid a candidate might have to take a position before they know who contributes for what reason. I demand substance. My money goes to Dennis Kucinich. Elections must mean something. Once money pushes substance on the sidelines, time to just take a nap and vote Democratic. No need to get all excited, at that point money rules.

[k_jerome]

8. it is evident that the race boils down to these two. They will dominate the nomination process. nt.

[cyclezealot]

11. of the two

there is a chance Obama might be less influenced by which way the wind/money flows. I say it is too early to tell. I think some look at the money race/ loss of privacy and they say to hell with the whole thing. What happened to Edwards or Clark/ tho ? Did not hear they are bowing out.

[robcon]

12. I agree with the piece.

At this point in time, only it seems only Obama might be able to stop Clinton, but I don't think it's going to happen. I think Clinton will be our next president.

Astonishing (to me) is no mention of Clark in the article - especially given the support Clark has on DU.

[otohara]

13. Al Gore, You Change Your Mind

soon. Your country needs you.

[kentuck]

15. Did they have a primary and I missed it??

I had not heard of any primary wins by Hillary or Obama. I don't buy this propaganda.

[PresidentObama]

16. I don't think it comes down to these two....

If Al Gore runs, I don't know if Obama would even be a big factor anymore. And John Edwards will make it a three way match up in his own right.

I think a lot of other candidates will surprise us, like maybe Clark and definitely Kerry.

[SOS]

17. 1968...

Lyndon Johnson is assured the nomination....
But wait!
Eugene McCarthy scores big in New Hampshire.
Johnson withdraws.
Robert Kennedy jumps in!
Vice President Humphrey announces he's running too.
It's McCarthy v. Kennedy v. Humphrey.
Kennedy assassinated.
Chaos.
Humphrey wins nomination, backs Johnson's Vietnam policy until late October.
Nixon wins.

And now it's Hillary vs. Obama, more than two years before the first vote is cast?
Not likely.