MyDD: Conservatives Heart Hillary?

[wyldwolf]

There's lots of (grudging) Hillary love going around the conservative blogosphere today in response to her debate performance last night. Does. Not. Compute.

Andrew Sullivan at The Atlantic Online:

"Her response to the dynastic question - a difficult one - was the first time she has ever brought a smile to my lips. She's so much better a debater and performer than she used to be. You know how much I hate to say this: but she destroyed the opposition tonight.

A Republican reader of Sullivan's concurs:

Even though I hate to admit it, Hillary consistently wins these debates. My partner and I were watching it last night and I was trying very hard not like anything Hillary said. But finally, I told my partner, "is it just me or does she seem more...." My partner finished my sentence -- "responsible" ...And I am a registered Republican.

Rich Lowry at National Review Online:

I thought Hillary was excellent. She never makes a mistake. She seems ready for pretty much everything. And, while she has done her share of pandering to the Democratic base, she is the only candidate operating with an eye to the general election and to the very real possibility that she will be the next commander-in-chief.

Byron York at NRO:

Far be it for me to be Sen. Clinton's chief defender, but the issue last night was whether the president himself, or herself, would meet, "separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration...with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea." Obama said yes, and Clinton said no. But Clinton pledged more diplomacy than the Bush administration...Is that a flip-flop from what she said in April? I don't see it.

And DaveG at race408 seconds Kathryn Jean Lopez:

Hillary is the nominee. She won't talk to Ahmadinejad and Assad? That puts her way Right of our Speaker of the House.

If I had to vote for a Democrat, I know who it would be.

This on the same day that she's up 3 points in the dailyKos straw poll. Is Clinton proving that she CAN run a primary and general election campaign all at once? It's starting to look like it.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/7/24/211133/881

note: She's also holding a 17 point lead now over Obama at Rasmussen

[SaveElmer]

1. I've been thinking about her fundraising...

She has raised a significant amount of money for a general election campaign...I wonder if her strategy is to win the primary in part by convincing Democrats of her broader appeal...

[wyldwolf]

2. ..could be...

...but it does seem obvious she's convincing a few Republicans of her broader appeal as well.