I want to stress, again, that Hillary's support represents a 'movement', just like Obama's

[bigtree]

There may well be momentum behind Barak Obama. He has certainly inspired new voters to join our Democrats in these primary contests. But, there are also voters who are just as motivated and energized as Sen. Obama's supporters are regularly described. There is a comparable, if not equal, historic undertone to Sen. Clinton's candidacy which has excited a sufficiently competitive number of voters, from all demographic groups, to campaign and organize just as enthusiastically as Sen. Obama.

I think there's an interesting dynamic in the media which has presented the Obama candidacy as a phenomenon, while casting the Clinton campaign as static and mundane. I don't see this among her supporters, or, in the numbers of voters who are showing up to nominate her in record numbers.

We do have a, mostly, even race right now, with the Obama campaign likely to benefit from a flush of new donations. But, it is a mischaracterization to cast the Clinton campaign and their supporters as just another candidacy, or a candidacy in decline in contest with Sen. Obama's. I see energized, enthusiastic voters, in support of both candidates, responding to the unusually extended race which has given new life and meaning to many regions whose participation is usually irrelevant at this point in the contest. Let's give both camps credit for the committed, motivated, and extremely energized supporters they have attracted to our party's nominating process.

[tekisui]

1. They are both great, historical candidates!

Absolutely, Hillary has a movement. That is why I feel so good about them both.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. hear hear!

[SIMPLYB1980]

3. Good call, but few here will listen.

[stahbrett]

4. Why will Obama get "a flush of new donations" then?

How do you reconcile the very real likelihood that Obama will continue to raise considerably more money with phrases and statements that try to claim that both campaigns are equally motivating? (This isn't an attack - just wondering about how you came to both conclusions about money-raising and campaign enthusiasm.)

[cali]

5. That's true, but could you at least learn how to spell his name?

It's Barack, not Barak.

[MadHound]

6. Hillary represents a movement, yes,

However she also represents the old school, '90s style of triangulation and DLC politics that characterized her husband's tenure. This turns many, many people off, and they reject it in Hillary. They see this as more of the machine politics, and are rejecting it. Plus many people got pissed off at the fact that at the beginning the Clinton camp, along with the party bosses, assumed that the nomination was Hillary's even before a single vote was counted. Thus the perception that she was part of a history making movement was diluted to the point where she is now seen by many as just another corporately compromised candidate.

[bigtree]

9. That's nonsense. Sen. Clinton has fought against the republican agenda

and worked to advance Democratic philosophy, principles, and proposals. The aggression with which she has waged those battles is to our benefit. I'm not going to be swayed by those who are calling for a lightening of our tone against the deliberate republican obstruction of our rights and interests. Neither should she. I look forward to that Clinton aggressiveness being put back to work for our democracy.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Obama's movement is about a fresh take on politics. What's Hillary's

"historic" movement based on? Her ovaries? Well, it's novel that she's female, but other than that, I'm not seeing a whole new movement.

[bigtree]

8. He says 'new' a lot, and phrases like that . . .

The movement surrounding Hillary Clinton's campaign is toward a reversal of the Bush years, the same as Obama's. Her supporters are relying on her experience in working to advance solutions to many of the issues and concerns Americans are struggling with to make 'change' a reality.

[City Lights]

10. So HRC has her own cult.

:woohoo:

[bigtree]

12. I keep thinking about the coming together of the masses of our camps' supporters behind our nominee

What an excellent crowd to associate ourselves with!

[Raffi Ella]

11. You speak for me.

This is An Historic Moment in Time.

I want to Congratulate Barack Obama on an extremely well run (and marketed) Campaign.There is no denying he has Rock Star written all over him and has gotten the Country's attention.

If Hillary Clinton expects to beat him she needs to step up her game.I believe in Hillary Clinton.I passionately support her and I think that if she truly wants this she will get it.

But I feel The First Viable Woman for President is being entirely ignored while the First Viable Black Man to run is being played up as if he is the second coming.

The media is a huge part of just WHY Obama has had such an easy time and why his message has gotten through - they play it up and Congratulate him on every little thing he does.But I can't blame him for a Campaign well run.

I can only hold Hillary Clinton accountable for her campaign and its message.I don't think the Historic message of her campaign has been fully played up by Hillary herself.

She is the Woman for the Times.She needs to prove it;I look forward to seeing and hearing her fight for that position.It's up to her now.

[bigtree]

13. You make a good point about her need to seize the moment

and that she may not have elevated her uniqueness to its full potential . . . yet.