Keep An Eye On The NYT - Clinton Aides Fear Election Is "Slipping From Her Grasp"

[WillyT]

<snip>

UPDATE: The Huffington Post has learned that the New York Times will publish a front-page story on Tuesday reporting that Clinton aides fear that the nomination is "slipping from her grasp." The Times' Patrick Healy will report:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her advisers are increasingly concerned that, after her victories in the Feb. 5 primaries, she could be on a precipitous losing streak in nomination contests this month that could endanger her competitiveness in the upcoming votes in Ohio and Texas on March 4, several aides said on Monday. Her losses last weekend in Washington, Nebraska, Louisiana and Maine have thrown the Clinton campaign into a state of anxiety not seen since her drubbing in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, with major donors and supporters saying for the first time that they are deeply worried that the Democratic nomination may be slipping from her grasp.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/11/nyt-clinton-aides-fear-e_n_86028.html

Uh, Oh...

:shrug:

[Araxen]

1. The ultimate question is..

How many threads will there be tomorrow about this?

[xultar]

2. That is the real question, indeed.

[mckeown1128]

13. one for each thread....

about Obama leading a cult...or the supposed snub.... or the Rezko BS there will be plenty.

[jefferson_dem]

3. NYT Link Up -

Lots of interesting little pearls there too...

<SNIP>

“She has to win both Ohio and Texas comfortably, or she’s out,” said one superdelegate who has endorsed Mrs. Clinton, and who spoke on condition of anonymity to share a candid assessment. “The campaign is starting to come to terms with that.” Campaign advisers, also speaking privately in order to speak plainly, confirmed this view.

Several Clinton superdelegates, whose votes could help decide the nomination, said Monday that they were wavering in the face of Mr. Obama’s momentum after victories in Washington State, Nebraska, Louisiana and Maine last weekend.

Some said that they, like the hundreds of uncommitted superdelegates still at stake, might ultimately “go with the flow,” in the words of one, and support the candidate who appears to show the most strength in the primaries to come.

<SNIP>

Some donors also expressed concern about a widening money imbalance between Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton: Obama fund-raisers say he is taking in roughly $1 million a day, while Clinton fund-raisers say she is taking in about half of that, mostly online. Mrs. Clinton’s aides say that they were virtually broke as of the Feb. 5 primaries, but that finances have stabilized.

<SNIP>

Yet some Clinton donors and superdelegates worry that the focus on Mr. McCain is premature, and that other strategic decision by the campaign — like counting on Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated at the convention even though their status is in limbo — show faulty thinking that suggests the Clinton campaign does not have a short-term game plan against Mr. Obama.

“They are looking way too much at Florida, Michigan and McCain, because all three won’t matter if she doesn’t blow Obama away in Texas and Ohio,” said a Democrat who is both a Clinton superdelegate and major donor, and who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer a candid assessment of campaign strategy. “Obama has momentum that has to be stopped by March 4.”

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/us/politics/12clinton.html?ei=5065&en=83bd560436fa713f&ex=1203397200&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

[DURHAM D]

7. Looks like Rahm Emanuel is working the phones again.

He is hiding in the closet and working the phones while pretending to be a Clinton supporter.

Congrats to Illinois in advance. If Obama gets the Presidency Rahm will be your next U.S. Senator.

[democrattotheend]

26. I thought Rahm was uncommitted

I read a while ago that he was really torn, being from Obama's home state but having long-time ties to the Clintons

[DURHAM D]

28. It is a game.

He gets a whole lot of mileage out of pretending to be "uncommitted". One article I read referred to him as "hiding under his desk" while lobbying grenades at Hillary. He talks to the press. He "leaks" (planned release) information from the Obama camp as a disinterested whatever. David Axelrod is his best friend. Rahmn called Bill Clinton (as a friend???) and told him to knock off the race stuff. Then he and Ted trot out and talk to every reporter they could find about their admonishing calls to Bill and pushed their stories into the the media fury and then pretended they were so shocked and surprised by the very race stuff they created and fanned. They succeeded in shoving it through several news cycles. Ted's endorsement appears to have been planned for weeks but first they had to push the race thingie into the dialog giving Ted a reason to save the day. Meanwhile, the press tells us that Rahm called Bill as a friend. Bull shit. You will note that Bill has never made a comment about that call. I doubt they even talked. Rahm is a total slime ball.

Hillary does not like Rahm. She worked to get him fired from the White House. She thought Rahm (and George S.) was the source of many leaks to the media, etc. She did not trust him.

The deal has been made.

[Egnever]

9. More and more it appears she is discarding everything before Texas

What does this say to those voters? I understand she is trying to stop the train but I really don't like what this says about how she would run in the GE. I guess its the DLC game plan though Concede the ones you think you will lose and concentrate on the ones you think you will win. More and more its starting to look like a really bad game plan.

[XemaSab]

18. She's rocking the um... 16 state strategy....

Yeah. :crazy:

[papau]

19. 90% black voting makes Chesapeake contests impossible-no point worrying -Obama playing the race card

has "solidified" his "base"

[XemaSab]

20. Interesting...

I would not have guessed that Maryland and Virginia had that many black people. :shrug:

[papau]

24. The Dem party vote is over 80% black in DC, over 50% black in MD and Virginia - we win DC - not so

much the other two but the black loyalty to the Dem party keeps us close with occassional wins in Virginia and MD

[NMMNG]

40. They do

MD is 29.5% Black/ 63.6% White / 6.0% Latino/ 4.9% Asian and smaller percentages of other races/ethnicities. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000.html

VA is 19.9% Black/ 73.3% White / 6.3% Latino/ 4.3% Asian and smaller percentages of other races/ethnicities. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51000.html

[fujiyama]

22. His base includes the whitest states in the US

He won Nebraska, Idaho, and Utah...

But of course that was just him playing the race card again...

Go find a new excuse....

[papau]

23. different reasons - in a primary he would not have won in those states

[pampango]

38. They both knew which states had caucuses and had plenty of time

to put together organizations that could mobilize their supporters in those states. One would think that Hillary had plenty of time, money and expertise through last December to put together first class organizations in all caucus states that should have blown any newcomers out of the water. Did they forget to do it or just couldn't fine the support? I don't know which it is.

It is disingenuous to state that a white woman can't compete with a black man in a predominantly white state because they use a caucus system to select delegates. I realize that the "caucus" excuse it the spin of the day, but it is weak when viewed in the context of how long these candidates have had to prepare for their campaign.

[JCMach1]

30. Different kettle of fish on Tuesday...

Af. Am.'s make a large % of the Democratic voters on Tuesday.

Hillary must concentrate on Delegates and the states she can win. Honestly, anything above 40% on Tuesday will be a victory for her all things considered.

[intaglio]

33. Yup 16 state strategy n/t

[JCMach1]

34. Both campaigns are in delegate maximization mode at this point

It's not even about winning states any more.

Let's say, for example Hillary were to win TX,OH,and PA by an average of 51% to 48%.

Everyone knows what that would mean for the delegate count. Advantage Obama.

Hillary needs to take an average of 40% in upcoming losing efforts or else she is close to being done. Closer would be even better.

Even if Obama were to take one of those three states, delegate count would be close and we would still be looking at deadlock at the convention with the rules comm. to decide on FL and MI.

Obama has a shot at blowing the whole thing open, but I am expecting this thing to be very close. :(

Honestly, that will not be good for either candidate.

[pampango]

39. Can't win white state caucuses, because they are caucuses. Can't win black state

primaries, because they are, well, Black.

Someone should have told her before this all started that there were going to be lots of states with caucuses and lots of states with primaries, some of which have large African American populations. I am not familiar with the specifics of the 16 state strategy. Is that how many states have primaries and don't have large African American populations?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

29. You have 'solidified' your position on my ignore list now, you racist asshole. nt

[grantcart]

25. It makes you wonder if the earlier reports about not having money

and the recent updates showing she got $ 10 million is a spin?

[SKKY]

32. We saw how well this strategy worked for Rudy, huh?

Circle the wagons, defend the Alamo, hope for the best. If this is in fact true, it's not a good sign to be writing off so many states and delegates at this late stage.

[GoldieAZ49]

36. That was Rudy's game plan in Florida, didn't work out well for him n/t

[Pirate Smile]

4. I believe it is already online - here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/us/politics/12clinton.html?hp

[flor de jasmim]

5. it's one way to make her the underdog

[Cha]

6. But, since the inevitable one who was on

her way to the coronation when a funny thing happen called "Change"..she can only now be construed as a LOSER.

[Perky]

8. Howard Feinman was saying the same thing on Hardball tonight.

[my3boyz]

10. Who did Tweety pick as his power player or whatever he calls it

I bet you anything he still says Hillary had the best week and the best shot to be president. LOL He won't let that go! I think because he predicted months ago that Hillary would put Obama away on Super Tuesday.

[Perky]

37. Clinton and Obama were tied in first. He is is such a wimp

Its Power Rankings

[my3boyz]

11. Who did Tweety pick as his power player or whatever he calls it

I bet you anything he still says Hillary had the best week and the best shot to be president. LOL He won't let that go! I think because he predicted months ago that Hillary would put Obama away on Super Tuesday.

[dailykoff]

12. Not exactly news, but the NYT story is...

since they're the official neocons-for-Hilly houseorgan. I wonder if they're getting ready to jump ship?

[TexasObserver]

14. not may be slipping ... has slipped away

[thevoiceofreason]

16. TexO

We got us a fight here in Houston. We're gonna surprise some people. Barack getting stronger by the day.

[TexasObserver]

17. I agree, but I think he'll take Houston and Dallas.

And he picked up some big endorsements in San Antonio. Austin should go Obama big time.

I hope Texas is the roundhouse, knock out punch that puts Team Clinton on the mat wondering what happened.

[Botany]

15. Boy is that snow hot ....

“There is no evidence that voters are voting based on momentum — in fact the evidence is to the contrary,” said Howard Wolfson, Mrs. Clinton’s communications director.

[Yael]

21. Wha wha what!?

:rofl: :rofl:

[Tom Rinaldo]

27. They used to say that about John McCain

Hillary is a fighter. If she is seen as being down now it will only add more drama to her fighting back now. I think being given underdog status right now is exactly what she needs.

[SoCalDem]

35. The whole "fighting thing" is getting old.. People are TIRED of fighting.

especially when the fighting meme is preceeded by "dirty"..

Before BC & the HC insiders started the racial sneak attacks, black voters were split between her and O...once BC crossed the line, they cut him and her loose.. It's just that simple..

It's a shame that BC thought so little of his legacy that he threw it away so easily and thoughtlessly..

[Tatiana]

31. Can we just give props to Obama for running a very smart campaign?

The Obama camp realized that they could wind up having the most pledged delegates and still lose this thing. So what did they do? They spotlighted the superdelegates (a large majority of whom were Clinton supporters). Obama has painted Clinton into a no-win situation with the delegates. From the NYT article:

Clinton advisers have said that superdelegates should support the candidate who they believe would be the best nominee and the best president, while Obama advisers have argued that superdelegates should reflect the will of the voters and also take into account who they believe would be the best nominee.

Y'all do realize that Clinton just gave all the superdelegates who were supporting her the excuse as to why they'll be voting for Obama (if he appears poised to have the most delegates), right? They'll say even "Mrs. Clinton herself told us to go with the person who would be the best nominee." On the other hand, if Obama appears to have strong coattails, other superdelegates will have the Obama excuse of being compelled to "reflect the will of the voters."

Obama's camp is out-strategizing the highest-paid strategists of this contest. And speaking of overpad strategists:

“She has consistently shown an electoral resiliency in difficult situations that have made her a winner,” Mr. Penn said. “Senator Obama has in fact never had a serious Republican challenger.”

And Hillary has? Rick Lazio? C'mon. Back in 2000, Hillary was http://www.slate.com/id/83636/">happy to have a Kennedy (Caroline) come support her on the campaign trail. Once again, Penn illustrates that he's out of touch with the current dynamics of the American public. And John Spencer? Really. What serious Republican challengers she's faced!

:eyes:

[bigtree]

41. overblown nonsense

I really think this is a low and opportunistic article.

[JeanGrey]

42. I wish she had enough class to concede and drop out after

today. It would be so much better for everyone.