Hillary 08?

Hey folks,

I have said before that I thought it would truly be something to watch if it boils down to being a three way battle in 08. I asked you if you could imagine this. Clinton vs Giuliani vs Lieberman? Talk about one hell of a show.

Well the big news today is Hillary. According to CNN,

"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding discussions about and interviewing potential campaign staff for a White House bid in 2008, sources say.

"She said before the election that after the election she would be considering a presidential run," said Howard Wolfson, a senior Clinton adviser. "Part of that process is seeking the advice and counsel of her colleagues in New York.""

They go on to say that they feel the polls show she would be a lock.

"A CNN poll taken two weeks ago showed the New York senator favored by 33 percent of people asked who they were "most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in the year 2008."

Clinton was ranked first among 10 potential Democratic candidates. Second place for "likely" support was a statistical tie among Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (15 percent); former Vice President Al Gore (14 percent), who ran for president in 2000; and John Edwards (14 percent), John Kerry's running mate in 2000."

But here’s the thing. Not everyone thinks that she is "electable." I have talked about this before. But some in her own party have even started to talk about this. Then you have a virtual no name come out of nowhere to announce that he is running.

"Last week, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack announced he would seek the Democratic nomination. Indiana Democrat Sen. Evan Bayh announced Sunday he is considering running for the White House."

Now do not be so quick to dismiss these. Remember a lot of people said Bill who? But back to Mrs. Clinton’s "electability." according to the AP

"While Hillary Rodham Clinton tops every national poll of likely 2008 Democratic presidential contenders, the New York senator is dogged by questions of "electability" — political code for whether she can win enough swing states to prevail in a general election.

It's a gauge typically applied to Democrats, as few question the crossover appeal of the GOP front-runner, Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record). And for activists eager to recapture the White House after eight years of George W. Bush, electability remains a crucial yardstick by which Clinton, especially, seems to be measured.

Clinton began discussions last week with fellow New York lawmakers about her White House prospects and met Sunday with the state's Democratic governor-elect — all indications she is stepping up plans to join a growing field of potential contenders for 2008."

People in her own party do not feel she can win. Dick Harpootlian, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party said,

"She's a senator, she'd be the first woman running, and she's Hillary Clinton. All of that is almost insurmountable for a general election.

There are people who would write a check and die for her, but there are plenty of others who wouldn't vote for her if she promised to eliminate the income tax and give free ice cream to everyone. People have made up their minds about her, and that doesn't give her much room to maneuver."

Then you have other negative aspects for her to deal with.

"Despite her centrist six-year Senate voting record, Clinton's reputation remains deeply rooted in her polarizing eight years as first lady. Skeptics say she may still be too liberal for many voters, who recall her husband's scandal-plagued presidency and her own audacious effort to reform the nation's health care system. And no one knows how her status as the first serious female candidate would play out.

"Everyone knows Hillary Clinton can raise the money and that she has a good team, but it's mitigated by all the mumbling that she's not electable," said Joe Trippi, who managed Howard Dean's upstart 2004 presidential campaign."

I’ve asked this question before. Do you folks TRULY believe that this country is ready, when it comes right down to stepping into the voting booth, for the first female President? I’m not so sure that we are. We have come a long way in this country, but the truth is, we have a long way to go. Then as they were talking about, we are not just talking A woman, we are talking about Clinton. That’s a lot of baggage.

Like I said, it would be interesting to watch the race, but the Democrats are not going to give ANYONE the nod, unless they are pretty sure that they will win. Right now? I’m not so sure they think she can.
Peter

Sources:
CNN- "Hillary Clinton discussing presidential bid"

AP-"Clinton dogged by 'electability' questions"