Memorandum
To: Interested Parties
From: Hari Sevugan,
Communications Director, Chris Dodd for President
Date: November 8, 2007
Re: Impact of Perceptions of "Honesty," "Integrity" on Electabilty
The lack of candor with which Senator Clinton answered many of the questions posed to her at the recent Democratic Presidential Candidates' Debate in Philadelphia has had a significant impact on public perceptions of her "honesty."
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released today shows that only 34% of Americans view Senator Clinton as honest, while a plurality of Americans, 43%, rate Senator Clinton negatively for "honesty." [Wall Street Journal, 11/8/07]
These findings are all the more significant in light of the fact that public polling has repeatedly shown that Americans have said that "honesty" and "integrity" are the top characteristics they are looking for in a president, ahead of specific positions on issues including the war, the economy and other areas of national concern.
. . . Simply put, voters tell us clearly that Senator Clinton is perceived to have least what they say they want most: honesty. As such, these findings pose a significant hurdle for Senator Clinton to overcome in a general election and are telling to the issue of "electability.
Let's consider first of all the wisdom of a candidate who barely registers in the polls citing polls for an "electability" argument. Well, it is plain idiotic. Only a captive of the Beltway could think this is smart.
Second, how is campaigning negatively against Clinton, when you are not even an afterthought as an alternative to her, be a smart campaign move?
Finally, and most importantly, how can you, when you are running an issues based campaign, argue for a poll that says "the top characteristics they are looking for in a president, ahead of specific positions on issues including the war, the economy and other areas of national concern."
Only a Beltway consultant could have come up with that strategy. But it seems clear that Dodd is embracing that Beltway strategy and abandoning the issues based strategy that had garnered my support.
And thus, I am abandoning Senator Dodd. I care about issues. Not horseraces. And of course, if I cared about horseraces, Dodd would not be a top tier choice either.
My search for a candidate begins anew. If I lived in Iowa and had to vote today, my choices NOW would be Obama first, Dodd second, Edwards third, Clinton fourth.
Let's see what happens going forward. Perhaps I will announce support for a candidate. Maybe even Dodd.
