Hillary Asserts She's More Electable Than Obama

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:23:08 PM EST
Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, 2008 (all tags)

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Earlier I wrote why I think Hillary Clinton is more electable. Here's what Hillary said today in Pennsylvania:

Clinton also said there was no "contradiction" from her previous position when she told last week's ABC News debate audience that she thought Obama was electable after weeks in which her main case to the superdelegates who could decide the nomination was that Obama could not win a general election fight against presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

"Yes, yes, yes," Clinton said during the debate last week at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall.

Today, she said, "He can be elected. I WILL be elected." "There is a difference," the New York senator said. "Look at the electoral map: I've carried states that a Democrat must have to win. Anything is possible, but I am more likely" to gain the White House against McCain.

McCain's strategy now is to go after the toss-up states, particularly in the west and southwest. [More...]

While the campaign would no doubt have to fight to hold on to some of the states that Bush won in 2004 - especially Ohio, but also Virginia, Iowa and Nevada, for example - advisers also see opportunities to pick up states that the Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, won in 2004.

Those include Pennsylvania, where they think McCain could appeal to independent voters; New Hampshire, where Democrats have made recent gains but where McCain practically became a resident last year during the primary campaign; Minnesota, where voters have an independent bent and where the Republicans are holding their convention; and Wisconsin, where McCain campaigned last week.

His advisers said that McCain, being from Arizona, could make gains in the West and hold on to the Southwest, even though Democrats have made inroads in some of those areas. McCain even wants to take aim at California, which Republicans have singled out in recent years to no avail; he gave several major speeches there this month.

As I wrote in my earlier post, selecting the nominee needs to include consideration of which candidate can better hold on to the 20 states we won in 2004 and which is more likely to capture states Republicans won in 2004 but could go either way this time.

Here's my list of critical states the Dems need to work to protect: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wisconsin.

States we could take from Republicans and McCain: Arkansas; Colorado; Florida; Iowa; Missouri; Nevada; New Mexico; North Carolina; Ohio; and Virginia.

Substantial consideration should be given to the candidate better able to hold/win those states.

< Electability: Why Hillary Is More Likely to Beat McCain | Ratcheting Up the PA Ad War >

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Hillary Asserts She's More Electable Than Obama | 21 comments (21 topical)

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I hate to be a fangurl but this (5.00 / 8) (#2)
by stillife on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:29:51 PM EST

Today, she said, "He can be elected. I WILL be elected."

is why my love for her knows no bounds. For eight years, I've been longing for a strong Democratic candidate who can withstand the slings and arrows of the Repubs and the MSM.

She's the one I've been waiting for.

She must be getting some good signs (5.00 / 8) (#3)
by Kathy on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:31:37 PM EST

from Super D's to be taking her argument to the street, as it were. And it's a good reminder that Obama hasn't been able to close the deal against Clinton despite every single advantage possible.

PA is going to be a game changer.

Go, Hillary, go!

: I think so too (5.00 / 6) (#5)
by stillife on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:37:21 PM EST

He's been propped up by every means possible. Nobody has had more advantages as a candidate than Barack Obama! And yet - here we are, in late April, and they're neck and neck.
Go, Hillary, go! C'mon, all you gun-toting, bitter, bowlers in PA - do the right thing and vote for Hillary!

First Post (5.00 / 6) (#6)
by coolit on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:40:40 PM EST

I just want to say thank you to all of you. Thank you so much. This campaign had been so brutal before I found TalkLeft. It has been so frustrating to see the cult-like stupor that everyone has been entranced in for Obama.

I do have to say I hate the divisiveness of this campaign. It is the really ugly side of politics. This has come down to a war of character and not of policy and we will be lucky with either one of these candidates.

I do think that Obama really offers words as his primary strength and he pretty much contradicts his message of hope and clean campaign every day. Rendell did a great job of exposing that today on CBS.

Keep up the hard work! Can't wait for Tuesday.

: TalkLeft One Of The Last Refuges For Sanity (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by PssttCmere08 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:53:43 PM EST

Really, I had no idea about this site until a about two weeks ago and was I relieved. Being on some of the more rabid sites was taking its toll. My niece tried to forbid me from going on the internet cuz she said it was driving me crazy.
Being here shows me that no one's opinion is negated, even if it is not in line with yours. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
And, yes I believe Hillary received a clear sign from the superdelegates today when they said they aren't falling in line with Dean's decree to decide now who you are going to vote for and if they have to vote against the will of the people, they will do it because they want to win in November.

: another refugee from dailykos? (none / 0) (#17)
by dotcommodity on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:18:42 PM EST

its warm and cozy, we're all here, draw up a chair...

: BTD had a post (none / 0) (#23)
by standingup on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 12:19:29 AM EST

Friday on the two Indiana polls - Now You Know, Not All Polls Are Equal - from SUSA. The poll showing Obama with the 5 pt advantage is a poll SUSA did for Indiana University using a different methodology from the polls that SUSA does otherwise. Same pollster but different roles/control.
Hope that helps. BTD's post has more information.

Don't forget about NJ (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Lil on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:49:06 PM EST

needing to be protected. Before the last months i didn't think electability would a problem for either one. I remember trying to calm my father down when he was ranting about Obama (He supports Hillary). I was telling him, well if he gets the nomination, we have to get him elected so he has to watch what he says about him (negative). Then yesterday I was ranting about Obama and my father gave me the same advice. I started laughing about how we came full circle.

I know it is only anecdotal, but I have a few friends express doubts about Obama even though they voted for him in the primary (buyer's remorse). I think a real fear is growing about losing this in Nov. I wish Obama had just waited. He may win it, but I really believe it wasn't his time. If he wins, it will be in spite of himself and his inexperience.

On the other hand, if Hillary pulls it off, I think she will beat McCain more handily. This primary will have toughened her up and prepared her for the GE in a way that a free ride would have. At this point in time, she would be the best president, Obama would be a consolation prize, IMO.

: meant to say"free ride would NOT have (none / 0) (#9)
by Lil on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:50:42 PM EST

Wow you couldn't be more wrong (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Marvin42 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:56:37 PM EST

If you paid specialist to guide you and committed your life to it.

The democrats will only win IF the armadillo's clothing are gender appropriate.

Yikes.

I believe TX has a law (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by Kathy on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:00:36 PM EST

against dressing armadillos in pantsuits. Could even be federal. Aren't armadillos an endangered species?


: I doubt armadillos (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by RalphB on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:17:53 PM EST

are an endangered species in Central Park, let alone here in TX. A pantsuit would be out of the question though.

: criminalize the highway drivers... (none / 0) (#15)
by white n az on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:13:34 PM EST

makes sense

Hillary is (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by IKE on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:58:10 PM EST

the more electable candidate. There super delegates know this and this is why she is going to win.

Sweeet! (none / 0) (#1)
by Stellaaa on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:26:15 PM EST

New Hampshire? (none / 0) (#4)
by Nasarius on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:33:34 PM EST

Sure, it's a swing state, but is it really worth putting resources into a state worth 4 EVs?

So...Obama is not more electable? (none / 0) (#10)
by Stellaaa on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 04:56:20 PM EST

I can't tell... (none / 0) (#14)
by white n az on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:12:13 PM EST

if you said this because you felt it important to say it or if you wanted to convince us if this were true.

If you merely felt like getting that proclamation off your chest, I say bravo!

If you were expecting that you were going to convince us of the truth of this, some may believe this, some clearly don't. All of the pollsters that break down by electoral votes show McCain leading Obama.

But an armadillo in drag? It that because you think that Americans are so stupid that they love their rodents or because the Republican brand is so damaged, McCain won the nomination?

: The Republican Brand Is A Lot Less Damaged (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by MO Blue on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:22:31 PM EST

than it use to be thanks to Obama rehabilitating it every chance he gets.

electabilty (none / 0) (#18)
by NYMARJ on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 05:28:37 PM EST

What happened to all the earlier talk of Obama carrying North and South Carolina and Georgia - as the game changer candidate. On super tuesday, had that argument with a friend who strongly supports Obama - Tried to talk some sense into him but there was a lot of that kind of talk around that time. Now - not so much.

Assertions of electability . . . (none / 0) (#21)
by mdcsf on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:34:06 PM EST

. . . at this point in the calendar are just that: assertions, and nothing more.

To quote our old friend Atrios [emphases mine]:

I find these discussions . . . to be quite tiresome. First I reject the idea that one should pick a candidate based on some imagined preferences of other voters. And second, there just isn't enough evidence out there to support the idea that either candidate is "stronger." People can have opinions about this, of course . . .

And in this primary election the subtext is to some degree, whether stated or unstated, "Is the country more likely to vote for a woman or a black guy?" I don't know the answer to that nor does anyone else. . .

[T]he Republicans will attack anyone and it's dumb to base your support on that idea. And none of us, not even David Brooks, can really guess who people will vote for.