Hiilary's Double-Edged Sword

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 27, 2008
All Rights Reserved.                    

             Delivering the speech of her life, a well-rested and feisty Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) gave a frenzied audience at Denver’s Pepsi Center buyers’ remorse.  Her emphatic speech asked her supporters to endorse Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.), while, at the same time, reminded them she would have made a better candidate.  Hillary covered most bases but didn’t relent on her frequent concerns about Barack’s lack of experience.  Her negative talking points during the bitter primary fight now serve as GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) central argument of why Barack isn’t ready for primetime.  Hillary’s speech exposed serious cracks inside the Party, raising questions why the 60-year-old junior New York senator wasn’t picked as Barack’s running mate.   Picking Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) was a crushing blow to Hillary’s faithful.

             Lurking in the background, former President Bill Clinton displayed a range of emotions, ranging from adoring pride or to a smug “I told you so.”  When he takes his primetime slot tonight, he can be expected to remind voters how good things were during his presidency and how bad things have become under Bush.  While making the case against McCain no doubt involves reminding voters how bad things have become, Bill must sell the Party’s nominee.  Still licking his wounds—at least for now—about the end of the Clinton dynasty, it may be difficulty to throw his soul behind Barack.  His gyrating emotions during Hillary’s speech revealed complex relationships inside the Clinton family.  His daughter Chelsea introduced Hillary as “her hero,” not one word about her father.  Healing the Party won’t be easy for the diehard Hillary supporters, uninspired by Barack and Biden.

           When the convention convenes today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will preside over the state-by-state roll-call voting placing both names into nomination.  At some point, Hillary is expected to stop the roll-call, throwing support to Barack.  “Are you ready for victory?  Then you must be ready for unity.  That is the only way we are going to win and have this victory,” Pelosi told Iowa’s convention delegates.  What Pelosi and others don’t get is that Hillary’s zealous supporters won’t jump in line behind Obama.  When Barack’s brain-trust picked Biden, Hillary’s fans wretched, unable to accept the decision.  “Barack Obama is my candidate,” Hillary told delegates Tuesday night to a muted reaction.  “An he must be our president,” realizing that without Party unity Obama can’t get their on his own.  Her passionate speech only reinforced her supporters’ grief and anguish.

           Bill’s speech tonight must address “buyers’ remorse,” itemizing President George W. Bush’s abysmal failures since he left office in 2001.  He must not only link McCain with Bush he must remind voters about potential perils under more Republican rule.  Hillary tried to remind her supporters that she’s fighting for the soldier in Iraq, the welfare-mother in Detroit or the unemployed tech-worker in Silicon Valley.  Hillary’s moved on but her loyal following is still left at the station.  Bill could go a long way in mending fences, blasting the White House for mismanaging the nation over the last eight years.  “We’re on the same team,” and none of use can sit on the sidelines,” said Hillary hoping to pull her following out the funk that threatens Barack’s chances in November.  Bill’s speech should light a fire under Hillary’s supporters, urging them to shift their loyalty to Barack.

             McCain hopes to rain of Barack’s parade, announcing his running mate perhaps on Aug. 28, the day Obama accepts the nomination before 80,000 screaming Democrats at Denver’s Mile High Stadium.  McCaim must counter Barack’s move picking Biden, raising the stock of his once bitter rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.  While others swirl around his big choice, including former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and long-shot Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), only Romney offers McCain the kind of warrior needed for the battle ahead.  Romney helps McCain with instant cash and possibly tilting the balance in Michigan, where his father George served as governor [1963-69].  Despite the underdog heading into November, McCain’s strategists are heartened by Democratic disunity and Barack’s pick of Biden for VP.         

           Hillary speech reminded the faithful that the best candidate didn’t get either spot on the Democratic ticket.  Barack’s decision to bypass the “dream ticket” could come back to bite him in November.  No matter what Hillary and Bill’s problems, picking her for VP would have bought more votes heading into November.  McCain plans to counter as early as Thursday with Romney, hoping to derail Obama on his big day.  Unless Barack offers a concrete prescription for success, the Dem’s convention could go down as one of the most wasted extravaganzas in modern political history.  Before Bill gets his turn in primetime, Biden will get to make his case against McCain.  He has a chance to help heal the rift with Hillary’s faithful and make a convincing case for changing parties in November.  If Bill does his job, he’ll remind voters what happens when mediocrity hits the White House.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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