Thursday, March 27, 2008

Clinton's tactics are alienating super delegates.

The super delegates are saying that Hillary's tactics are turning them off her and that they would much rather see which candidate is better at fighting John McCain rather than bashing the other Democratic candidate.

The Clinton campaign has been actively wooing these delegates, believing a plurality represents the strongest, and increasingly the only, way for her to win the nomination. But one undeclared delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the recent tactics are turning her and other superdelegates off.

"I don't think anybody's saying 'step aside,' but 'stop with the garbage' is what people want to say," the delegate said. "Just chill a little bit."

As activists committed to the party, they said, they have been impressed by Obama's ability to bring new Democrats into the fold, and they worry that Clinton is threatening that.

"We like the fact that there is a candidate that has won so many states overwhelmingly," the delegate said. "We're feeling her advisors are leading her in a path that diminishes her as well as him."
I'm surprised that they are willing to let her keep going whilst she is inflicting so much harm on the presumptive nominee and can only imagine that this won't last forever if Clinton keeps attacking Obama as opposed to McCain.

But it is the tactics of her campaign - and it's tone - that appears to be annoying so many super delegates, just as it is annoying almost every sensible Democratic supporter, with the exception of Taylor March and the guys over at My DD.
Several said they were angered by comments from James Carville, who called Bill Richardson "Judas" for backing Obama after serving in the Clinton White House. One delegate said Richardson's rationale for supporting Obama, and his implicit frustration at the Clintons' heavy-handed approach to garnering his support, was echoed among superdelegates.

Others said they were frustrated by recent reports that Clinton embellished her description of landing in Bosnia as First Lady, and said it suggested she would do anything to win. "I don't remember what movie I saw two weeks ago; I don't necessarily remember what I had for dinner last night," one superdelegate said. "But I would remember having to duck and run from sniper fire."

The final straw, though, were Clinton's comments Tuesday, when she said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright "would not have been my pastor." Several superdelegates saw it as a direct, personal attack on Obama.

"I think it's very dangerous for any candidate to constantly thrum on what they perceive as sensational criticisms of their opponent," said Debra Kozikowski, an uncommitted superdelegate from Massachusetts. "I would be more likely to respond positively to discussions of issues that effect Americans versus what might be perceived as character flaws."
And as Clinton and others continue to put forward their bizarre reasons for why the super delegates should disenfranchise the electorate and give the nomination to Hillary, the good news is that they appear not to be buying into any of her arguments.
And they say they are not buying some of the Clinton campaign's explanations as to why they should support her, whether it is her victories in large states, primary states or those likely to go Democratic in the November election.

"Periodically, over the last couple of weeks, you will see a news story or get something from the campaign, and you'll go, 'How stupid do you think I am?" one uncommitted superdelegate said. "All of us watch television all the time, read the newspapers. We all play with the little charts online too. We know it is virtually impossible."
Only yesterday Taylor Marsh linked to a story - without condemning it - which stated that Hillary intended to pursue the Tonya Harding Option, and that, if necessary, she would have to break Obama's back and make him totally unelectable in order for her to win victory. That was simply the latest in a series of shameful pronouncements from Camp Hillary that imply she will put herself in front of the good of party in her desire to grab the nomination.

Hopefully, this warning from the super delegates will serve as a timely reminder that this tactic is proving counter productive. And, hopefully, if she doesn't stop, the super delegates will declare ahead of Denver and finish her campaign off.

Click title for full article.

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