Going negative proved positive in Clinton's comeback

[babylonsister]

Al From and the DLC know best...

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-assess5mar05,0,2206492.story


Going negative proved positive in Clinton's comeback

The New York senator learned how to make 'experience' compete with Obama's 'change.'

By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 5, 2008

snip//

Before Clinton's victories on Tuesday, some Democrats had hoped that an ad hoc "Supreme Court" of party elders such as former Vice President Al Gore, former President Carter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or even onetime rivals such as Richardson or former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina might step in to persuade Clinton to step aside for the sake of party unity.

But Al From, who as founder of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council has a long association with Clinton and her husband, the former president, said Tuesday that such a scenario was unlikely.

And he said a drawn-out, negative campaign could actually prove useful.

"I'd much rather have a Democratic candidate who's had to figure out how to handle some fairly tough shots in the primary than one who gets knocked to the floor by the Republicans and doesn't quite know how to respond," From said.

But if Texas and Ohio are any indication, the negativity will take its toll. Exit polls published by CNN showed that barely more than four in 10 Democrats said they would be satisfied no matter which candidate won the nomination.

That kind of malaise is a stark contrast to the kind of universal enthusiasm seen from Democratic voters through early voting in January and much of last month. Even as Clinton got blown out in South Carolina, for example, more than three-quarters of voters said they would be satisfied if she were the nominee.

If the campaign stretches to June or even to a contested convention in August, reuniting the party could be difficult for either candidate.

[Medusa]

1. She's the GOP's wet dream

and our party's worst nightmare as a nominee. Don't think for one second she's been fully "vetted"--that's complete and utter horseshit, about as believable as her false claim of "35 years" of experience.

[9119495]

4. Well, even if she was vetted...

the GOP will call "do over" and we'll live it all again. Does she think once something has been tried out it is forever dead from that point on? Ask Obama, re: Rezko.

[papau]

20. I disagree - she is not the one proposing corporate tax cuts and less regulation

[9119495]

2. I've said it all day...Obama needs to stay positive.

If he does, he has the moral high ground...and of course the delegates. If she swiftboats him, she'll lose in November and Obama will be the martyr that could walk to the nomination in four years. Either way, he wins. He needs to maintain this different style of politics.

By the way, does anyone know if that pro-Hillary nasty 527 group ended up having any pull? I'm nowhere near Ohio.

[NC_Nurse]

3. I'm sorry, but I just find this really depressing. I absolutely DESPISE this

kind of politics. It's so sad that Americans are still swayed by mud-slinging and fear-mongering. Yuck.
Makes me want to drop out of political life and give up hoping that anything will ever change.

What a bunch of shit.:-(

[babylonsister]

11. I do, too. And do we want Obama to go negative to counter it, and

by so doing lower the bar for himself?

[NC_Nurse]

18. Personally, no. I think his message is strong the way it is.

If it doesn't hold up against this bullshit then it won't in the GE.
I guess America will get what it deserves.

[babylonsister]

19. I agree. He has run so hard without throwing the slime, why

should he sully himself now. It's not worth it. And that's key: America will get what she deserves.

[abluelady]

5. It's So Interesting to Me

We claim over and over we don't like the negative ads, etc., but damn it they work. The GOP wins over and over playing that game. I don't get it. Is it PC to say we don't like negativity but in reality we do???

[atreides1]

16. Of Course Negative Ads Work

They play on the fears of the voters, and since 9/11 the "land of the free and the home of the brave", has become a den of fearful little lemmings.

But I guess I shouldn't insult lemmings like that.

[Lerkfish]

6. scorched earth policy

republicans are loving it.

[SteppingRazor]

7. I think From does have a point here, though:

"I'd much rather have a Democratic candidate who's had to figure out how to handle some fairly tough shots in the primary than one who gets knocked to the floor by the Republicans and doesn't quite know how to respond," From said.



I think that's very true. If and when Obama gets the nomination, I'd rather he be able to respond to these attacks readily rather than be blindsided by the GOP machine.

[Lerkfish]

8. well, I guess we should get used to "president Mccain", then

because going more negative will weaken both candiates in the primary, and when it comes to the general, you can't out-negative republicans, so that strategy will backfire.


I hate to say it, but if this goes on much longer, democrats will snatch another defeat from the jaws of victory.

[babylonsister]

17. My fear as well; how does Obama respond, or does he?

I'm so confused! His political instincts are good. I guess we watch it play out.

[galadrium]

9. I don't think going negative is what did it

I wouldn't call 3 wins out of 16 states a comeback. Large numbers of Republicans voted for her to give us the weaker candidate.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. I sense a lot of sorrow in this thread

Let me lighten it up a bit...

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. It's the Cowboy way

The Goldwater cowboy girl way.

[flpoljunkie]

13. DLC's Al From's candidate Hillary will not benefit from a drawn-out campaign--John McCain will.

But hey, the Clinton camp is proving every day that if she can't have it, she will hand the nomination to John McCain on a platter. After all, Terry McAuliffe, says "it's her turn!"--no matter the cost to the party or to our chances in November.

[babylonsister]

15. I am just ill; it's all about them and has nothing to do with us. nt

[redqueen]

14. What a laugh.

Did you see the report from the Obama campaign last night? The one that predicted a 10-state winning streak, in which they figured Clinton would take Maine?

Her going negative did nothing to help her. :)

[OhioChick]

21. K&R

:kick:

[RememberWellstone]

22. Awww gawd.

not this pile of bologna again.