Hillary Clinton ahead of pack
How does the title ‘President Hillary Rodham Clinton’ strike you’More and more Democrats appear to favor making the current front-runner’s fantasy a reality in 2008.
At this point, Sen. Clinton seems all but anointed as her party’s presidential nominee. According to conservative columnist William Rusher and others, she is the clear choice of some 47 percent of likely Democratic voters. Meanwhile, her closest competitor, Sen. Barack Obama, comes in at about 25 percent. Former senator and unsuccessful vice presidential candidate John Edwards is a distant third at about 11 percent.
Before Hillary supporters break out the good champagne and begin to toast their victor, they would be wise to ponder the volatility of polls and her high negative ratings as well.
Public opinion polls are, at best, a slippery snapshot, taken in time and subject to the whims of those who frame the questions and those who answer them. When it comes to how our citizens are ‘likely to vote,’ they may say one thing now and do the opposite thing when they actually cast the votes that count.
Even the nature of the votes that count continues to change. For example, because of the so-called ‘front-loading’ of the 2008 presidential primaries, we may well know who the Democratic and Republican ‘chosen’ are by early February. The key date to focus on is Feb. 5. That is when some 20 states will hold their presidential primaries. They could confirm or drastically alter the impact of the more traditional early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
The obvious challenge for Sen. Clinton is how to ‘accentuate the positive’ and ‘eliminate the negative,’ as the old song goes. To her credit, I think she is making steady progress on both. She is less shrill and more confident, and less left and more centered on the issues that resonate with many Americans.
If Sen. Clinton prevails in the 2008 presidential primaries, her next big challenge will be picking just the right person for her running mate in the general elections. How to ‘balance the ticket’ is always an important question. In 2008, it could be pivotal for Sen. Clinton.
I believe Bill would be an excellent choice ‘ not Bill Clinton ‘ Bill Richardson.
Gov. Richardson would bring sterling credentials to the race. As a former member of Congress, UN envoy, cabinet head, and current popular New Mexico Governor, he has a wealth of experience and expertise in foreign and domestic issues. He is also a proven vote-getter in his home state. These attributes, plus his Hispanic heritage, could help tip the balance for the Democrats in some swing states, especially those with numerous Hispanic voters.
How far Sen. Clinton actually gets in her quest for the White House, with or without Bill Richardson, will ultimately be for the voters to decide.??No matter who her Republican opponent might be, we will have a clear choice. Whether you love Hillary or loathe her, that is the American way.
Thomas B. Vaughn is an instructor at Motlow College and co-host of the radio show ‘Viewpoints,’ which airs on WCPI 91.3 FM.