Hillary Clinton's Strong Start

[arely staircase]

The entry into the Democratic contest by Bernie Sanders was welcome from a Clintonite perspective, because it filled a potentially dangerous vacuum. With his long record of service to progressive causes, Sanders is popular enough to garner a decent-sized following among liberal Democrats, but he’s almost certainly too far to the left to represent a serious threat to Hillary. So far, at least, his presence has been more of a problem for Martin O’Malley, the former governor of Maryland, who is set to officially announce his candidacy on Saturday. As I noted back in March, O’Malley is a serious figure who demands some respect. As governor, he eliminated the death penalty, legalized gay marriage, and championed various good-government initiatives. But with Sanders already out there on the stump, O’Malley has struggled to gain traction.

A new poll of likely Democratic voters conducted by Quinnipiac University illustrates the scale of the task that is facing Clinton’s challengers. The survey, which was carried out from May 19th to May 26th, showed her getting fifty-seven per cent of the vote. Sanders was in second place, with fifteen per cent. O’Malley got just one per cent, and so did two other possible candidates, Jim Webb, a former U.S. senator from Virginia, and Lincoln Chafee, a former governor and U.S. senator from Rhode Island. Of course, it is early in the process, and anything could happen between now and the end of the primaries. At this stage, though, Clinton is sitting pretty.
....

For Clinton’s campaign team in Brooklyn Heights, that means things are on track. Of course, they won’t necessarily stay that way. The campaign is just getting started, the country is more or less equally divided, and winning a third term of office isn’t easy for any party. Now it’s up to Clinton to finish up her “listening tour,” lay out her policy platform, and take it to the Republicans.


http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/at-this-early-stage-hillary-clinton-looks-strong

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I'll admit that I hadn't given O'Malley much thought after some of the reactions to him in B'More...

but he's sounding more & more like a credible second choice. Hopefully, he can mend fences with the civil rights groups who he has pissed off.

[arely staircase]

4. yeah. that is the thing all of our candidates are electable

The GOP has like a dozen candidates and none of them are worth a tinker's damn.

[Divernan]

2. Same poll: Only 39% consider HRC "honest & trustworthy"

In terms of the level of personal trust that voters have in Clinton, the drip-drip-drip of stories does seem to be having an effect. Fifty-three per cent of respondents to the Quinnipiac survey said that they do not consider her to be “honest and trustworthy,” while only thirty-nine per cent said that they did. Among self-identified Independents, the numbers were even more lopsided: sixty-one per cent to thirty-one per cent.

[arely staircase]

3. yeah but

These findings suggest that voters are more sophisticated than they are sometimes given credit for. Rather than looking at politicians in black-and-white terms, they are able to size up candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, and to reach an over-all view based on what they are looking for in a leader. At a time when the world seems like an increasingly dangerous place and a majority of Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track, perceived strength and decisiveness may well count for a great deal. “Can you get low marks on honesty and still be a strong leader?” said Tim Malloy, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll, in a news release. “Sure you can. Hillary Clinton crushes her democratic rivals and keeps the GOP hoard [sic] at arm’s length.”

[RobertEarl]

9. Bernie is gonna surprise the shit out of some of you

Because he has the real activists up in arms and willing to do battle. Clinton had best watch out, because if her's get nasty they will just piss us off even more. Yall don't want that, trust me. Play nice and you will be fine.

[arely staircase]

10. I doubt she will "get nasty" but I certainly expect

that Clinton will not stand around and let any opponent attack her. Personally I hope for some fairly smart debates- especially compared to the full population of a large looney bin that is the other side.

[RobertEarl]

11. To be clear

You are discounting Bernie? And not saying Bernie will attack her? And that you are not calling the 90% of DUers who are for Bernie, the "large looney bin that is the other side." Right? Because some could misconstrue your words.

Now, it would be wise to not discount Bernie and all his followers, right?

[arely staircase]

12. wtf? nt

[RobertEarl]

13. You didn't read my first post?

I will repeat it:

Because he (Bernie) has the real activists up in arms and willing to do battle. Clinton had best watch out, because if her's get nasty they will just piss us off even more. Yall don't want that, trust me. Play nice and you will be fine.

I figure you did not read it well the first time because your reply had zero to do with my comment.

[RobertEarl]

14. Here is a sample of what I am saying

In this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026817096

The Clinton campaign gets dirty. And Bernie's supporters tear it to pieces. The OP writer didn't even bother to show itself again the massacre was so bad. Here's the takeaway: Don't mess with the Bernie people, you will get Berned.

[arely staircase]

15. you seen plenty pissed already

I have no idea wgat you are on about. You are being agressive and rude. That makes me not care what you saying. Warning people not to piss you off is arrogant. Get over yourself.

[Cha]

5. It's so early yet.. but, I can't wait until Hillary's Official Launch at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four

Freedoms Park in New York City! And, starts traveling across the country!



snip//

"A campaign official says that the event will take place at the Roosevelt Island park and be followed by a "nationally webcast organizing meeting in Iowa." Then the Democratic presidential candidate will do another campaign swing through Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada."

More about Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11078038

Mahalo arely!

[arely staircase]

6. awesome

[Cha]

7. Kick!

[arely staircase]

8. still recommended nt