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Silent_Greene

(19 posts)
10. *
Thu Jan 14, 2016, 06:40 PM
Jan 2016

*Worst-Case Scenario: Hillary loses the first two states (which I don't think she will) and still ends up as our nominee!

From Slate:

Even if Hillary staggers out of New Hampshire with her second loss in as many contests, she’ll still have the same massive advantages she enjoys today: the campaign and super PAC cash, the ground game, the endorsements, the pledged superdelegates, and the general support of a party establishment that won’t soon forget that her challenger is not technically even a part of the Democratic Party. An unexpected loss in Iowa and a less surprising one in New Hampshire wouldn’t change that.

She’d also have a chance to get back on her feet—and fast. Consider what comes next: Nevada (Feb. 20) and South Carolina (Feb. 27), two significantly more diverse states than lily-white Iowa and lily-whiter New Hampshire, and two places where Clinton currently enjoys massive leads in the polls. According to the RealClearPolitics rolling average, Clinton holds a 20-point advantage in Nevada and a whopping 40-point lead in South Carolina. March brings better news still for the former secretary of state, starting with a Super Tuesday slate that includes friendly territory in the form of southern states like Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The rest of the month, meanwhile, includes several big, delegate-rich contests that she won eight years ago during her battle with Barack Obama: Michigan, Florida, and Ohio. Yes, Sanders could have the momentum this time next month, but it’ll be on him to to find a way to keep it as he heads into significantly more challenging terrain than Iowa or New Hampshire, which were always going to offer his best chance at pulling off an early upset or two.

None of this is to say that Clinton has the nomination locked up already. She doesn’t. But if Iowa and New Hampshire are must-wins for anyone, it’s Sanders. Hillary can—and likely would—survive a slow start and still be the one standing on stage at the Democratic National Convention when the balloons come down this summer. Bernie, though, has no such margin of error.

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More from FiveThirtyEight in Iowa ... BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #1
graph for Nate Silver: jan 14 = 82% chance of Hillary winning Iowa riversedge Jan 2016 #4
That jibes with betting sites Treant Jan 2016 #5
I hope this comes true Coolest Ranger Jan 2016 #2
It's like the Twilight Zone BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #3
It is an alternate reality that is for sure. I am so glad that Hillary is strong and has a good team riversedge Jan 2016 #6
The crap that is being thrown at her is nothing new. BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #7
Love your poster. Here you deserve a treat.... riversedge Jan 2016 #14
Thanks, riversedge! Cookies are BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #17
Hillary wins Iowa and it's over for Bernie Tommy2Tone Jan 2016 #8
Iowa and NH both receive BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #9
Perception is sometimes everything. Tommy2Tone Jan 2016 #12
As a Hillary supporter, I have BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #18
We agree Tommy2Tone Jan 2016 #27
Exactly! BlueCaliDem Jan 2016 #29
Bernie is winning the race for people who don't vote. Tommy2Tone Jan 2016 #31
I am not convinced that he will win NH leftofcool Jan 2016 #15
Always a good caution, loc. :) BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #19
* Silent_Greene Jan 2016 #10
IMO, this is spot on. BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #11
Exactly. The difference between now and 2008 is that the party is not split between the two Metric System Jan 2016 #13
The other difference is Bernie shows no signs of rallying people of color vote Tommy2Tone Jan 2016 #16
Exactly. eom BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #20
That's gotten me curious, too. BlueCaliDem Jan 2016 #30
She's going to win the first states. Don't care what NH polling says FloridaBlues Jan 2016 #21
In my heart, I hope you're right. BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #22
A loss early will not be a disaster for her. It will make Bernie a more serious candidate Squinch Jan 2016 #28
I think March 1 SEC Primary will put all this to rest. yallerdawg Jan 2016 #23
Thanks for the good cheer, yallerdawg! BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #25
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2016 #24
Great to hear that! BlueMTexpat Jan 2016 #26
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