Reply #18: You are right CG, and to add to your post,

[BenDavid]

Republicans who are eager to face HRC are girding for the wrong fight. Many assume they will be facing someone of the mean level as Leona Helmsley, the notorious "Queen of Mean". This will not be the HRC the right wing nominee will face. Before this is over, HRC's candidacy will have more in common with Amelia Earhart's first tran atlantic flight or Sally Ride's frist trip into space than Leona's heartlessness.

Republicans who are eager to face HRC completrly fail to grasp the crucial role that symbolism plays in politics. HRC's bid to be the first ever woman president of the United States, and that folks is a big deal. It will as the campaign gets towards the end will over shadow every other issue and image of the campaigns.

The miscalculations about HRC's candidancy are partially a byproduct of a preoccupation with polls. Many republicans have made much of HRC's negative or unfavorable ratings in gallup surveys and other polling prior to September 07. ( HRC went over the 50% mark in favorable ratings and dropped below the 40% mark in late September or early October, CNN/Gallup) One of the things folks fail to understand is this: politicians can reverse negative perceptions. For example her numbers went up in the favorable column and down in the unfavorable column after her 2003 book. Same as now in 07 HRC's favorables are over 50 and un is below 40, but to know that is hard to find here on this democratic forum.

One thing you obama and edwards folks fail to realize in these polls that you overlook the fact that many of HRC's negatives are clustered mainly among republicans and republican leaning independents who are unlikely to vote for her in any circumstance. Even prior to the Gallup/CNN poll HRC's unfavorable among democrats and democratic leaning independents were modest and manageable.

So what do you think? I think HRC will be the democratic nominee and all this other is RIPE FOR SYMBOLIC EXPLOITATION.

Ben David