While Clinton still leads in all the polls of likely Democratic voters, Obama has jumped into second place in the race without much effort. Granted, his book tour helped fuel speculation he would run, which he did not deny (more salesmanship than ambition, I think). But now Hillary is standing in Obama's shadow at this point -- not where she wants to be.
The trip to New Hampshire next week changes everything for Clinton. It tips Obama's hand to an extent. And with the popular support he has (more like Bill Clinton than Hillary will ever be), she has to rethink her plans. Some believe she won't do anything different because of Obama -- I think that would be a mistake. But then I'm just a blogger.
I think that if Obama wants to run, he will easily catch and surpass her in popularity -- and fundraising. He is already a party leader sought by the media for comment, and he is able to raise enormous sums of money for candidates. Add to that the perception that he has heart and integrity (see Tom's post above), something most people would never say about Clinton, and he has a real shot at the nomination -- if he wants it.
You can compare their records here. So far, they are pretty close, but I think Obama is more liberal without alienating the faith-based crowd, and Clinton is trying to be more centrist (which feels like playing against type).
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While the possiblity of Obama becoming our next president is particularly exciting, I expect that I will be delighted with whatever Democrat gets the nomination in 08.
With six years [that will become eight years] of Bush-Cheney and all their administration's shameless shenanigans, corruption, incompetence and killing I am sure many citizens' standards for what they expect from Democrats has lowered, having had the alternative -- the horrible Republicans -- visited upon them.
But I am genuinely happy with leading Democrats these days -- feeling they are truly stellar in their own right, not just in contrast to the dark night of Republican misrule.
I have never understood the objection people have to Hillary. The woman is brilliant and hardworking. More years of HillBilly Clintonian competence and wringing efficiency out of the budget may be the needed antidote to Bushian waste.
Biden? Daschle? Feingold? Gore? I love those guys, too! Now that Lieberman has left the party, I can't think of a major Democrat I would disapprove of taking the reins of the country.
Whatever Dem is the new prez in Jan09, he/she will pull the country to the left, so, for me, it is not too much of an issue as to where on the liberal spectrum the guy/woman is.
I just think the country is desperate to have a Great President so that the great many problems America and the world have can start to get attended to. Bush will go down in history as horrible not just for the things he did badly, but for the problems he neglected.
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