LF: While Trump and Sanders smell victory, Hillary Clinton contemplates humilation

Title: While Trump and Sanders smell victory, Hillary Clinton contemplates humilation
Source: UK Telegraph
URL Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor ... cal-life-in-New-Hampshire.html
Published: Feb 9, 2016
Author: Tim Stanley
Post Date: 2016-02-09 08:59:27 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 714
Comments: 1

Hillary Clinton is running on one issue: Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, very few Americans like Hillary Clinton.

Clockwise from top right: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz

"What will be a good result for Hillary in her race against Bernie Sanders?" I asked a Democrat. He replied: "She'll be happy with second place."

Today’s New Hampshire primary will be all about the post-match rationalisations. We expect Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump to win – that’s a foregone conclusion. But the political establishment, the pundits and the media can’t even contemplate the thought of a Sanders v Trump race – so they’ll put a wall around New Hampshire, say that it didn’t really matter, and look ahead to the states to come. Ergo who comes second, and how close to first they come, could dominate media interest. Among the Republicans, Jeb Bush is looking for a comeback. Among the Democrats, Hillary may have to do some soul searching. Her campaign thus far has showcased her greatest weaknesses.

Rubio doesn’t seem inevitable anymore, following that awful debate performance on Saturday. It’s widely thought that John Kasich, the moderate governor of Ohio, has a good ground game in New Hampshire and is generating strong crowds. Chris Christie, too, is throwing his weight around – although his poll numbers remain miniscule. But both he and Kasich have little structure outside New Hampshire and insufficient funds to keep going. Meanwhile, one poll shows Jeb Bush surging into second place. If he pulls that off, he could enjoy an unlikely comeback.

Why? Because he is rolling in donations and he has a national campaign presence. He’s also defined himself as the candidate bringing the fight to Trump, although the fight is like wrestling in effluence. Yesterday, Bush called Trump: “A liar and a whiner.” Trump called Bush: “a sad person.” Both men will be stained for a very long time by these insults. If either one was the nominee, how would the other explain their comments? Bush is hoping that history will say he took on the forces of populism honestly and angrily and won. If the terrible weather in New Hampshire suppresses the Trump vote then the media spin might be that we’ve seen the real ceiling of The Donald's support. Don’t be surprised if Trump wins but polls below 30 per cent.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (L) introduces Hillary Clinton during a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire Photo: Reuters

Then there is Hillary. Presuming that the polls are right and Sanders wins good, she is in serious trouble. Again, the press can’t accept the idea of a Sanders nomination – so let’s acknowledge the caveat that she’ll still be the nominee eventually. Nevertheless, her underwhelming performance is a sad indictment of what a poor candidate she is. Consider her advantages: money, endorsements, running against an aging socialist who wasn’t even a Democrat until recently, a career full accomplishment and major brand recognition. The problem with Hillary is that the voters know her too well: a majority of voters don’t trust her. Her narrow win in Iowa showed the depths of resentment towards her coronation, while defeat in New Hampshire – the state that rescued her in 2008 from immediate annihilation by Barack Obama – would make matters so much worse.

Democratic presidential candidates former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders Photo: Getty Images

She is playing from a very old playbook. Take the appearance of a tired, wan Bill Clinton on the campaign trail – attacking Bernie Sanders in the deeply personal way that he once did Barack Obama. Or consider, Hillary’s aggressive courting of the female vote. Her politics is the politics of identity, narrowed down to a very specific constituency: she’s selling herself as the hope of everyday rich white women who want to be president. Out came Madeleine Albright, who tastelessly said that there was a special place in Hell for women who don’t back Hillary. The combination of these two themes – feminism and Bill Clinton – is uncomfortable. One of the women who has accused Bill of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s has just signed up to a campaign group targeting Hillary. The past won’t go away. What’s missing in the present is a clear policy agenda. Hillary has made the exact same mistake in 2012 that she made in 2008: running on her name rather than a clear agenda. In 2008, Obama was against the Iraq War and the Bush doctrine. Hillary was just running as Hillary. In 2012, Bernie is against inequality. Hillary is, yet again, running as Hillary. Her only theme is herself. And not enough voters like her to make this a winning theme.

Hillary might be judged to have done will tonight if she comes within single figures of catching Sanders. There’s a tendency for the media to react against a projected winner and everyone loves the story of an underdog. If that happens, I beg everyone not to regard Hillary as a comeback kid. Someone who comes with all the advantages she has does not get to be considered an outsider candidate.

If the Hildabeast does not get the nomination, I expect to see her get on a plane and go to a non extradition nation!

President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood