By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Producer

(Posted Jan. 10, 2008)

Depending on who’s version of facts you’re willing to buy, either Hillary Clinton made an astonishing comeback and crushed the surging Barack Obama … or, despite the enormous odds of being Black in an all-White state and going against the powerful political Clinton Dynasty, Obama was a mere 2 percentage points from his second amazing victory.
 
And, believe me, the spin doctors were selling for all they were worth.
 
What can’t be denied is that just hours before the polls opened in New Hampshire, for the nation’s first primary election, Clinton was a seemingly insurmountable 10 points behind Obama. And, no matter how you slice the loaf, she looks like a miracle worker for being able to mix a bushel of hard work with a cup of confidence and a teaspoon of tears, for one very sweet comeback.
 
But before you get too carried away with that “reality,” consider this: Just a week or so before the showdown in the Granite State, Clinton was leading her  rival by a mammoth 20-point margin. And, aside from the fact that Obama’s main base — young college folks — did not come out in droves as he had hoped, the Illinois senator never trailed Clinton by more than a few points throughout the nail-biter night.

“So maybe the spin doctors were peddling a little more than their usual fare.”

Terry McAuliffe, political adviser to the Clinton campaign, held a telephone news conference Wednesday morning to announce that the campaign was moving in the right direction and to affirm that Tuesday night’s win was no stroke of luck.  “You can feel the momentum and the enthusiasm in this campaign,” McAuliffe said. The former head of the Democratic National Committee was joined on the call by congressional supporters who have signed on to help the former first lady.  All gave nothing but praise for New York senator.  Her colleague from New York  Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-.NY.), said, “Hillary’s a fighter; she’s in touch with what we need.”The Obama camp sees it differently.  In one particularly curious spin move – and as if completely ignoring her candidate’s 2-percentage-point deficit on Tuesday – Candice Tolliver told me, “I really believe the Obama momentum is what made some women give her the sympathy vote.”She went on to note that “we’re not retooling our message, or making staff changes, we’re very clear on the strength of our candidate and the strength of our organization.” Before the Iowa Caucus, Obama was trailing Clinton in New Hampshire by as much as 14 percent, so the Obama folks see the 2-percent margin as a strong second place finish, she said. 

But the question of how and why Clinton was able to squeak out a win is still being spun.  When Clinton’s campaign was asked if “the moment” – when Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) fought back tears at the diner in Portsmouth – had any impact on the results.; Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), who is working to deliver a win in California, said she thought it was helpful with women voters.  “There is great emotional connection between Hillary and women,” Feinstein said. “I think the American people saw her depth and feelings; she does have a spine; she’s a strong women; she responded with warmth and feeling.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a Clinton supporter, has been on the road for the past few weeks stumping for her candidate.  “I was in Iowa and New Hampshire,” she said. “I traveled New Hampshire. I began to see a lot of movement, see her connecting with the hearts and minds of the American people.”

The Democratic candidates are not campaigning in Michigan for the state’s upcoming primary because they changed the scheduled date without the blessing of the Democratic National Committee.  Michigan decided to cut in front of South Carolina, so candidates agreed not to campaign in the state. 

Any Dem wanting a win in Michigan will have to sdo so without one campaign stop in the state.

The next primary stop to watch will be Jan. 19 in Nevada.  It was supposed to be the coming-out party for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, but following his fourth-place finish in Iowa and New Hampshire, he decided to drop out of the race for the White House. 

So whom do you think is the big winner between Hillary and Barack so far? Who’s doing a better job of selling themselves to the American people?