No Easy Exit for Clinton Predicted
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted May 12, 2008 – The question now isn’t if, but when and how Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will leave the race for the Democratic nomination. Her departure will demonstrate how well a seasoned politician can choreograph an exit.
If Sen. Barack Obama thought she was a formidable challenger during the race, he had better be ready to play hard when it’s time for her to “negotiate” her way out of the race.
When candidates concede races as high-profile as presidential contests, they have a great deal of bargaining power, particularly if they’ve attracted an ocean of core supporters. So far, Clinton has drawn more than 16 million voters.
So the last candidate standing has to make sure their rival’s exit is done respectfully and allows the defeated candidate some dignity as they depart.
This is going to be tough because the former first lady isn’t going to make it easy for the Democratic Party or Obama.
My guess is she’ll want some help paying off her campaign debt, some plum jobs for her senior campaign staff; and a way for her die-hard supporters, (not super-delegates) to ease on board the Obama machine.
But will Clinton endorse the Illinois senator outright? And if so, what will she want in exchange?
I believe Clinton is hinting at a convention floor showdown for the Michigan and Flordia delgates. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee is meeting later this month, and let’s hope it comes up with a clear and clean stating on how those delegates will be seated in August. If not, there could be a showdown in Denver.
Terry McAuliffe, Clinton’s campaign chairman, made a veiled threat on “Face the Nation” Sunday, suggesting his candidate would do just that if super-delegates don’t let remaining races play out. “The super-delegates will wait until the end … until everybody’s voted,” he said.
“They understand we’re in a fragile time in our party; let’s let the process finish. People need to be careful not to alienate” the Clinton supporters,” he said.
But alienating voters could be part of Cllinton’s plan, if political consultant Dick Morris is right. He maintains that Clinton’s goal is to damage Obama and the party enough to give Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) the victory in 2008, setting herself up for a run in 2012, where she could easily defeat the aging Republican senator. McCain will be 76 years- old four years from now.
“She want’s another 30 days to badger Obama,” Morris told Fox News. Morris says Clinton is setting up “racial poloarizaton” to do so, referring to her comment to USA Today that she is more appealing to White voters.
Over the weekend Obama was able to break the stalemate of Clinton’s super-delegate lead picking up six additional endorsements. Obama now leads Clinton in the popular vote, pledged delegates, and for the first time, super-delegates.
According to the Bloomberg’s numbers, with these latest endorsements, Obama has 277 super-delegates to Clinton’s 274.5.
The remaining contests -West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota – will not bring either candidate to a different place, but it could let the Dems know how deep the divide really is in the Democratic Party.
IF THAT FOOL HILLARY REALLY WANTS TO SET UP OBAMA TO LOSE SO THAT SHE COULD COME BACK IN 2012 RUN AGAIN AND BEAT MCCAIN EASILY. DID THAT IDIOT STOP TO REALIZE SHE MIGHT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, DOESNT SHE THINK BARAK WILL RUN AGAIN? LOL
Naw…Barack said if he loses he WILL NOT RUN AGAIN
Since it looks like Barack is going to be the Democratic nominee for president, I think he should seriously take into consideration who he chooses for vice-president. It should be someone who can carry the Blue-Collar workers and older women that is THE key base in Hillary Clinton’s core.
Pamela…..All of Hillary Clinton supporters are not interested in “easing on board the Obama machine”. Many of US have minds of our own, and if we didn’t think Obama was electable in the beginning, we certainly don’t think so now just because he’s the nominee.
Anna….Barack has said that he won’t run again, but it’s most likey just another political lie
Vicky, I dont understand how you could be a Clinton supporter if you are black? Did you not read that she is now appealing to white voters,which clearly shows she is and has always been interested in their votes?! Get a clue people the real liar and deceiver is Hilary herself and I will be glad when she leaves, even if it is in a demeaning way. If she leaves on a bad agenda note, it will just bite her where she needs it most.Obama all the way!! 08 for change!!
wow, i feel ya truth. hilary is full of bull, please oboma all the way for-real. give a black man a chance. it’s about time
For some reason they won’t post my previous comment, but there is much that hasn’t been said that speaks volumes about the true direction this country will take in November. BET is no different.
The lesson here is that Blacks are quick to support any White Candidate when they pretend to show us love. And history has shown time and time again that once they get the BLack vote they dump on us. Both Hillary And Bill courted the Black votes over the years and survived because of it. But tell me what did they give the Black people in return, besides moving into Harlem and escalating the real estate prices. Now that a Black man is running suddenly they cry racism.
Who are these people? To me they are worst than the Clan at least with them you know where you stand.
The Clintons believe they are the only ones to lead American. They are mistaken America has many bright and talented leaders.
This is the worst type of prejudice and racism. The type that is covered with lies, dishonesty and smiles… At this point I REGRET SUPPORTING AND VOTING for Bill clinton, cheering Hillary’s win in NY, and disrespected my ancestors for calling Bill clinton the first blak president. The clintons obviously think we black people are good enough for votes,BUT not good enough to be voted for, and into office! THIS IS THE SLAVEMASTER MENTALITY IN 2008. THE clintons SHOULD NEVER GET ANOTHER BLACK VOTER THE REST OF THEIRS LIVES PERIOD. NOT EVEN THE LITTLE 6% BLACK VOTE SHE BEEN GETTING LATELY. She take yall for a fools and house-ni66az… JUST LIKE WE CAN PUT A BLACK MAN OR WOMAN IN OFFICE, WE NEED TO BAN TOGETHER AND KEEPTHE clintons OUT!, AND ALL WHO ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR A BETTER BLACK AMERICA.
AMAN
I TELL YOU SOMETHING NO ONE HAVE NOT THOUGH ABOUT , I THINK HILLARY IS GOING TO CHANCE PARTYS IN THE END , I CAN SEE HER BECOMING A Republican , BECAUSE THAT PARTY IS GETTING SO WEAK , I ALSO KEEP HEARING THEM SAY IF HILLARY DON’T WIN ALOT OF HER SUPPORTERS NOT GONNA VOTE FOR OBAMA ,WELL DO THEY REALLY THING THAT IF HILLARY ENDS UP WINNING WOULD MOST OF OBAMA SPPORTERS REALLY VOTE FOR HILLARY ,NO , WORD FROM THE REAL STREET WHERE NO ONE ASKED OUR OPINION , NOOO , MOST SAID THEY WOULD NOT VOTE AT ALL .. IN OTHER WORDS HILLARY HAVE TO EARN BLACK VOTERS LIKE OBAMA HAVE TO EARN WHITE VOTERS .
different folks wit diff strokes.to me i feeel n think hilary is a sneak…she is so full of lies n trick…i dont see my self eva votin 4 her…her appearance alone tells of a traitor..just been honest…lik husband lik wife
It’s not over until it’s over. Let us all stop counting the chicks before the eggs hatch.
If Hillary thinks that she can damage Obama to insure a win for McCain and then come back in 4 years and win she is sadly mistaken. What makes that woman think that she will get our vote in 4 years. She will not only have disgraced him (Obama) but all of US as well. If McCain wins the Presidency it will be more of the same issues that plague us as Bush’s office has delivered to us. Black folks know how to survive in hard times, do white folks??????? You will not see us jumping out of top floor buildings or shooting ourselves in the head. It will be them. She will not be able to court us for our votes because she has shown us her TRUE COLORS throughout this campaign. I am done with the CLINTONS. They will never get a vote from me.
Ya’ll are some sad folks… How little ya’ll forget how goof the 90’s were to us… But just like Black people, we turn our back on those who did us well for opprtunistic reasons. Its the fabric of Black people, but remember, while you think you are on that high road going up with Obama, the same people you see trying to go up, you’ll see them on your way back down.. I hope your vision of hope and change can keep you up there.
goof = good (before somebody wants to crack on my spelling)
Trey = you are a goof
bill clinton did nothing to make black america better. bill made america better and we benefit by default. BLACK AMERICA DID NOT ADVANCE while bill was president. The economy was great during which a lot of americans became millionairs some whom were black. But bill did not improve race relations, create affrimative action, or improve education in black schools. In Fact MORE BLACKS WENT TO JAIL AT A HIGHER RATE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME under bill clinton. Oh he had a black friend WOW! When it comes to the america government, besides shipping drugs to us, and under funding our schools, the wrost thing that you can do to a black family/community is to give them more prison… I suspect you a hillary supporter anyway - she need some of yo money to pay her $20 MILLION debt. GO HELP HER GOOF.
At least Bush put Condi and Powell in his Cabinet…which showed he was willing to take on the best qualified people regardless of race. Was Bill able to do that? And even if a miracle happens and Hillary gets in, would she? I mean even Bush is attacking Obama, so that shows you there they perceive Obama as the bigger threat to their campaign than Hillary.