Obama Campaign: What Polls? – Dems on Hillary Clinton’s Road to 2016 – Back Romney Best Option, Romney Should Switch Running Mate to Clinton – PUMA or Pragmatic?

Pictured Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney image Daily Beast – ArticleHillary Clinton and Mitt Romney versus Barack Obama

As the 2012 campaign turns – On the weekend Buzzfeed’s, Zeke Miller reported on the Obama Campaign in Wisconsin – Apparently the strategy is not to pay attention to the national polls, rather to focus on a few swing states:

Messina, who drove from Chicago to Wisconsin to be with Obama on his first trip to a state that appears to have come into play when Paul Ryan was selected to be Romney's running mate, predicted that the national polling will get even closer, but that the president's lead will hold in key swing states.

"I think you will see a tightening in the national polls going forward," he said. "What I care way more about it Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin, etc. In those states, I feel our pathways to victory are there. There are two different campaigns, one in the battlegrounds and one everywhere else. That's why the national polls aren't relevant to this campaign."

In Wisconsin, Messina said the GOP is stronger than they are nationally, but maintained that the Obama campaign still has an edge

Perhaps the national polls are all tied, but the internals may have something else to say – which is why some Democrats are looking for a path for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and coming up with some options that appear to be somewhat far-fetched, but then again, the Clinton’s, both President William Jefferson and now Secretary of State Hillary, are the most popular Democrats in the country.

This weekend, Bill Clinton weighed in about a 2016 run for Hillary – which has the media salivating – ABC News discussing the Obama-Romney Debate (You Tube Video Here) speaks about Romney’s recent debate experience as a plus, and notes that he has the most to gain in the upcoming debates, although he would be considered an underdog – that back and forth morphs to Bill Clinton’s response to a Hillary Clinton 2016 run, which said anchors note there is speculation on the Democrat ticket for 2016 – and Clinton’s smiles is an affirmation of a Hillary run.(ABC News)

The speculation and what might be considered planning, began after the Democrat Convention – when the Daily Mail broke the news that a top Bill Clinton Aide planned to vote for Romney to help Hillary Clinton take the White House back in 2016. That’s just one example, of course, so not much there, one would think, but then again, there were others. Perhaps the best case found was made on Tumblr by the blogger, Prairie Pride who suggested voting for Romney (secretly supporting) would be the best road for Hillary Clinton, from an historical perspective. He refers to overall party fatigue as the means to the ends, citing elections back to George Washington – his end note: Romney 2012 – Hillary 2016.

The most ridiculous scenario was found on Salon, and one has the immediate reaction – satire! Then again, this is Salon. Alex Pareene takes a different tactic – suggesting in August that Romney “dump” Paul Ryan as his running mate and nominate Hillary – (This is a writer who refers to the “Right-wing press). He writes in glowing terms about Hillary’s accomplishments, and not so nicely about Paul Ryan – he suggests this is a serious option because “Bob Woodward” told him.

Although, with Romney, a place in the administration or cabinet for Clinton might not be out of the question – considering, as Governor, his cabinet included both women and, yes, Democrats. Romney is all business, and if someone brings ideas to the table that are reasonable –his decisions are not based on political party, rather on what would work best for the people (of the Commonwealth) at the time. It remains to be seen if this will be part and parcel of a Romney administration’s tactic, but one might project he would operate on the same success model.

Of course, this Moderate Conservative Feminist’s dream ticket was Palin/Clinton – but….a Romney –Clinton – makes one think – it would in the very least unite the majority of the nation and is extremely utopian. In reality it would cause political mayhem in both parties, and that is not the road to the White House for either Romney or Clinton - given there are those power brokers in the party and the base of each party. Plan B appears the best bet.

Happy Monday – one final note: worth listening to:

Howard Stern on Obama voters –

Hillary Clinton 2012 Update – U.S. News Picks Up John Kerry (D-MA) Rumored as Next Secretary of State – PUMA and Palin Analysis

John Kerry (D-MA) image bokertov


An interesting blip in the September 15th web edition of US. News and World Reportnotes that John Kerry (D-MA), who will be up for re-election in 2014, is being considered as a replacement for Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State by the Obama administration. The article goes on to note that Clinton has been “hinting” at leaving the post, and as the mid-terms approach and the 2012 presidential campaigns will begin on November 3, if Clinton is to make a run at the White House, and try and save the Democrat Party from implosion, (and by that, the nation by kicking the Progressives to the curb), that announcement should come sometime before or immediately following the installation of the 112th Congress.

Kerry, who is likely to face fierce opposition from the renewed Massachusetts GOP, would likely jump at the opportunity. The Sr. Senator was most recently hounded by the local press for docking his newest “boat” in Rhode Island to avoid paying $500,000 in Massachusetts taxes and after the news broke, relented in time to avoid a Mass. Department of Revenue inquiry on possible tax evasion. Kerry was also one of the first “Democrats” to bring the first-term Illinois Senator Obama into the national spotlight at the 2006 Democrat Convention and also caused a stir among Bay State Dems by coming out early to endorse Obama over Clinton (who won the MA popular 2008 primary vote). Kerry’s chances of reelection after the routing of Obama favorite, Martha Coakley (then summarily shoved under the bus) by Republican Scott Brown in the January 19, 2010 special election are questionable, therefore a post such as Secretary of State would at least extend his public career until 2014.


Hillary Clinton - 2012 Democrat Nominee for President? image top news India

Does Clinton have the support, however, to win a primary? With the Democrats in Congress trying to distance themselves from Obama in the midterms, while being forced by DNC party leaders to find funds, even if it means breaking the law (see audio of Congresswoman calling Lobbyist for funds here), Clinton should have the support necessary to garner super-delegates and take the reins of the Democrat Party in a 2013 convention).

An interesting article on the Tea Party, published by a Clinton PUMA (Party Unity My Ass) supporter, post Republican Primaries is a must read. The article entitled “The Blood of Revolution” addresses the successes of the Tea Party during the September 14th Republican primary, and interestingly enough, gives “bona fides” to the Tea Party as a Movement by quoting Scott Rasmussen article in the Washington Examiner which the Puma article notes “explains the significance of the Tea Party Movement”. Although the article begins with a partisan jab at a list of GOP “Tea Party/Sarah Palin” successes by calling them “losers”, it goes on to accurately depict the movement as one of the people, calling the Tea Party a “revolution”. Also somewhat insightful is the paring of Palin with the Tea Party, as Palin’s popularity with the G.O.P. electorate (not necessarily party leadership who would back a Romney) make her the likely party standard bearer in 2012. These supporters are laying the groundwork now, for a Clinton vs. Palin match-up in 2012.


Sarah Palin with Supporters, image Hartford Courant

As Obama’s popularity among the important unenrolled electorate fades completely, and the Tea Party is drawing from an electorate that is mixed with Conservative Republicans, Independents, Moderate Democrats (thus the revolution), the fact that Palin is at the forefront and acknowledged as being so by Clinton supporters sets up a scenario for, what would be, a grounds breaking American historical event – the choice between one of two women for the top job in 2014.


Suffragettes 1920 not that long ago image constitutional conflicts


What is not necessarily understood about the oppression of women in the United States, (or more to the point, shoved under the proverbial rug) is the fact that until 1920, and the ratification of the 19th amendment women did not even have a voice in government. Palin, has given that voice to an unprecedented amount of conservative women his election cycle, by supporting candidates either backed by Tea Party activists (see Christine O’Donnell’s upset in DE) or GOP party favorites (see Kelly Ayotte’s victory in New Hampshire), while Clinton as a potential 2012 counterpart, has been a stalwart supporter of women’s rights throughout her political career (which incidentally began as a Goldwater Republican (see 2000 article Berkeley article that makes Clinton’s personal believes sound somewhat more conservative than Palin’s (Side note: the Berkley article, although condensed, is similar to information available in the book “”The Truth About Hillary Clinton” by Edward Klein which both conservative (Fox News Bill O’Reilly) and left of moderate’s tagged as a “smear book”, once read, actually invites the Conservative feminist reader to like and understand Clinton – which may explain the pundits aversion to the book on both sides of the aisle).

As a Conservative Feminist who agrees to disagree with friends that stand on the opposite side of the political spectrum (liberal feminists), a Clinton-Palin match up would ensure, regardless of the outcome, a win for women specifically, and the nation as a whole, the media and male establishment in the combined political party’s hierarchy will, undoubtedly do their best to undermine any chance of this occurring, but with confidence in the media (Gallop Confidence in Institutions) ranking right above Congress and Unions, 2008 may have taken the ability of that medium to effect the “masses”. In fact, judging from the growth of the Tea Party and events sponsored by individuals such as Glenn Beck one sees the more the media “tags” Tea Party members/events as radical, the more “revolutionary” they become. The next two election cycles will, in all likelihood, bring change to a broad spectrum of the political establishment in the United States.

Divided In Denver – Clinton Roll Call Marginalized

According to the AP Obama and Clinton agreed to a water-downed vote to nominate Clinton. It is entirely possible that Clinton will even halt the vote at some point, and recommend that all delegates back Obama. The promise of a full roll-call to nominate Clinton from the floor had given hope to many Democrats who feel that they would have allowed all to participate, and ultimately prove that Clinton was the choice of the party. Of course, the nomination is in the hands of those Super-delegates, which will make any roll-call moot. Interestingly, there were only 5 that put Obama over the top, one of which was Christine Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi’s daughter. Regardless of the outcome, not allowing a full roll-call from the floor will not satisfy those who are still dedicated to the candidate who won the popular vote – Hillary Clinton.

The mood of the convention, as seen from CSPAN coverage, is a bit – bland. Some of those in attendance look bored. Perhaps it is the warning that delegates should limit consumption of alcoholic beverage while in Denver due to altitude! (New York Post), maybe that’s the reasons some Delegates will be leaving prior to Obama’s acceptance speech.

With the much anticipated Clinton Roll-Call being halted (Could it be she might actually win and embarrass Obama, Pelosi, Dean, Kerry and the crew?) at mid-point, it will be Wednesday, August 27th, when the roll-call vote is scheduled to take place, that will determine if this party is truly united, or, if there will be disappointed delegates, as well as disappointed Democrats across the country. Those 30 percent that are not “yet committed to Obama”, are being counseled by Nancy Pelosi to avoid “victim politics”. It remains to be seen how much sway Ms. Pelosi holds over the party in general and just how many of those disenfranchised democrats will vote for McCain, write in Clinton on the ballot or just stay home. These are choices that have been advocated by PUMA, an organization that is dedicated to re-organizing the DNC – bringing the party back to its original roots. It will remain to be seen how this organization and those Clinton supporters at home, will react to the nominating process and convention in total. It will show in the expected “bounce” in the polls that Obama and the party will receive coming out of the convention.

Addendum: "Supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton are furiously circulating petitions on the floor of the Democratic National Convention tonight, hoping to stave off a plan to hold the convention's roll call at breakfast Wednesday — out of the public eye — sources inside the delegations say." Go to: Denver Post For Entire Article.