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Clinton: Think twice about Obama
04/01/2008 20:42 - (SA)
Nashua - Hillary Clinton, her White House bid heading for a precipice, pleaded with Democrats Friday to think twice before taking a "leap of faith" on her Iowa caucus vanquisher Barack Obama.
Hours after the worst defeat of her political career, the one-time runaway front-runner rallied supporters in an aircraft hanger in New Hampshire, knowing a second defeat, in its primary election on Tuesday, could herald disaster.
With a narrow lead in polls in New Hampshire, which may not survive the "bounce" expected by Obama's camp from his Iowa win on Thursday, Clinton must use the state as a firewall before Tuesday's primary to contain her rival.
"It is a short period of time, but it is enough time - time for people to say, 'wait a minute,'" Clinton said, developing her theme - decisively rejected by Democrats in Iowa - that Obama is too inexperienced to be president.
"Who will be the best president? ... based not on a leap of faith but based on the kind of changes we have already produced?" she asked.
The former first lady, her quest to become the first woman president staggering, insisted the short window between Iowa and New Hampshire would not hamper her bid to slow her rival's momentum.
The outlines of a retooled Clinton strategy - apparently thrashed out during an overnight flight from Iowa to New Hampshire - were evident: never give up; appeal to young voters who went to Obama in droves in Iowa; inflate doubts he is not ready to be president; warn that her rival would be consumed by a Republican firestorm in a general election; and focus on voters' economic woes.
But Clinton has a tough task in peeling away the young, first-time, and independent voters, as well as traditional Democrats, invigorated by Obama's powerful message of generational change and a cleansing of Washington.
Obama's youth and hope
Clinton must also recapture from Obama the thematic narrative of the campaign, amid signs that his youth, hope and bid to redefine politics may be pitch perfect for an America wearied by years of war and political divides.
After a short introduction, Clinton unusually immediately asked for questions from the audience, truncating the stump speech which she rarely diverted from in Iowa.
"What do you want to know about us?" she asked her audience.
That also appeared to be a reference to Obama, who Clinton's aides said is yet to endure the scrutiny from the press and opponents merited by a presidential candidate.
She also made a fresh attempt to play on fears among Democratic voters that the White House is seemingly in reach, but could be snatched away by Republicans preying on an inexperienced Democratic nominee.
"I am not running for president to see the Republicans take this away from us again," she said.
"I am tested and I am proven, I have been through the fires, anyone we nominate is going to be thrown into that blaze, that inferno, known as the general election."
'Comeback kid'
Another key plank of Clinton's recovery plan was standing right next to her on a frigid morning in New Hampshire.
The original "Comeback Kid" himself - former president Bill Clinton - used New Hampshire to rescue a scandal-plagued campaign for president in 1992.
"Let's go out there and win this thing," the ex-president, who remains a hero among Granite State Democrats, said before heading out on his own campaign swing.
Playing on her husband's enduring popularity, Hillary Clinton added, "it is also kind of interesting that it took a Clinton to clear up after the first Bush, it will take a Clinton to clean up after the second Bush."
Obama's camp will also be wary of underestimating the Clinton family's renowned resilience, and legendary political self-preservation skills, which seemingly only kick in when the crisis is at its darkest.
"Hillary is a fighter, she is up for this, she is ready," said Terry McAuliffe, the chairperson of her campaign.
Despite Clinton's slump to third in Iowa, her aides are trying hard to downplay the disappointment, and stress that it is only the first state of a marathon nominating process.
"There are twenty-seven contests ... we are going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party, I feel strongly now as I ever have," McAuliffe said.
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