Recently, commentators have been latching onto hopes that Hillary Clinton can still win the Democrat nomination. Certainly, Clinton’s campaigned isn’t finished, but only if you mean that it’s not finished burying itself.
In response to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama, an informal advisor to the Clinton campaign compared him to Judas. How’s that for tactful? If anything, it’s a sign at how desperate these people are getting. Richardson shot back, calling their tactics ‘gutter’ politics. The Washington Post carried the story:
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said today that the people around Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton practice “gutter” politics and that they feel entitled to the presidency, a day after an informal adviser to her campaign compared Richardson to Judas for endorsing Sen. Barack Obama.
James Carville told the New York Times that Richardson, a former member of Bill Clinton’s Cabinet, had committed “an act of betrayal,” adding that it “came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out [Jesus] for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic.”
I’m not surprised. Clinton aides are scrambling to spin Richardson’s endorsement into something negative because it’s a big deal for Obama. This announcement finally attaches Obama’s name to some positive news again. In addition, it also signifies a shift in the party. Up to now, prominent Democrats have been keeping quiet and avoiding endorsing either candidate, which makes it difficult to speculate on the super delegate situation. However, having Richardson endorse Obama instead of Clinton helps pave the way for others to do the same. If the people endorse Obama and the party endorses Obama, it’s going to be difficult for the super delegates to vote any other way.
Clinton has a good shot at Pennsylvania, but some of the remaining contests are still likely to go for Obama. In addition, coming out of the Texas / Vermont / Ohio, Obama is further ahead that he was before. As I wrote earlier, Obama even won more delegates in Texas than Hillary did, but the media isn’t reporting on it (I’ll get around to posting some substantive numbers later ).
To put in bluntly, Clinton recovered, but she’s not winning.
Filed under: Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Hillary Clinton, Politics | Tagged: Bill Clinton, nomination, richardson
Gov. Richardson have served his time with the Clitons and need to move on with President Barack and be the first Latino Vice President. Amen “Words from a Decorated Vietnam Vet”.
you mean take that Hillary
“This announcement finally attaches Obama’s name to some positive news again.” What are you talking about? Obama’s been getting praised left and right for his speech on race.
Richardson is out to benefit himself, Not the country……Don’t be fooled!
I find Richardson likeable, and well placed to help Obama with illegal immigration. He also helps carry the latino vote, which Obama has had trouble with. He’s not perfect, but Richardson isn’t a bad choice for VP.
This hurts Hillary, and show that the establishment of the Democratic Party has accepted Obama even more.
Richardson’s motives are probably selfish, but so are Obama’s, Clinton’s, McCain’s, and even Ron Paul’s. To degrade a politician as selfish is like calling a pop star trite. So what?
If Richardson is Judas, I guess that makes HIllary Jesus. YOW!
What pisses me off is not so much the Judas comparision, but the 30 pieces of silver bit. The implication is that RIchardson was bought. Of course, that is the Clinton way, so I guess they should be expected to see the same faults in others.
When I was a kid, my dad would say Jesus H Christ when he was pissed. Obviously, the H stood for Hillary, but I didn’t know it at the time.
Jet: Hillary Christ LOL
or maybe Jesus Clinton?
I’m guessing that Clinton only offer Richardson 29 peices of Silver.
He’s no dummy.
Mr. Carville’s comment was inappropriate and even foolish. His camp is grasping at straws. HRC may gain a few poll points, but the voters have spoken and she is not the popular choice.
Accept it.
caroaber,
“but the voters have spoken and she is not the popular choice.”
Why not let the full total of voters decide that. The race is not over yet.
It’s rather sad and disappointing that Bill Clinton, who should know better and can see the writing on the wall, would not talk some sense into Hillary for the good of the Democratic party and the coming election. I always admired him, and her as a hard working Senator from New York, so maybe they do have a sense of entitlement.
Wow … you Americans really take every little thing and blow it into the biggest possible mountain. An INFORMAL ADVISOR made the comment, officially or otherwise, and means no more than Rev Wright’s racial meanderings. (notice I didn’t say racist)
Do you need to be so hateful? Hillary is standing up to represent you a President of the US … does she deserve this kind of wretched abuse?
By the way, I think Obama will be your next President … but truth be told, the election is in November. That’s when the period will be at the end of the sentence.
Well…considering that Gov. Richardson is only (and I mean only) a blurb’ and recent invention with a substantial part of the voting bloc…who just realized New Mexico is indeed a state of the union, I don’t think it really means anything, and as fractured as the latino vote is I think it hardly makes a difference in the coming months…
Irving, Don’t you remember that Hillary was co-president? LOL
Anrym, Yes! We must take everything and blow it out of proportion. Otherwise, politics would just be a bunch of people talking on a television screen comparing Hillary Clinton to Jesus Christ.
@Anrym:
He may technically be an “informal” adviser, but James Carville is far from some low level grunt speaking off the cuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Carville
It is ironic that Richardson chose Good Friday to stab Clinton in the back.
Carville was calling it what it is : an act of betrayal.
Richardson will forever be known as the JUDAS who had impact on the presidential race.
One more thing: Richardson will not move the Hispanic vote to favor of Obama. Hispanics, like myself, were voting 3-1 in favor of Clinton. BTW, that was when Richardson was still in the race.
Richardson could help make sure Hispanics stay with the Democratic party after Obama became the nominee. It’s not about Obama vs. Clinton. It’s about Obama vs. McCain, and so far as I know, Hispanics don’t necessary break heavily for Mac.
Richardson would be a nice addition in that kind of general election scenario.
Obama doesn’t need any help kicking the crap out of Clinton. He’s already done that.
Faith: interesting that you call Richardson a Judas and then in the next breath say he’s insignificant. To call someone such a charged name suggests he’s something more than insignificant. Sounds like more Camp Clinton sour grapes. Hasta Luego!
–Fellow Latina voter for Obama
I think I speak for a majority of Americans when I say Hillary needs to call it a day. We are sick and tired of seeing what cannot be perceived as anything other than utilizing dirty political tricks to try to “steal” the primary. I.E. lobbying superdelegates to override the popular vote (the ONLY way she can win, by the numbers), calling Richardson “Judas” (what is he as a politician supposed to do, back a losing/unpopular candidate?), lobbying for the delegates to be seated in FL/MI per the original vote (Oh, Obama your name wasn’t on the ballot and we weren’t allowed to campaign there? Oh well, everyone’s “vote should count” so we should go ahead and give me the delegates!), etc etc.
I think the common majority opinion/response of/to these actions is “Crybaby, stop grasping at straws, shut up and go home before you further damage the Democratic party.”
It amazes me that no one ever brings up the fact that the reason Barack Obamas name was not on the ballot was because HE PLAYED BY THE DEMOCRATIC RULES- Hillary BROKE her own parties rules by running any way and now she thinks she is entittled to the votes that she got DISHONESTLY. HELLO !!! Is this how we reward her ???
Lynn: I seriously doubt you’re latina but OK if you want to portray yourself as one on the posting and use your Spanish 101 to tell me “hasta luego”.
I was actually making two different points.
1) The large majority of Hispanics will continue to support Clinton despite the Richardson endorsement.
2) Richardson will have an impact on the race because of the positive coverage on Obama by the media.
Richardson tu eres peor que Judas un mal agradecido un traidor y cobarde…que verguenza y desgracia….
Yeah, but what it comes down to is Horatio Sanz endorsing Obama had little to no effect on his campaign since he is a minor player in national politics. Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, even John Edwards matter far more in this race than Bill RIchardson.
And saying that she has a good shot at Penn is condescending and patronizing. Shes leading at about 20 points right now in that state. The lowest lead she has is 12 and the highest she has is 26.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_democratic_primary-240.html
In the UK we had Margaret Thatcher, who made a number of poor politcal decisions and ended up being hounded out of down street.
However what made the Public like her was that she was consitent and tough, making her the IRON LADY. In fact the Soviet Media nick-named her that because of her stance against communism.
Hiliary Clinton has appeared WEAK, and does not have the stomach to run the United States. It is ok to shed a tear after 10 years at the top but not before you even have started.
She must realise that all she can do is make McCain the next president of the US by dragging Obama down with her sinking ship……
GO OBAMA GO ……
Right on Faith…RIchardson, at this stage of the process do not have much relevance among latinos other than his native New Mexico and perhaps among some delagates (which might be debatable). In spite of sounding a bit “old fashioned” in some parts of this country and specially among “latinos” we still appreciate loyalty and honor towards those who had help us. In my opinion Mr. Richardson could have at least remain neutral….now going forward I would like to invite many of you to take a trip to the latino areas in Florida to realize how fast is becoming John McCain territory. I am not only speaking about Cubans but the whole SANCOCHO…
Buena suerte para todos y voten pensando en el futuro de nuestro pais…
A lot of people have been talking about how they think Richardson is going to sway the Latino vote. I’m from Southern California, so it is safe to consider me 30% Latino :-D It didn’t do anything for the Latino vote in California.
Maybe Clinton thought that comparing Clinton to Jesús (pronounced Hey-Zeus in Spanish) would get some more attention from the Latino voters. I don’t know.
John McCain is likely to beat either Clinton or Obama in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida.
Carville is no informal advisor… He’s right up at the top of the brains behind the Clinton machine, make no mistake.
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