Three voices of the Clinton campaign, three distinctly different takes on its fortunes. James Carville is candid about the pickle Hillary's in. Hillary, true to form, utterly evades the question. Ah, but there's always Terry McAuliffe. The proud graduate of the Baghdad Bob School of Flackery this morning declared that he's "more confident than he's ever been" about winning the nomination.
Carville, appearing on last night's Larry King, couldn't have been more succinct.
LARRY KING: If Hillary loses Texas or Ohio, is it over?JAMES CARVILLE: Yes.
View Carville and Hillary video here.
Today's Good Morning America aired a conversation between Hillary and ABC's Kate Snow. Hillary dodged the question in a way that would have earned her a spot Vince Vaughan's team.
KATE SNOW: I want to ask you about something James Carville said today, I don't know if you heard this, but he said you're behind, she's behind, and he said make no mistake if she loses either Texas or Ohio, she's done. What do you think about that?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, you know, I think that my job is to do the very best I can in Texas and Ohio. I think these two states are big states, they're states that are very reflective of our population as a country, and I'm just going to do the very best I can to be successful in both of them.
Hmm, so Texas is a big state. Who knew? But if Hillary was her old evasive self, you can always count on Terry to look squarely into the camera and deliver the party line, no matter how much it might strain credulity. The Clinton campaign chairman appeared on this morning's Today.
TERRY MCAULIFFE: There's a long way to go. We're going to win the next three big, big states, and we're going to win this nomination. I feel more confident of that today than I have ever been.
Of course. After losing eight consecutive races by crushing margins in which huge chunks of Hillary's base moved to Obama, why wouldn't Terry feel more confident than ever?
View McAuliffe video here.
Let's see if the MSM will cover the internal contradictions in the Clinton camp.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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This whole thing is so bitter sweet
February 14, 2008 - 10:43 ET by Dee BunkAs much as I can't stand the Clintons and McAuliffe types they bring with them, I think Hillary would be a better President than Obama. She would be more centrist (centrist being defined as the Center of the left not center between Left and right).
Obama has so much charisma and is propelled by that. The far left would love him even if his positions were more centrist and yet his positions are as far left as they get. He doesn't hold extreme far left positions to court the left - he actually believes the positions and that makes him much much more dangerous. When he becomes President he'll have no reason or desire to move center.
Still don't get it
February 14, 2008 - 11:45 ET by ThisnThatD, it's not a matter of choice, here. Either candidate would be a total disastor for the United States. The only real difference between them is that one is a Socialist (Clinton), and the other is a left-wing idiot (Obama). If either is elected, our country's values will be up for sale. Wholescale change would be attempted at every social and cultural level immaginable. Listen when they talk -- the "change" they are talking about is truly horrible.
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TNT - hey that's a good nickname!
February 14, 2008 - 11:53 ET by Dee BunkI agree both are very bad but Obama is far worse. It's the difference between Communism and Socialism. Obama is more like a Communist. As I've said before - He's a compassionate Communist right now. Their compassion often fades in proportion to their power.
Too much information
February 14, 2008 - 11:12 ET by RJSpeaking of Morning Joe and James Carville, Andrea Mitchell appeared on that program today and said that Carville is superstitious to the extent that he won't change his underwear for days on end when important votes are coming up. :^(
Hair
February 14, 2008 - 11:41 ET by ThisnThatI noticed he also doesn't comb his hair, either, for days on end. :-)
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Payback
February 14, 2008 - 11:30 ET by doug1950Arguing about who is more liberal or centrist between these two is like arguing about beauty amongst pigs! The Dems were all for Hillary until someone came along that most recognized as a possible electable alternative to Countessa Clinton. Once he started to win primaries more bailed on the Hildabeast. Such is the loyality of moderates and peons. Many of the top Dems in the chicken coup also threw their endorsements behind Obama probably more out of payback to Hillary for all the times she has thrown her significant weight around when Bill was the POTUS and since. They were after all the King and Queen of the DNC and have been since leaving office. Her sense of superiority and entitlement to the throne irritated many within their own Party as well of those of us in the opposing forces. Obama may be charismatic but so is the proprietor of the condemned ferris wheel at the beach park. That alone should not make him POTUS material but for those voting for him it does not matter. They still think you can do the job with on the job training. Besides, when the DNC is in charge, their President really doesn't make the calls. Just ask Jimmy Carter. They have handlers for that. Watching all of this unfold on television reminds me of High School politics. The nerds and losers finally have someone they can vote for and no longer have to cast a vote for the popular snotty, condescending prom queen in order to feel like they fit in. And it feels goooood! Remember, feelings are what is important not logic. All one has to do it watch one debate or rally. It is all about emotion, promises one can't or does not have the power to fulfill. Nothing tangible or of any substance. If you look closely at Terry McAuliffe you can see the Kool Aid ring around his mouth. He not only talks like a nut case he now looks like one.
Did Terry McAuliffe seem like a Buffoon on Today?
February 14, 2008 - 12:21 ET by allanfTerry McAuliffe's performance on this morning's Today Show was a bit hard to take. Meredith Vierra tried to get McAuliffe to comment on calculations that showed Hillary would need to carry 60% of the vote in the remaining primaries to reach the convention with a majority of delegates. McAuliffe just retreated into uninspiring aphorisms and refused to address any real strategy issues. According to him she will win all remaining primaries.
His bombast is not helping Clinton. By skirting reality, he raises questions about the quality of the people Clinton has surrounded herself with.
He is not doing her a service. He was attempting to inspire the Clinton faithful. He failed. Only a speaker of the quality of Obama could have pulled off what McAuliffe attempted to do on the Today Show.
He came across as a buffoon out of touch with reality.
Because it's his reputation
February 14, 2008 - 12:43 ET by Gat New YorkMcAuliffe set up this whole situation. The Democratic primary system was his doing in an effort to get Hillary the nomination as quickly as possible without there being much of a debate within the party over issues. It looks like his plans have backfired.
Hi GNY.... I also heard
February 14, 2008 - 12:49 ET by bigtimerHi GNY....
I also heard yesterday from Lannie Davis that he helped create the dem. super delegate system back in the eighties, and it may be coming back to bite him and others now...lol!
...going to be interesting/fun to watch the continuing soap opera with the left.
Senate Race
February 14, 2008 - 13:08 ET by Gat New YorkI also know that he was instrumental in getting the NYS Democratic Party to clear the decks and force a Hillary nomination for Senate. Clinton was still President so they strong armed them and forced people like Carl McCall and Andrew Cuomo to back off.
This is seriously her first real election contest. Welcome to the real world Tracy Flick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rleUPHX8yfM
Same with American values
February 14, 2008 - 16:26 ET by ThisnThatThe Dims are also trying to completely change our values and way of life -- "to make things better and fairer and to reflect the real America". Those changes will be just as disaterous as what has happened to the Dim election process. We're seeing what happens when ideology trumps reality.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Will there be a bigger Dem reaction to BHO over HC than McC ?
February 14, 2008 - 12:53 ET by JayTeeWill there be a bigger Core Democrat reaction to Obama winning the Nomination over Hillary, than the Core Republican reaction to McCain winning ? ?
It could be WORSE.....it's just not there yet.... Each Party Loyalists could end up HATING the nominee .... as the VOTERS Vote for their Favorite. 30 % of the country Dems, 30% Republicans, 40% independant or Moderates....
I don't think there will be a bad reaction if Obama wins
February 14, 2008 - 13:07 ET by Dee BunkMaybe if Clinton wins. The crazy leftists like Michael Moore will be outraged. It still won't be the same as how we feel about McCain. Dems are much more loyal to Party.
They will come out in droves for either candidate. I used to think Hillary would be the easier one to beat but now I'm thinking that Obama hasn't been vetted at all. He has no where to go but down.
McCain probably can't win, but I'm thinking he has a better chance against Obama now. I for will feel more motivated to vote against Obama. Many people who don't like Hillary don't like McCain for the same reasons.
I disagree. McCain's best
February 14, 2008 - 15:57 ET by fitzfongI disagree. McCain's best chance (maybe his only chance) is against Hillary. If the Clintons scorch the earth and hijack the Democrat Convention...and I believe they have every intention of doing so...it will come at a huge cost to her. Those Independents and Democrats who propped McCain up in the primaries will be so turned off by the manner in which the Clinton Machine muscled the nomination that they'll be inclined to vote for McCain (especially when they made his nomination possible). Many Democrats who have their heads in the clouds over Obama are going to feel "disenfranchised" by the Clintons and are going to see in them what they see in George Bush. At that point, they are not going to be motivated to vote for the person who stole their hope. On the conservative side, many are indifferent to Obama relative to McCain...whether that comes from ignorance, anger or otherwise is unclear. But currently, many conservatives see Obama in a favorable light because he's become a formidable obstacle to the Clinton Machine...and many (myself included) want to see her go down in humiliation. If Obama wins the nomination, a lot of people are going to feel like it's "job done", those obnoxious Clinton thugs are history...and an Obama general victory would guarantee that Hillary can't run until at least 2016, at which point she'll be a washed up has-been. A hijacked Clinton nomination is going to take much of the air out of the Democrat balloon because the exciting candidate will have been taken out by the predictable machine candidate. On the other hand, many Republicans, even those dubious to McCain, will look at a Clinton nomination as an opportunity to bury them once and for all. They've been pulling off fraudulent Houdini acts for 16 years...and people want to see the Coyote finally catch the Roadrunner.
Broom Hilda may be down, but she ain't out.
February 14, 2008 - 14:42 ET by R D HelmAt the moment, things are looking rather dour for the broom pilot from NY, as it appears Obama is skating effortlessly right into the dem nomination. However, if I were an Obama supporter, I would be keeping the bubbly on ice for the time being.
Remember, these evil people are capable of just about anything, and November is still nine months away.
Much can happen in nine months.
Obama: Elect me and I'll lose the war AND raise your taxes! - Bryan/HotAir.com