Poll: Sen. Clinton Gaining Support

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

A growing number of registered voters believe Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton should run for president in 2008, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Marist College's Institute for Public Opinion poll found that 46 percent of voters want the former first lady to run for the White House while 49 percent said she should not. In a December poll, 38 percent favored a run, while 50 percent were opposed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/08/politics/main678902.shtml

[Demeter]

1. There's One Born Every Minute

While Hillary Clinton is an admirable person, who has demonstrated immense depths and skills, she lacks the ability to hit the home truth. Either she doesn't know what it is, or doesn't recognize it when it bites, or she's in denial. Without this home truth ability, nobody can win the presidency.

Dubya hit the home truth that there are a lot of greedy, ignorant, lazy and selfish people in this country. He offered them their heart's desire, and they voted for him, conspired with him, broke laws for him, sold out their neighbors and their country for him.

Bill Clinton hit a home truth; in fact, he hit several. This made him a great President and defeated his opposition even in the throes of impeachment. He tripped over other home truths, however: the priggishness of our hypocritical Puritan heritage, and the intransigence of the Democratic legislators, many of them DINOs who have either been canned by the electorate, or declared for the GOP.

Howard Dean hit another home truth; in fact, he hits several. He hits those truths that started this country in the first place. He adds a refreshing New York honesty which seems devoid of the sleaze that so often accompanies it. This scared the Bushites to death, hence the recent past.

Senator Clinton is gliding over, wallpapering, and ignoring a lot of truths in her bid to be Miss Congeniality of the Senate, and she is selling out her core constituents (women) with her flirtation with the anti-choice faction and the pro-war faction. This doesn't make for a good candidate, no matter what anybody thinks.

[applegrove]

4. Plus she already has a 20 year brand that will be hard to 'reframe' and

the repukes already did a $75,000,000.00 background check on her & her family called Whitewater.

[d.l.Green]

27. You said it well. She is admirable in many ways but...

she is part of the DLC faction that attempts to move the party to the right, er, wrong. As chair, Dean has it tough. He'd make the ideal candidate, but is in a leadership position already and the early chatter about 2008 may preclude his limited involvement in that race. I also think if she runs in 2006 to keep her seat in the Senate she will have turned off a lot of New Yorker's (if she agrees to join the presidential race) who still aren't convinced she's working for what's best for the State of New York. Instead she will be rightly looked at as a career/opportunist politician who's only concerned with her position, not the people she's supposedly representing.

[VegasWolf]

43. Nice phrasing! "move right, err, wrong" n/t

[ChiciB1]

64. I Agree With You 100%...

I certainly HOPE we can stop THIS train wreck! Hillary has already started her campaign is it's going RIGHT! Not correct, but RIGHT! I'm afraid I can't support her because of this.

I want the Democratic Party to be Democrats again. I've always said if you can look yourself in the mirror and be happy with what you see, then you're okay by me.

Too many of OUR politicians haven't been looking in the mirror very much these days!

Ya Hear Me Bill Nelson?????? I'm gonna find me another REAL Democrat and work my heart out to get you removed from office!

[yo-yo-ma]

2. the 50% opposed to her

aren't going to be changing their position any time soon.

right or wrong - she sparks more antipathy than any dem

and for many other reasons as well I would not support her

[shantipriya]

42. Hilaryis NOT the right candidate

I agree.She can never win in this matcho society of ours; the Repugs,the Fundamentalists,and the Red Saters will NEVER vote for her.These creeps will vote for any Repug candidate,however dishonest and unsavory he is.If the Repugs nominate a convicted criminal,they would still vote for him!!!We are dealing with ignorant,irrational and dishonest people.

[49jim]

3. Here's a thought......

you do what it takes to elected...and then change....Bush did it!

[Demeter]

25. Bush Didn't Change--He Just Lied

He tailors his lies for the crowd he was in, and tailors the crowds, too! Then when Reality pulls the rug out, he changes the lies. That's not the kind of change we want or need.

[shadowknows69]

5. that should read.

The mainstream media is suggesting that you should support senator clinton for president in 2008 as we already have our graphic designers working on the video titles.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

11. Bingo...

... I say keep the rabid right foaming at the mouth over Hillary, it keeps them distracted from the real candidate(s).

[renaissanceguy]

24. Just like they did with Kerry....

It's all about so-called "electability," which really means what the media think about a candidate.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/472476

[wisteria]

6. I don't get it!

I admire the woman,but I just can't believe that 46% of democrats think she should run and we would win the presidency in 2008 with her at the top of our ticket. I think she is a risk we can't afford at this period in time.

[saracat]

21. That is because they don't!

[NNguyenMD]

7. they're building her up only to tear her down again, for the MSM Hilary is

their bread and butter at least until 2008

[onehandle]

8. Just like in 2001.

Speculation about 2008 at this point is nothing but.

yawn.

[radwriter0555]

9. The GOP is the ONLY faction ramming Senator Clinton for the 06 Prexy cause

they know she'll never win.

[RoyGBiv]

10. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

<deep breath>

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Want to know why Democrats lose so many elections? They spend too much of their time obsessing about who will run in 4 years instead of working where they still have some influence to establish their party principles as the ones belonging to a party people should vote for.

Similarly, when we actually win, we obsess over how we win and what we can do to win the next time and ignore the damn job we're supposed to be doing while we're there, thus making it more difficult to win the next time.

Put another way, who gives a shit what kind of support anyone is getting for a possible run for the '08 nomination a year and a half before the midterms?

[bullimiami]

12. i read what you all wrote and i dont get it.

she is a bulldog. thats what it takes to win an election. someone who will take it from the opposition.

i thought gore didnt fight hard enough, kerry made him look like a pit bull.

hillary runs, hillary wins. thats how i see it. she doesnt give a damn what anyone says about her and she can fight as nasty as any republican.

i DO NOT like clinton politics but I know they are a lot more human than bush politics.

[RoyGBiv]

23. I haven't read what others have said ...

I'm commenting/ranting/screaming about the subject itself.

I don't care WHO it is.

We have other things to do right here and right freaking now. The candidacies will come when they come, and we can all fight it out then.

Ask the Whigs what it means to focus all your energies on worrying who your next candidate will be and ignoring, modifying, playing with, tweaking, etc. your principles to the point no one can tell that you have any principles. By god you've got a candidate who stands for ... ummm ... something. What was that again that they stand for? Oh, being a Democrat. And what do Democrats stand for?

Well, it depends. If you're a NE Liberal, you think this, but if you're a West Coaster, you're more likely to think this, but then there are the Pacific Northwesters who think a little differently about this, and then there's the Midwesterners who think like this, and we of course have the Southern Dems, but they're all Dinos or maybe pink tutus, or blue dogs ... I dunno one of those, and they think this, but that's really not what they think because they're just trying to get elected, and then afterwards they'll think this, except on this, and on that other thing too sometiems, every third Friday after the news dump.

We gotta work on that garbage, THEN worry about a candidate.

Can't find a Whig to ask about all this? You're right. You can't.

[FlemingsGhost]

13. Apparently, 46% of voters support "Assisted Suicide."

Yes, please DLC, run Clinton in '08. Provide the mercy kill.

Put us all out of our misery ...

[Jersey Ginny]

63. Repukes want Hillary-no, no, no Hillary! Dems will lose again.

No Hillary, No Hillary NO HILLARY in 08. Forgive me, but let the Repukes run a woman from some really red state before the dems do this. Besides, if we are going to run a woman, Barbara Boxer is the real deal. Hillary is a weak version of her engaging husband whose likeablilty brought people together. NO to Hillary! It is a guaranteed loss for the dems. Aren't we sick of losing yet. How about the governer of Montana. He's got spunk!

[mourningdove92]

14. I would vote for her.

With great Pleasure.

[rodeodance]

16. I also happily

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

35. So would I. n/t

[Pithy Cherub]

39. If Hillary becomes the nominee I will happily vote for her. n/t

[leesa]

48. Love senseless war, eh?

[Blue to the bone]

15. She'll run. n/t

[rodeodance]

17. oops--wrong posting (will edit out)

[Blue to the bone]

18. And Hillary's role? n/t

[Robert Oak]

19. I'd like to find a group of governors/senators/congress

as a field of good candidates and start the campaign for them right now.

Clinton for me is a member of the corporate party and I don't see
what kind of choice that is supposed to be.

I'd like to find some potentials who really have the kind of values
I can respect plus the political chops who is just in obscurity right now.

[election_2004]

20. A better alternative to Hillary...

Blanche Lincoln 2008!!!

http://www.lincoln2008.com

A Lincoln/Warner ticket would be the winning combo. Putting at the top-of-the-ticket a down-to-earth Southern U.S. Senator who will quickly become America's favorite mother (and any Republican nominee who resorts to petty attacks on her will automatically alienate 50-60% of the "swing" electorate), alongside a popular Southern Governor for V.P. who would have been great for the top of the ticket had he not been term-limited.

[saracat]

22. This is Repuke propaganda and nothing more.

Few Dems want Hillary to run. But the GOP and the media do. Gag.

[Blue to the bone]

26. I really have to disagree, looks to me like she's preparing a run. n/t

[saracat]

29. She might be preparing to run, but her perceived Democrat

support is propaganda. I truly don't know any Dems that would be thrilled to see her run. Most don't think she can win.

[Something of Reason]

28. Infighting Again

Want to know why Democrats lose so many elections? They spend too much of their time obsessing about who will run in 4 years

Yup, that and fighting among ourselves about who's democractic/progressive enough. I'm not a huge fan of Hillary but she's certainly better than Bush 3.0 (Jeb)

[primavera]

31. Oh please, we're four years from the next election!

Many of us had reservations about Kerry, but when the time came, we all dutifully sucked it up, swallowed our pride, and voted for the schmuck. We'll all do the same again in 2008 even if Hillary wins the nomination but, in the meantime, we've got the next four years to try and talk our Party out of its losing strategy of fielding candidates whose vision is limited to "I promise, I'll be just like my opponent, only not quite as mean!"

We're at a crucial junction and have to decide whether we're going to continue to lose elections with the Vichy Dem approach or start acting like an opposition party with a bold alternative vision. Hillary's "Gee, the Repukes are right: we should limit a woman's right to choose and we ought to nuke every country that doesn't agree with us and it's high time we fused the Church with the State!" falls firmly into the former camp rather than the latter. And it is just as certain of losing yet again, for the simple reason that it's never going to impress conservatives, it'll only piss off liberals, and, as Kerry's performace ought to have demonstrated to all of us, those in the middle don't vote for pale imitations when they can have the real McCoy.

[slackmaster]

30. Bear in mind that some of that 46% are Republicans

Who would be overjoyed if the Democratic Party nominates someone who is guaranteed to lose.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

36. I don't think Hillary is any more guaranteed to lose

than Kerry was.

[primavera]

38. And how great did Kerry do?

Opportunity after opportunity to absolutely bury the shrub passed up. We could have hammered him everything! There hasn't been a single area of policy in which the shrub's performance hasn't been absolutely disasterous and yet we pulled punches constantly. We couldn't make a big deal out of our illegal invasion of Iraq and the mass murders of innocent civilians because the candidate we chose had voted for the war. We've got to learn, we can't have it both ways: either we're an opposition party or we're not. As long as we try to play the middle of the road, we're only going to look like wishy-washy flip-floppers who lack any clear alternative vision. Enter Ms. Clinton: "I respect people who believe that abortion should be outlawed altogether" and "The state needs to work more closely with the Church" and "We need to talk tough with Syria to leave Lebanon so that Israel won't be inconvenienced when they invade them." I get the strangest feeling of deja vu here. If Hillary becomes out candidate, we will simpy repeat 2004 in 2008, in which Hillary will receive the support of everyone who is vehemently anti-shrub, but will offer no compelling reason for anyone else to vote for her.

[slackmaster]

41. I think Kerry made some blunders, and he could have won

But there's no going back now.

I seriously think nominating Hillary would be a mistake.

[Borgnine]

44. Exactly.

We can't go back and change what happened with Kerry, but we can still prevent the great Hillary fiasco of 2008.

[lutefisk]

32. The GOP/MSM have decided on their strategy.

The Democrats, or any of the opposition to the Republicans, are in a weak position. Tha GOP/MSM alliance likely has multiple scripts planned out for the next four years and beyond. The "Hillary" script is just too easy and might be all they need.

The Republicans are like the big, corporate Hollywood studios, and the opposition is like the mix of independent studios. The Republicans control the financing, the screens, etc., and they will pander to the cheapest emotions. Therefore, they have the audience.

[Mills Street]

33. She's famous

That is why she could win.

I am starting to think the only thing that matters is how "famous" the candidate is. The more famous the candidate, no matter good or bad or what that fame is related to, the more likely he or she will win.

Nothing else seems to matter. For that reason she has a chance of winning.

The only question is whether or not the Repubs will run someone more famous than we do.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

37. I think you may be right about that. n/t

[lebkuchen]

34. She was on a talk show, talking about how bad Fidel Castro was

It was just a few years ago...on Ophrah or some such.

We gotta get Castro, he's a bad guy, he's mean to the US, he doesn't allow this, he doesn't allow that, etc.

and I wondered then, this is a fresh idea?

Note to Mrs. Clinton: I have heard, ad infinitum, about Castro since the days when my father was storing canned goods in the pantry in preparation for a Cuban attack. Let's move on, shall we?

[TOOLZ]

40. She'll run and do well, but we can't let her get the Nom

Or we're screwed. She won't win, and won't be a good president anyway.

Besides, there's so much shadiness to her BG, they'll have a field day.

Other than that, what the hell has she been doing in the Senate except waiting for 2008?

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

45. I disagree

She'll be divisive, but she'll win. There aren't enough right wing haters to keep her out of office.

[leesa]

46. Mainstream media wants Hillary to be our choice. Wonder why?

They chose Kerry for us as well...hmmmm...the guarantee of oil wars is powerful

[AP]

52. Because she's polarizing (which this poll reveals) -- when people are...

...forced to engage in a polarized debate, you can be pretty sure that the middle won't be motivated by reason. They'll be motivated by emotion. Republicans will take their chances with emotion, but they definitely don't want voters to be exposed to an informed debate.

[Kimber Scott]

47. Hillary is a Democrat. Can we lay off and quit eating our own?

Jesus Christ. I'd vote for the woman in a minute AND I wouldn't run down any other Democrat in the race. Why do we always make the other side's job so much easier for them?

[leesa]

49. No, because she is part of PNAC

[Kimber Scott]

61. Prove it. nt

[ChemEng]

50. Just 3 years and 7 months to go....

Is it just me or is this the equivalent of mental masturbation?

Who cares at this point? There is a hell of a lot of time between now and 2008, and I would rather deal with the here and now.

[Chicago Democrat]

51. A growing number of people think Elvis is still alive too!

Not Hillary please.

[Zhade]

53. Not with my vote.

NT!

[Clarkie1]

54. So I take it 46% of the people polled were Republicans?

And 49% were Democrats?

"Marist College's Institute for Public Opinion poll found that 46 percent of voters want the former first lady to run for the White House while 49 percent said she should not."

[0rganism]

55. I wish she'd run for Governor against Pattacky instead

Let her serve a term or two as a guv, then I'll consider supporting her nomination for the presidency.

[No scull and bonzer]

56. She can't win

Let her run for gov. America is pronounced like this – A-meri-ca - Now lets break down the meaning:
A = Prefix meaning NO
Meri = Latin meaning mercy
Ca = Scottish meaning heard sheep
America = No mercy for the sheep

[zann725]

57. nOT gaining my support...no matter how many times they repeat or poll it.

Sorry.

[oasis]

58. Hillary's popularity is a direct result of her hard work and dedication.

She has taken hard knocks from the right and the left but has stayed on a steady course in the continued service for ALL Americans. So what if she's not batting 1000? Is there anyone in the dugout who is? As far as I'm concerned, Hillary stays in the lineup.

There are a good dozen or so right wing fascists in congress that deserve 10 times the bashing she gets here on DU. There is no lack of Hillary haters, Kerry haters, Byrd haters around these parts.

Those who are dead set against supporting imperfect Democrats had better prepare to live an eternity under GOP rule.

[Kimber Scott]

62. Here! Here! Well said. nt

[cleofus1]

59. I vote democrat

if she's the candidate i will vote for her. She has my respect and admiration. I don't agree with her 100% of the time, but that's OK. she has a good heart and a sharp mind.

if she's the nominee for the Democrats then I will give her my support whole heartedly.

[SoCalDem]

60. Spin..Spin...Spin

Hillary is too polarizing, and this spin is nothing more than a feeble attempt to scare away other candidates who "might" be thinking.. Hillary running in '08 is what gives Rove a reason to live.. Can you even IMAGINE the stuff they have all taped and ready to roll out if she even thinks about running??

I know it;s not a "reason" to not run, but with the media fully in their pockets, there is little we can do to counter the toxic sludge they pump out over the airwaves..

There's no way we can take over the media in 2 years or so, so.... discretion is the better part of valor..

We will once again be forced to run a candidate that is palatable to republicans...hold our noses, and hope that the IT guys goof when they "pre-load" the republican votes..:(

[usregimechange]

65. negatives sure are high.