Clinton Bloc Becomes the Prize for Election Day

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Clinton Bloc Becomes the Prize for Election Day
By JODI KANTOR
Published: June 7, 2008

Now that a would-be first female president is ending her quest for the White House, the race is more about women than ever before.

With Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s ending her campaign for the Democratic nomination, the presumptive nominees are moving to claim her followers, especially her signature bloc, the millions of women who cast primary votes for her. Senator Barack Obama’s campaign is positioning itself as the rightful heir to these Democratic voters. Senator John McCain’s strategists are plotting to convert them, particularly older women who are skeptical of Mr. Obama’s thin résumé. Even the Democratic National Committee chairman is avidly trying to make up for accusations that he allowed sexism in the race to pass unchallenged.

“The wounds of sexism need to be the subject of a national discussion,” the chairman, Howard Dean, said in an interview. “Many of the most prominent people on TV behaved like middle schoolers” toward Mrs. Clinton....

***

He has belatedly recognized the cries of sexism, Mr. Dean said, particularly when a friend showed him a video compilation of broadcasters’ comments about Mrs. Clinton. “We all get over it when our candidates don’t win,” he said. “What you don’t get over is feeling like you’ve been insulted by some of the leading institutions in America and no one said anything about it.”...

Mr. McCain has recently beckoned to frustrated Clinton supporters in his speeches. A campaign tour reaching out to them, as well as independent female voters, is imminent, aides said.

As he declared himself the nominee on Tuesday, Mr. Obama cut a particularly woman-friendly figure on stage, dedicating his speech to his grandmother and affectionately bumping fists with his wife, Michelle....Indeed, descriptions of those women, along with his mother and daughters, will be regular features of Mr. Obama’s speeches, (Governor Kathleen) Sebelius said. Women will ultimately choose Mr. Obama not because of symbolic overtures, she added, but because of his stances on health care, the economy and education, areas where his positions closely resemble Mrs. Clinton’s.

The key, (Senator Claire) McCaskill said, is approaching Mrs. Clinton’s supporters with utmost humility. And, (Democratic strategist Jenny) Backus added, that is not always the strongest suit of the young people who are some of Mr. Obama’s most enthusiastic supporters. “Not nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh,” Ms. McCaskill said, making a taunting sound. “We need them very, very badly, and we shouldn’t be able to be afraid to say that we need them.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/politics/07women.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all

[aquart]

1. Was that a nice nap, Howard? Thanks, Claire, for all the "humility."

The big, big, big problem is that doing a 180 makes you seem like lying hypocrites. Maybe "seem" is the wrong word.

[cege111]

2. Losing an election

Obama supporters are losing him an election. Calling Hillary's supporters a bunch of losers is not going to get him any votes. It will get Mc Cain votes. Treating us badly is just not smart. What a foolish group of people.