Hillary's status as front-runner slipping in key states (Moony Times)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070110-112457-7197r.htm

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's popularity in Democratic presidential-preference polls has fallen in the nation's first caucus and primary states in the face of increasing support for her chief rivals for the 2008 nomination.

Pollsters said her weaknesses in Iowa and New Hampshire were the result of the growing popularity of two major opponents -- former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama -- and their populist economic messages, as well as a deepening antipathy toward her among Democratic-leaning independents who dislike her support for the war in Iraq and who question her electability.

"I think Hillary strikes these voters the same way Senator John Kerry did in 2004. They would really like to vote for someone they really like this time. Hillary doesn't fit that characterization right now," said pollster Del Ali of Research 2000, who conducted polls in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

His findings mirror more recent polling showing a similar national decline in support. "There's been erosion," said pollster John Zogby. "She's polling in the low- to mid-40s nationally."

The New York Democrat, who has been her party's clear front-runner, came in a distant fourth in an Iowa presidential poll of 600 likely voters conducted Dec. 18 to 20, drawing 10 percent in a crowded field of contenders. Mr. Edwards, the Democrats' 2004 vice-presidential nominee, and Mr. Obama were tied in first place with 22 percent each, followed by outgoing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack with 12 percent.

[ramapo]

1. sigh...let's wait until the voting starts

Howard Dean was almost elected president before one primary vote was cast. This front-runner stuff is rather absurd.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Almost as meaningless as her "frontrunner" status. Let's wait a year. nt

[Richard Steele]

4. Exactly. You beat me to it! nm

[brazos121200]

3. I believe Hillary will ultimately win the Iowa and New

Hampshire primaries, although I would much prefer Al Gore or Wesley Clark as our nominee. Hillary has access to money which can't be matched by most of these candidates or potential candidates she is up against in these polls, and in the final analysis, money still rules. I know her negatives are very high, but I think this, too, can be corrected by the time of the primaries and election. I think that if she picks an attrative running mate like Wes Clark or Edwards she can end up being the President come 2009.

[jakem]

5. Havent heard much about Gore here lately...

has that ship sailed so far as we know?

[brazos121200]

6. Gore has said he just isn't interested in politics any more

and won't run for President in 'o8, but I don't believe him. Come December, when the first primaries are just around the corner, I believe his old habits will rise within him and he will ultimately decide to make a run for it. I sometimes feel he doesn't want to appear too eager for the nomination, that he wants to have a draft movement arise for him, but I don't know if there will be one this time, with so many other candidates running to choose from.

[cascadiance]

7. I think he knows the DLC will line up against him and is waiting...

... to play his cards right this time. He doesn't want to enter too early and get the treatment that Howard Dean did in the Iowa caucuses. He probably knows the corporatists are really watching his every move!

If we suddenly get a huge issue where popular sentiment works against the corporate interests, that is probably when he enters. He then knows he can strongly support that popular sentiment, and the tongue tied DLC drones won't be able to say the same without offending their corporate backers.