Of the "top tier" Hillary Clinton's campaign message is the least inspiring.

[calteacherguy]

This is another reason why I believe her chances at being the nominee are less the the chances of either Edwards or Obama. Both Edwards and Obama have inspiring messages, with slightly different flavors. Hillary's message is vote for me because I'm the most experienced politician. Well, for one thing, Americans aren't particularly fond of "experienced" poltiicians. And for another thing, this isn't the Republican Party. Repbublicans look for "experience" in their candidate, but we Democrats are less conservative. Poll after poll shows what Democrats want is a new kind of leadership and a break from the past. We are, after all, the more progressive party. Progressive means change.

And so, this is why I think it will come down to Obama and Edwards...not just in Iowa, but nationally. They are simply running the two most inspiring campaigns, and Democrats are hungry for inspiration, change, and new leadership.

[LSparkle]

1. Well said!

After all, some did call Bill C. the "best Republican president we've ever had." His wife is running a great Rethug campaign but you're right -- we Dems want "the vision thing" (which I agree she's lacking).

[maddiejoan]

2. least inspiring to you.

To me it's the most inspiring.

When one speaks of things like "inspiration" it is a subjective thing. You can't make a blanket statement about who is more inspiring.

I'm glad you have found inspiration from your candidate. It's a good thing to be inspired.

[calteacherguy]

3. I have no doubt Hillary Clinton inspires you.

That's great, as you say it's good to be inspired.

But I do think in the "big picture" she's running on experience, whereas Edwards and Obama are running on new ideas a a break from how things have been done in the past. Experience is boring. People want change and a new direction.

Just my opinion. I could, of course, be wrong. However in my defense it is true that polls of Democratic voters show that they really aren't interested in who is the most "experienced," which is what Clinton is selling.

[maddiejoan]

6. I see very little difference

between the ideas of all three top tier candidates.

shades of difference really. Edwards slighty to the left of Hillary. Hillary slightly to the left of Obama. And I mean very slightly.

[Beacool]

10. Exactly, this post is highly subjective.

She's plenty inspiring to me and I have thought so since she came on the national scene in 1992. On the other hand, Obama doesn't inspire me at all. I see a smooth operator and not much else.

[jgraz]

4. I have to disagree

Hillary isn't "top tier" any longer. ;)

[calteacherguy]

8. My gut tells me the nomination for her is a longshot at this point.

I could, of course, be wrong.

But I don't think so.

[jgraz]

14. Here's my take on where things stand (pure hunch)

Just in terms of their positions and momentum:

1) Edwards and Obama tied, slight edge to Edwards
3) Biden
4) Clinton fourth IF she avoids any further gaffes
5) Kucinich
6) Dodd
7) Richardson

[Vincardog]

5. I never hear the HRC campaign promoting anything but her so called "Electablity" Where does she

want to lead us? Right where her husband did- into covering up for the bush crime family.

What exactly is her so called experience? If she wants to take credit for bill's two terms she need to fess up to NAFTA too.


We need a real progressive to start uncovering BCCI and all the rest of the crimes.

[maddiejoan]

11. Maybe it would help

if you actually watched her speeches

[Vincardog]

13. The ones where she panders to which ever group she is in front of?

[maddiejoan]

15. No

Those would be Obama's speeches. I meant Hillary's.

[mtnsnake]

7. Too bad for you that the majority of mainstream American Democrats disagree with you. nt

[calteacherguy]

12. I don't think they do, Mtnsnake.

Look at the polls about what the majority of Democrats are looking for in a candidate. You've seen them.

What we are seeing now, in my view, is a rebalancing of the field from the presumed nominee to candidates who reflect more of what the majority of Democratic voters are in fact seeking.

Hililary led for a long while because she was all many knew. That is changing now, and the standings of the candidates are becoming more reflective of the underlying political reality.

Hillary is a longshot, at best.

[theoldman]

9. If Republicans looked for experience in their candidate they

sure as hell would not have voted for Bush. People vote for whom they believe. He or she may be the biggest liar in the world but it is who they want to believe.