How Close Would Hillary Have To Come To Obama To "Declare Victory" Tonight?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Assuming that the race is closer than we think it will be, how many points would she have to be from Obama to give a "comeback kid" or "victory" speech -- assuming she doesn't win, of course.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. She'd have to be one to two points over Obama.

At least.

:shrug:

[Guaranteed]

21. Agree. She'd have to win.

Otherwise, she's now lost TWO in a row.

[matcom]

2. ummmmm How about actually WINNING?

:shrug:

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. winning is not required to declare victory

see New Hampshire, 1992.

[matcom]

7. oh i'm WELL aware of the 'spin' the campaign will put on tonight

but IMHO when you get your ass kicked in IOWA, and you are Hillary, you HAVE to win NH to be able to declare anything

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. well

that's why you're not Hillary.

that, and you have much larger boobs than she does. :P

[NoPasaran]

9. True

See also New Hampshire, 1972
See also New Hampshire, 1968

[TheWraith]

11. See also "Mission Accomplished."

I think it'd be a mistake for her to declare victory without actually winning. How fast do you think the Obama campaign would pull the zinger about declaring the mission accomplished out of their quiver again?

[Birthmark]

3. Close?

If she wins by less than 20%, it will be played as a HUGE win for Obama. lol

[HeraldSquare212]

5. Right, by winning

I think the question, what shows she has staunched the bleeding, which is a big thing. Remember, Bill won by coming in second in NH - i.e., surviving.

[jefferson_dem]

6. She has to win to declare victory.

That's all.

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. just for my take on this

I think Team Hillary will spin a loss of less than 10 points as being a victory. If they lose by five points, it'll be spun as a huge upset. If it's one or two points, they'll be dancing in the streets declaring it a "whole new race."

just my opinion.

[KennedyGuy]

17. My..have times changed..

you were all crowing about a 20-25 point slaughter earlier...
wha-hoppen?

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. yeah, i was

i admit it.

I'm feeling foolish now.

[OHdem10]

12. Some Reporters have said said 7 pt. Some have said

less than double digits--less than 10

I am clueless on how these things are determined

[Anouka]

13. McCain was fourth in Iowa and he 'won'.

It depends on what the media and the Powers that Be are feeling.

If the media wants Hillary to be up, she'll be up.

If the media wants Hillary to be down, she'll be down, even if it's by half a percentage point. Ask Edwards about that one.

[Rowdyboy]

14. Clinton could claim a "comeback" if she loses by only 2 or 3 points.....

otherwise its a loss

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. 2-5% for any comeback kid type claim

5-8% for saying we beat expectations and are still in the thick of it. Over 10%, very problematic.

[Catchawave]

15. Will you DU Obama supporters STOP this nonsense?

Relish your lead, tell the other 70% of American voters why he deserves that lead.

Otherwise, STFU.

[Occam Bandage]

20. We're discussing how Hillary can come off looking like a winner. Is that now forbidden?

:eyes:

[ElizabethDC]

18. I'd say within 5 would be relatively strong

I wouldn't say she could declare victory, but it would be something of a comeback and probably give her a bit of momentum.

[Occam Bandage]

19. She probably will regardless of the results.