Uh-Oh! Clinton Campaign Talking About a '27-State Strategy', Downplaying Iowa Prospects

[bigtree]

Fearing Poor Finish, Clinton Camp Downplaying Expectations

Christie Findlay, Jan 3, 2008

Des Moines – With the latest Zogby/Reuters/C-SPAN tracking poll out of Iowa showing Sen. Hillary Clinton slipping to third place on the morning of the Iowa Caucus, her campaign is talking up its “27-state strategy,” and downplaying the importance of the first in the nation caucus.

"You can't look at Iowa in the same perspective as in the past," Terry McAuliffe, the senator’s campaign chairman, told C&E’s Politics magazine this afternoon. "Because of the compressed schedule, we will have 27 states in the next 30 days before you get to super duper Tuesday, when I believe we will have a nominee. No matter what happens in Iowa, if you've got the resources and can play in all 27 states, you've got a strong campaign."

He said the campaign has offices and field staff in all of those 27 states, and has been investing heavily not just in Iowa, but also New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. "Whatever place we come in, we're all heading to Concord tonight," he said.

McAuliffe’s comments follow similar ones from Clinton staffers yesterday who talked up the formidable ground organization of rival Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards.

This morning’s Zogby tracking poll gave Obama a seven point edge over Clinton at 31 percent to 24 percent. Edwards came in second at 27 percent.


http://www.campaignsandelections.com/webedition/page.cfm?pageid=1481&navid=51

[Lerkfish]

1. partisanship aside, that isn't good for this spin to come out BEFORE the caucus

this encourages people to not caucus for her.

not sure what the strategy is, here.

[HeraldSquare212]

3. My first thought, too - why deflate the troops before battle?

To me it means they must think it's going to come out pretty bad for them, if they've started this already.

[rodeodance]

4. you are right

[Lerkfish]

6. I gotta wonder, who decided this was a good idea?

again, I'm honestly putting aside partisanship for a moment, I can't imagine ANYONE thinking this is a good idea.
This can only hurt, I see no benefit.

:shrug:

[liberalnurse]

7. It will indeed be a long campaign....

She, Hillary, has Ohio locked in and Nevada too.....and the Primaries are not until March in Ohio, Jan. 19 th for Nevada! So, Obama will slump after Nevada.

[bigtree]

9. I think a good deal of that 'lock' came from her 'electability' quotient

. . . which would be tarnished by a poor finish in Iowa.

[liberalnurse]

13. Ohio has made up their minds.

The delegate selection is tonight..................Big turnout for Clinton is anticipated.

[Pirate Smile]

15. The delegate selection for Ohio is tonight?

[Lerkfish]

17. um. don't think so, I'm in Ohio

primary is much later

[Pirate Smile]

20. I would think the media and campaigns might notice if that was true.

Just a hunch. ;-)

[liberalnurse]

25. Yes, if you want to be a delegate in Ohio

you pick your candidate and then there is a gruop vote.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ei/0,1976,FOOD_9958,00.html

snip>

The Ohio Democratic Party is accepting candidates for the Ohio Delegation of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. This is a great opportunity for political activists to have a once in a lifetime political experience on the national stage by representing Ohio at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado on August 25-28, 2008.



To apply to be a delegate you must fill out a Declaration of Candidacy Form and submit it to the Ohio Democratic Party by the filing deadline of January 1, 2008. You must be registered to vote (18 before November 4, 2008) in the district in which you are running.


You must indicate your candidate of choice and then run for delegate in that candidate's district caucus. All caucuses are held on January 3, 2008. There will be individual caucuses for each Presidential Caucus. Click here for a list of locations.


Delegates will be selected by an open election at the individual caucuses. Voters registered in the district may come to the caucus and vote for the delegates. If you are interested in campaigning to be a delegate, you should think about recruiting friends, family, and neighbors to come and support you in the January 3 caucuses.

[cali]

16. She has nothing locked in- none of them do.

And if Obama wins tonight and goes on to win in NH and SC, he'll take Nevada.

[Renew Deal]

23. The message is "We're not dropping out."

That's a weak position.

[global1]

2. I Heard McAuliffe On Ed Schultz's Show Kinda Making Excuses.....

to soften the blow if HRC doesn't win in Iowa. Sounds to me that their internal polling is not looking good for the HRC campaign.

[Pirate Smile]

18. I saw him on MSNBC and I'm used to him practically bouncing off the walls

with his crazy energy but he was very subdued. He may just be tired. I think everyone in the campaigns probably is exhausted but I noticed a big difference.:shrug: He just seemed deflated.

[BenDavid]

5. HRC will have a majority of delegates by the end of Feb.

[Lerkfish]

8. not by pursuing this particular strategy, methinks.

:shrug:

I am seriously scratching my head at this development.

[Demeter]

11. Is It Official, or Is it MSM Blather?

and as for McAuliffe--she was warned about him!

[bigtree]

12. from what I've seen

. . . almost everything in her campaign is extremely calculated. McAuliffe has to be a major player, executing a high level spin

[Cha]

10. Then she better thank Howard

Dean for strenthening up the Democratic Foundations in all the States. And blow that james carville off for calling Dean a lousy Chairman of the DNC.

[fightindonkey]

14. This Was Always Known. This Isn't A Story. Iowa Doesn't Matter. She Will Win NH.

[bigtree]

19. someone should have told the Vilsacks

if Iowa didn't really matter to Clinton

[mod mom]

21. OH Gov Strickland (Clinton endorser) already laid the groundwork for their defeat in Iowa:

In an interview with The Dispatch last week, Strickland said the Iowa caucuses make "no sense." He called the GOP and Democratic caucuses "hugely undemocratic," because the process "excludes so many people." Anyone who happens to be working or is sick or too old to get out for a few hours Thursday night won't be able to participate, Strickland said.

"I'd like to see both parties say, 'We're going to bring this to an end,'" Strickland said, adding that he has no problem with the New Hampshire primary Jan. 8, because "at least it's an election."

Since endorsing Clinton in September, Strickland has campaigned for her three times in Iowa, including what was to be a quick trip Dec. 9 that turned into "the trip to hell and back," Strickland said. He expected to return to Columbus via Chicago early that Sunday night but was waylaid by bad weather, getting home at 6 a.m. Monday — via Las Vegas.

-snip

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/30/stumped.html?sid=101

[bigtree]

24. interesting take on this

Strickland may just not like Iowa, though

[David Zephyr]

22. Terry McAuliff is a train wreck for the Democratic Party. Ask Al Gore & John Kerry.

Wake up Democrats. Terry McAuliff, Mark Penn & James Carville are a recipe for losing 2008 and they have a stranglehold on Bill & Hillary Clinton.

[Demeter]

26. As John Edwards Will Be the Candidate, This Isn't A Problem

but more of a solution.