Clinton's Moment of Truth

My pal Anna at Dakota Women is a little bit concerned with all the Hillary bashing that is going on. 

I guess I'm surprised, however, by the level of vitriol being directed at Hillary Clinton from all sides, both nationally and in the local blogosphere. Ken Blanchard's recent post about Clinton's losses and the shakeup of her campaign does not appear to me to be absent of some amount of glee regarding the situation in which Hillary finds herself. From the left, I don't consider Cory's assesment of Clinton vs. Obama to be entirely fair to Clinton.

I don't think there was any vitriol in today's post, but Anna is right to detect some small measure of glee in Ms. Clinton's distress.  The Clinton's are a sleazy couple, as nearly everyone now acknowledges.  For more than eight years it was the job of Republicans to point this out, while Democrats closed ranks to protect Mr. Bill from the consequences of his misbehavior.  The Clintons seem finally to have worn out their welcome, at least among the activist core of the elder party, due in large part to the sleaziness of their campaign in South Carolina.  This looks a little bit like justice, and that is almost always a beautiful affair to anyone but the guest of honor.

Moreover my post of this afternoon went somewhat in Senator Clinton's favor.  But I admit that things are looking rather dire for her right now.  Intrepid reader and long time friend of SDP, Gene K, thinks that the fat lady has already belted out a few notes.

Professor, it seems to me that judgment day has come and gone for Clinton. She hyped her way into invincibility and when there was push back it collapsed. The bookends of the Clinton dynasty will be Ross Perot and Barack      Obama.  Yesterday over    18,000 folks stood (a few seats behind the makeshift stage) for 3 hours at the Virginia Beach Convention Center to hear Obama speak, 1200 came out for Bill Clinton and 150 for John McCain the day before. Barack Obama has tapped into the American psyche much as I remember of Bobby  Kennedy  did.  He has the gift to inspire people. I’ve often told the story of the two types of inspiring leaders I witnessed in the Navy.  There were those who said “follow me” which was quickly followed by the roar of thundering footsteps; and those who after uttering those words heard only the echo of their own footsteps.  All the Clintons are hearing now are echoes. 

Now that, dear readers, is an eloquent and compelling note!  Here is how things stand on the day: having lost four contests over the weekend, the junior senator from New York looks about to lose "the District," Maryland, and Virginia.  The first two are no big deal.  Virginia will be a heavy blow, especially if Obama takes it two to one, as polls suggest.  It's big.  It is one of the states that may easily determine the fall election.  Ms. C. is not even playing to win there, anymore.  She is playing to avoid a route.  From the Politico:

Clinton hopes to keep Obama from rolling up a big-margin victory in Virginia by courting white suburban women, Latinos, federal workers in Northern Virginia and poor, rural whites to the south and to the west – voters who had gravitated to the populist message of John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who dropped out of the Democratic race last month.

That is a strategy of fall back and entrench.  And what comes next?  Wisconsin on the 19th, and then four crucial primaries on March 4th:  Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont.  Of the five, I think that Sen. Clinton stands the best chance in Texas, with its large Hispanic population.  She desperately needs to win Wisconsin and Ohio. 

There has been a lot of talk recently about a brokered Democratic convention.   That is what Republicans are hoping for, as they slowly unite behind McCain.  But Ms. Clinton's status as first or close second relies on the support of a lot of unpledged delegates.   Those may jump ship in large numbers if Obama keeps winning 67% of the primary vote.  Her ambitions are as close to being crushed as they have ever been, and if she does go down, it's down for good.  As I said, I take only a small measure of glee in this.  I think McCain could beat Senator Clinton.  I am not sure that anyone can beat Obama.