Hillary just finished speaking. It seemed to be a pretty forced effort at trying to seem confident and resolute, mixed with some excuses while Bill looked like he had a big stomach ache over her left shoulder.
She began by referring to the huge Democratic turnout, 200,000-plus to 115,000 Republicans: "This is a great night for Democrats."
She says the campaign going forward will focus on two questions: "How will we win? .... Who will be the best president on day one? I am ready for that contest." (In other words, she thinks she can convince people she is more electable and more experienced. Is President Obama ready? But those are pretty much the arguments that lost in Iowa, aren't they? President Hillary was a little thin too, wasn't it?)
She says: "We have always planned to run a national campaign." Makes reference to winning over not only Democrats but Independents and Republicans "who have seen the light," and young people. (This seems to be a reference, reach-out to crossovers and young voters who were key to Obama's victory, but also a little suggestion that "real" Dems would prefer her).
She says: "I am so ready for the rest of this campaign, and I am so ready to lead." And: "I am confident and optimistic." Followed by a promise to work for the kind of people who couldn't get to caucuses -- soldiers in Iraq, blue-collar workers on night shifts.Again, a backhanded attempt to diminish Obama's victory.
Comments (1)
I actually thought Hillary's line about Republicans who had seen the light was the perfect illustration of why Obama is the better candidate. Obama invites people from both sides to join together to build something new. Hillary invites Republicans if they already agree with her. THe problem is- on election day you need Republicans and Independents and on "day one" of governing you need to be able to work with Republicans- not just those who have seen the light,