It's pretty likely that Sen. Hillary Clinton will win Florida's Democratic primary today, and there's little doubt her campaign will cast it as a huge victory in the wake of her trouncing by Sen. Barack Obama in Saturday's South Carolina contest.
Team Obama has pushed back with a reminder that they all have pledged not to campaign there (despite the back-and-forth on this, the candidates really have avoided the Sunshine State) and that she has the "quasi-incumbent" advantage.
But New Hampshire's top newspaper told voters in a scathing editorial today "you were played for suckers" since Clinton held fundraisers in Florida Sunday.
"Hillary's word: It's worth nothing," was the headline on the piece, which also complained that Clinton kept her name on the Michigan ballot.
Clinton holds a wide lead in Florida now, and could win by as many as 20 or 30 points. But given that more than 1 million voters sent in absentee ballots over the last months, what if Obama comes within 10 points? Will Team Clinton still play it as a major achievement? (Answer: Yes.)
The Obama camp insists the delegates don't count, since the DNC has stripped the state of its delegates. But as reported here, Clinton is now saying she wants the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be seated at the convention and if it's still a close race come summer, you can bet this will be a big deal.
"Clinton coldly and knowingly lied to New Hampshire and Iowa. Her promise was not a vague statement. It was a signed pledge with a clear and unequivocal meaning," the Union-Leader wrote.
"She signed it thinking that keeping the other candidates out of Michigan and Florida was to her advantage, but knowing she would break it if that proved beneficial later on. It did, and she did."
Clinton is heading down there — after the polls close, of course — for a victory speech in Davie.
Her win will help counter the "big mo" that Obama received from his Palmetto State win and from Sen. Teddy Kennedy's endorsement yesterday.
Here's my story from today's paper looking at Obama's oratory skills and how they prompted Kennedy to back his much younger colleague.
In her "Hill Gram" e-mail blast to female voters, Clinton counters the endorsement with her own Kennedy in the e-mail's "quote of the week."
"As a woman, leader, and person of deep convictions, I believe Hillary Clinton would make the best possible choice for president. She shares so many of the concerns of my father. Hillary has spent a lifetime speaking out on behalf of the powerless and working to alleviate poverty, in our country and around the world … At this moment when so much is at stake at home and overseas, I urge our fellow Americans to support Hillary Clinton. That is why my brother Bobby, my sister Kerry, and I are supporting Hillary Clinton."
— Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (5)
Few years ago, the Clintons were able to fool millions of Americans. That era is over. It was in the past Century. Their tricks, their lies, their manipulations, their deceits will no longer hold water.
It will be very shameful to see her claim any victory in Florida. How many people are going to vote. If you have only the Clinton supporters going to vote why will she go down there and give victory speech.
American people are generally very fair. When they disapprove of someone, they do so with good reasons. The reason why most Americans can not stand the Clintons is because they are phony, manipulative, and bluntant liers. I wish them all the best
Posted by Ava | January 29, 2008 10:58 AM
Who's the real phony? Obama turned his back to Clinton when he thought there were no cameras. Obama says he will bring Democrats and Republicans together yet he cannot bring himselself to be civil to a fellow democrat. He is not fit to be President of the United States.
Posted by Ray Daniels | January 29, 2008 1:15 PM
As a Michigan voter who did not vote in the primary because 1) my candidate's name was not on the ballot (Obama) 2) instructions that if we didn't want CLinton (who, hedging her bets kept her name on the ballot), we should vote for none of the above, thought the election was ludicrous. I didn't vote. But now if the national takes the result of the Michigan Primary -- it's not a correct reflection of the desire of the Michigan people. This is planned voter supression, people! I'm an old (read former) Clinton fan, but these people are jackals they always said they were. The DNC must NOT change the rules AFTER the fact, just because that's what the Clintons (like my 3-year-old) want.
Posted by Sharon MacDonell | January 29, 2008 2:53 PM
he is a whiner and a whimp. l knew this long time ago. Hillary is more matured and how can obama even take care of the american people when his grandmother in kenya does not even have a television to watch this election? l am a full black woman and loving it, but obama cannot even come out and say what he really is. ls he black or white? he can't be acting black on day and then white the next. we need a president that is proud of his skin and race not a fake president that will get to the white house and dump alot of crap on us. he can't even take care of his family in kenya, so how is he going to take care of us? he can switch his race off and on at will like a light bulb. he needs to man up and take a firm stand instead of acting like a spinless, immature cow.
Posted by joy | January 29, 2008 5:36 PM
Frankly? Screw New Hampshire. I cannot fathom why the citizens of New Hampshire have such entitlement issues that they believe they ought to have twenty times my electoral power EVERY election cycle. Their anger over Clinton saying the voters in Florida matter is ridiculous.
And for the record? Clinton didn't hold the fundraisers. Her supporters did, and they were within their rights to do so.
Posted by Caitlin | January 29, 2008 10:44 PM