February 22, 2008
How About *A Campaign* You Can Xerox
Did Hillary Rodham Clinton step under a ladder and over a black cat before announcing her presidential campaign last year? The hits -- in the bad sense -- just keep on coming at her.
She was booed last night after sniping that Barack Obama was pushing a message of "change you can Xerox" -- a reference to Camp Clinton's charges that Obama plagiarized Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick -- an Obama supporter. It was an Ouch moment for Clinton, and the audience did not like it.
Yesterday's CNN/Univision debate at the University of Texas (transcript) was tense at times and warmly collegial at times. Neither candidate tripped up too badly, but it was clear that Obama has greatly improved his debating skills. Clinton's been strong there from the beginning, so she's not being awarded any extra points.
The New York senator ended the evening on a high rhetorical note that won a standing ovation. Points for that, right? Nope. Many viewers read her lips and saw a concession speech.
"You know, the hits I've taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country. And I resolved at a very young age that I'd been blessed and that I was called by my faith and by my upbringing to do what I could to give others the same opportunities and blessings that I took for granted," Clinton said. "That's what gets me up in the morning. That's what motivates me in this campaign."
Clinton's humanity and humility shone through here in a way that doesn't happen nearly enough for her critics' (and supporters') tastes. Some observers thought the closing phony, and others saw resignation that she had no more weapons left against the ascendant Obama (video).
"And, you know, no matter what happens in this contest -- and I am honored, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored," Clinton continued. "Whatever happens, we're going to be fine. You know, we have strong support from our families and our friends. I just hope that we'll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that's what this election should be about."
The magnanimous, we're-all-in-this-togetherness of those remarks are being eclipsed not only by suspicions that Clinton conceded the race at that moment, but by allegations that Obama ain't the only candidate makin' copies.
Talking Points Memo noted that the remarks were similar to those made by Bill Clinton during his 1992 presidential campaign. And the Obama campaign quickly pointed out that the "we're going to be fine" line was also used by John Edwards when he announced he was ending his nomination bid.
The plagiarism slapfight was already silly before last night, and if Camp Clinton isn't regretting that they started it, they should probably start now.
It is truly a frowny-faced day in Clintonland, and not just because the nomination appears to be slipping away from her. Victor Lozada-Tirado, a 20-year Dallas police veteran, died today after his motorcycle crashed while he was escorting Clinton. Clinton paused her campaign to meet with his family, describing herself as "greatly heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty."
In November, Clinton was touched by another tragedy -- one of the human variety -- when an armed man took hostages at one of her campaign offices in New Hampshire. The situation ended peacefully.
Clinton supporters have yet more reasons to worry about their candidate. An FEC report filed yesterday shows that Clinton is taking notes from the McCain campaign -- circa eight months ago. The New York Times reports that the Clinton campaign has spent tens of thousands of dollars on such luxuries as rooms at the Bellagio and Four Seasons. At a time when her top advisers should maybe consider taking one for the team -- i.e., a pay cut -- it turns out they were paid around $5 million in January.
Now, according to a recently conducted AP survey, Obama has won 25 Democratic superdelegates in the past two weeks alone, while Clinton has lost two. Her lead is still strong -- 241 to 181 -- but if Obama's spree of 11 primary/caucus victories continues to affect the superdelegate count, Clinton may have one less fallback in this unexpectedly volatile nomination race.
Maybe instead of longtime Clinton loyalists, HRC should hire a shaman.
Posted at 5:52 PM
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Barack Obama, Campaigns, Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, John McCain, Republicans, WH 2008
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