Poll numbers climb for Clinton

[Nambe]

The Journal News (NY)

Despite explicitly removing herself from the 2004 presidential race, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to overshadow the current Democratic field of declared candidates in polling nationally and in New Hampshire.

The New York Democrat also appears to be gaining strength as she takes a nationwide tour to promote her new book — a memoir of her years as first lady — and as leading Democratic candidates left in her dust struggle to catch fire with voters. Clinton was favored by 48 percent of those polled late last month by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute — more support than was received by the top declared candidates combined and up from 40 percent in June and 37 percent in March in surveys measuring the Democratic field with and without her. ---

John Zogby, another New York-based pollster, contends that Clinton's support wouldn't fall off that much.

"The impression I have is that she is not Ted Kennedy or Geraldine Ferraro — high name recognition and great polling numbers until the day they announce," Zogby said. "There is genuine breadth and depth in her support. There are people who really like her and will stick with her."

Much of the strong support for Clinton as a possible candidate, Carroll said, reflects her potential to transcend the ideological struggle between Democratic liberals and moderates for setting the direction of the party. ---

[lcordero]

1. No thank you

[BayCityProgressive]

2. Eh

She is definately better than her husband but that isn't saying much. I was very dissapointed with his presidency but her voting record seems to be much more liberal.

[diplomats]

3. She's not running

however, it's interesting that she appears to have the ability to unite liberals and moderates. BTW, I'm not so sure she's that much more liberal than her husband but she certainly doesn't have his self-destructive streak.

[Bandit]

5. Maybe you could give some examples of her "liberal" voting record

I think you are talking out your ass but maybe you could prove me wrong and give examples of what you say.

[depakid]

13. delete

code freeze

[depakid]

14. delete

code freeze

[depakid]

15. Try the so called Bankruptcy "reform" act

which should have been called "The free ride for credit cards" act. If it finally passes, the bill will indendture millions of families by requiring them to pay back usurious credit card debts while they are already at wits end under dire circumstances.

Some second chance for those unfortunate. Pray that you don't get sick or injured, lose your job or decide to take on the care of a loved one.

President Clinton veteod this legistation;

Senator Rodhham-Clinton voted to pass it.

Need more examples? There are many.

[w4rma]

11. Sen. Clinton is not running in 2004

Promised voters full term
On Monday, however, Clinton definitively ruled out a run for the White House in 2004.

"Let's say Gore loses. That means the Democratic Party has no incumbent. Are you interested in that office in '04?" King asked Clinton in an interview taped at the White House.

"No, I'm not," she replied.

"Not at all?"

"No. I am intent upon being the best senator that I can be. That is what I want to do," Clinton said.

Clinton said she had promised New York voters she would serve out the full six-year term and that she intended to keep that vow. That was "as definitive as I can get."
Hillary Clinton rules out White House run in 2004 - December 12, 2000

McAuliffe, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee and friend of former President Bill Clinton, told reporters, "I feel pretty safe saying, making a Shermanesque statement here, that Hillary Rodham Clinton will not run for president in 2004."

The reference was to Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, who once said, "I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected," when asked about running for President.
McAuliffe Predicts No Hill on the Hill in 2004 - Mon, Feb 5, 2001

Pressed to clarify

Mrs Clinton was pressed to clarify a statement she had made on Thursday about the presidency being "not something I am going to be doing" at the annual conference of the American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington.

She was later asked by the Post whether she was ruling out a run for president not just in 2004, but in 2008 and beyond.

"Yes," she replied.
Hillary rules out presidency - Saturday, 7 April, 2001

But when pressed about her own possible presidential plans, she said it was not going to happen.

Mrs Clinton shook her head: "I don't even want to talk about this. It's not anything that's going to happen," she said.

"I don't have any long-term plans," she said when asked about running for a second Senate term in 2006. "I'm pretty focused on day-by-day."
Hillary counts herself out of White House race - Thursday 30th August 2001

[knowledgeispower]

12. What Bill Did

Bill Clinton does not get enough credit for what he did as President. No he didn't give us national health care (although he tried) or any other economically progressive programs. But that is because he couldn't raise taxes (the Republicans have made sure of that), so where is he going to get the money from?

But to understand what Bill DID do as President, you must first understand the Republican plan to reduce the size of the federal government (hasn't that been their goal for quite some time now?). They found that they could not simply cut social programs like medicare because they are popular with the people. So instead they are DRIVING UP THE DEFICIT. Thats right. Reagan did it. Bush the first did it. Shrub is doing it. That is their plan!

Let me explain why: we have to pay interest on that deficit. As the deficit grows, the interest that we pay will slowly consume the federal budget. Already, paying interest on the national deficit is the SECOND biggest expenditure from your tax dollars (military spending being the first, of course).

So Bill's plan was to balance the budget and pay down the deficit. That would open up MORE MONEY for social programs (at least in theory--IF the American public wasn't chomping at the bit for tax cuts).

Think about it, this is a long term process. Had Gore been given the office that is rightfully his, he would have continued the same process for at least another four years (but my money says eight). By then interest payments would be drastically reduced and we would have more money available for things like universal health care WITHOUT having to raise taxes!

I'm not even one of these DLC/New Democrats apologists. I don't like everything Bill did. But the important thing is that you understand the strategy. It is the ONLY WAY to counteract the Republicans' evil scheme to bankrupt the federal government.



BTW, if you want to check out how your federal tax dollars are spent (and see for yourself that paying down the deficit is the second biggest expenditure), you can check out this site:
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/taxes/IncomeTaxChart.html

[NickDanger]

7. Yes, thank you

My first choice. Who wouldn't like to see another 8 years of Bill and Hillary and their prosperity (except the Pubbies).

[onehandle]

4. Creating News...

She isn't running, but they keep asking the question.

There are a lot of politicians not running. Why not them?

Hell, I'm not running! How 'bout putting me in the poll.


Why are they asking? Because they are whores.



And Kommmander Rove says to.

[papau]

6. She jumps in , and I watch primary debates - but going in I like her

She impresses me more day after day.

Biden and Clark will announce in the next 30 days - and I'd prefer Hillary to them!.

[0rganism]

8. Are there no announced Democratic candidates worth covering?

Oh, I forgot, we live in the new and improved USSA.

[BayCityProgressive]

9. ADA

Well actually I am not talking out of my ass. Americans For Democratic Action gauge how often senators vote progressive and in 2002 they scored Hillary at 95%.

[joshcryer]

10. Man... she seriously needs to run... before she gets too old...

...and out of the spotlight!

[LauraK]

16. I don't see how '08 can look good for her.

She will have to overcome a Dem President (if not, we'll all be dead anyway). I just don't see how it could work for her.

[BigBigBear]

17. The real news is

that she is probably the party's center of gravity right now. She has high in-party numbers, her book's done well and she's managed herself pretty well in the Senate.

I do not think she will run in '04 - if shrub gets re-elected, she'll definitely run in '08, if she's still in politics.

Her endorsement will carry alot of weight.

I'd love nothing more that to see legions of freepers and hardcore Repukes vomiting copiously over her candidacy - but I don't think she'll break her pledge not to run.