LAT: Clinton won over upstate NY, but skepticism abounds elsewhere

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Can Recast Clinton Play to Nation?
In the senator's role as a champion of locals, she has won over onetime foes. But that may not translate to a bigger -- say, presidential -- stage.
By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writer
September 2, 2006


POPULAR: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton poses with well-wishers outside a health center in Harlem last month after speaking about emergency birth control. She is widely seen in New York as a bipartisan problem-solver, with no issue too parochial for her concern.
(Kathy Willens / AP)

Can Recast Clinton Play to Nation?
In the senator's role as a champion of locals, she has won over onetime foes. But that may not translate to a bigger -- say, presidential -- stage.
By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writer
September 2, 2006

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — Six years ago, when Hillary Rodham Clinton first ran for the U.S. Senate, Republican Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds derided her as a carpetbagger who brought nothing to New York but overweening ambition.

Today, he raves about their relationship. "I've found her always willing to listen and to roll up her sleeves and go to work with me," the Buffalo-area lawmaker said in a phone call between recent campaign stops.

Reynolds is no partisan slouch. He has close ties to the Bush administration and heads the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. He has the most conservative voting record of anyone in New York's 29-member House delegation.

But like many New Yorkers who were skeptical, if not downright hostile, when Clinton planted herself in affluent Westchester County and started campaigning in 1999, his views of the former first lady have changed considerably. The turnabout helps explain why Clinton is romping to reelection in November — and may offer clues about how she plans to run for president, if she chooses to take that plunge....Clinton is widely seen in her adopted home state as something else entirely: a bipartisan problem-solver who has never seen an issue too parochial for her concern....

***

Yet skepticism abounds.

"I'm glad they love her in New York. I'm glad they think she's a great senator," said Dick Harpootlian, a longtime Democratic activist in South Carolina. "In the next 26 months, do you think there's enough money on the face of the Earth for 51% of the country to know her that well? I don't think so."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hillary2sep02,0,2614969.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[stuartrida]

1. She should stay in the senate.

I think she would get whipped in 08 if she is our nominee.

[WePurrsevere]

2. We live in a purple area of NNY that used to be very red. If our...

experiences in July and August were any example I'd say the article about most NYers being for Hillary is fairly true.

(Super short version of our "experiences")- Since we have a lot of old family stuff we needed to find new homes for we held a few yard sales here over the Summer. A friend of ours joined us with some of his stuff one of which was a set of Hillary and Bill Clinton life size, stand up pictures...probably taken early in his Presidential career... for the price he had on them I bought them PDQ and set them up under the tent with me (as our "mascots" ;) ) where we also had a few small items and our cash drawer set up. Being new and knowing this part of NY was "purple" but recently "red" we were all sort of surprised at the overwhelming general amount of pro-Hillary (and Bill) statements... even with those who said "I've always been a Republican but.... "

The reason most often mentioned was that Hillary comes up here to hear what folks say, folks feel like she's listening to them, she has helped when she can those who were not getting help elsewhere... to folks up here that means she's doing her job and doing it very well and she's doing it while still being mostly "Progressive" (with a score of 91.54% at Progressive Punch and high at others as well.)
[br />Although as a Progressive I don't agree with Hillary 100% on a few issues I must admit that overall I've been fairly impressed with the way she has handled representing ALL of NY... even the often forgotten/overlooked (more "purple" and "red") "Upstate" and "North Country".

Although I don't think she could win the Presidency at this time (IF she chooses to run) American could do a whole lot worse then having her as President... heck... we have done (are doing) a whole lot worse... although they've been (are) "Republicans". ;)

(edited for spelling/typos)

[SPCAworks]

3. Clinton nomination

guarantees doom. Traditionally women vote 60%+ democratic... Hillary is VERY abrasive to a LOT of women.

A Hillary nomination would guarantee a Repug rightwinger maybe Gingrich or Allen. A better DEM candidate would make Giuliani a shoe-in. The Repugs will NOT run Gingrich against Gore, for example. They'd run with Giuliani.

You can't imagine what happens to the US if gingrich takes the presidency. He makes Shrub look like Bill Clinton.

Repugs are not that stupid. They WON'T nominate Frist, McCain, etc, etc, etc.. those guys = Bob Dole.

Gingrich is in a big comeback right now and the type of repugs who vote in primaries LOVE him.

[alpharaptor]

4. Hillary I live in NY and if you want my vote

Get up on the steps of the Capitol with Cindy Sheehan and tell us how you're going to bring our troops home.

Remember what happened in Connecticut! Jon Tasini isn't going to disappear.

[robcon]

5. Hillary is a GREAT campaigner.

She'll win this fall with more than 70% (80%?) of the vote. No Republican, except desperate unknowns, will run against her.

She'll be the next president of the U.S.