Chuck Todd: Clinton has made the right call… so far

[BzaDem]

This is very interesting coming from Chuck Todd. He was very biased towards Obama up through Feb 5th (which kind of peaked in NH, when he was flustered and said the only real way Clinton could have won was due to the Bradley effect/racism). Since Feb 5th (and especially since March 4th) he has been more neutral. In any case, I don't think anyone would claim he is biased towards Clinton, so this carries some weight. A good analysis.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23846166/

--snip--

The party ought to lay off the calls for Clinton to drop out, at least for now, because her presence at worst is making Obama a better candidate. The Wright flare-up was the first true political crisis of Obama's national political career, which is remarkable given how close he is to being the Democratic nominee. Who knows when the Wright controversy would have circulated had the nomination been locked up.

Obama needed to prove he could handle a real media firestorm, something Clinton has done numerous times throughout her career. In fact, her political survival skills have been marketed as an asset by the campaign, something I think would have sold better in '04 when the party was looking for a tough survivor to put up against Bush.

The constant reminder to Democrats about Clinton's ability to handle firestorms has played into Obama's "turn the page" message. There is a large chunk of Obama supporters who are with him because they are exhausted from the political firefights of the last 20 years.

Of course, the Clinton campaign would argue that these folks are being naïve if they think partisan bickering goes if Obama is elected. However, as many have noted, an electorate in a change election wants to feel optimistic and Obama is providing that optimism right now.

--snip--

[maximusveritas]

1. That's stupid. The Wright thing would have come up at the same time

but in that case, Obama would have had all the Democrats backing him up, instead of having half the party against him in addition to the Republicans and the media.

The idea that this makes him a better candidate is just rubbish. All it's done is hurt him and the Democratic Party.

[gabeana]

2. I heard Thom Hartman

say something similar, that it will make Obama a better and stronger candidate

[woolldog]

3. As long as Clinton lays off

the kitchen sink strategy, yes. But not if she comes at him with low blows that he can't respond to because he doesn't want to alienate her base for the GE, which is what is happening.

[DJ13]

4. Never forget that first and foremost Todd is MSM

They dont WANT Clinton to quit (no matter how many super delegates are now telling her to).

Their employers want a race, even if its the worst thing for our party.

[JimGinPA]

5. The M$M Is Scared To Death Theyll Have To Go Back To Chasing Britney & Lindsey If This Ends...

They know McSame is going to lose in a landslide to Obama. The GE isn't going to be nearly as sexy as the mad Clintons fighting for their political lives. They love this slow painful downfall of hers.