Tonight the reported demise of Hillary Clinton as a continued viable candidate for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination proved to be premature. There is a collective shock in America that Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire Democratic Primary. After being counted out by her usual flock of detractors who had projected her to lose by double-digits to Barack Obama, Hillary emerged victorious. John Edwards, who after Iowa had asserted that the race had become a two-person contest between he and Obama, finished a distant third.
In a bit of a role reversal, Hillary who once was the inevitable Democratic nominee, beat the latest inevitable nominee, Obama. Now it really is a competition. It's a competition to the chagrin of the Republican Party that will help the ultimate Democratic winner be tougher to beat in November 2008. The GOP strategics and Karl Rove must be in shock and scratching their heads. I stand by my earlier claim that Republicans fear a contest against Hillary Clinton.
Resilience is the word. Hillary in short order has retooled. Once down, she is far from being out. In New Hampshire, the Clinton counter-punch was in full effect. Hillary fought for and won the support of women and especially the young people. In contrast to last week in Iowa, Hillary's on-stage backdrop for her victory speech, had the symbolism of youthful vitality. Chelsea and Bill (yes Bill) were also close by her side. Most of the political commentators ended up with egg on their faces. And much to my personal satisfaction, the pollsters and Hillary's many haters got it wrong and and shared the sunny-side up meal of the commentators. Hillary must be chuckling to herself. Good for her.
My latest advice to Hillary is not to listen to the pundits (i.e. Bernstein), but keep Bill highly involved in her campaign if not highly visible. Also, don't run away from being a woman. Stand tall and proud, because you are a woman and a very accomplished and competence one at that. And once again, my most pointed advice is avoid the Republican strategy of going negative or getting personal with her opponents, especially the very likable Barack Obama. This strategy will only backfire, alienate and weaken support with Black people and some women voters. Enthusiasm and not contempt from these support groups will be needed for Hillary to win in the general election.
Sidebar: Now it's on to South Carolina and Nevada for the rubber matches where the importance of the overrated independent voters will be further discredited. And did I forget to mention how personally gratifying it is that the pundits and Hillary haters were proved wrong.
