Ocean's Eleven
03-12-2006, 11:23 PM
The buzz on Hillary Clinton
By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist | March 12, 2006
CAN HILLARY Clinton make it to the White House?
She has money, support from party insiders, and nonstop political buzz. The Democratic presidential nomination is considered hers for the taking. But there is still reason to doubt that the junior senator from New York, who is also Bill Clinton's wife, will make it to the Oval Office.
Recent political surveys taken in New York and California show voters who say they are ready for a female president, but less ready for Hillary Clinton to be the first. Last month, a survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion indicated that two-thirds of Americans believe another Clinton will run for president, but only one-third believe this one can win. The latest national ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Clinton garners a 52 percent favorability rating, and 46 percent unfavorability rating.
Clinton's political problem is usually described as ''divisiveness." Gender bias also plays a role. Republicans are trying to paint her as ''too angry" to be president.
But conviction might be the biggest obstacle: Does Clinton have it about anything other than a desire to be the first female president?
In mathematics, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In politics, Bill and Hillary Clinton traditionally rely on the triangle to get them where they need to go.
In the past, Clinton ''triangulation" meant positioning oneself between the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. This time around, the Clintons are giving triangulation a new meaning. On controversial issues, they are in opposite corners, essentially covering all the bases.
Take the Dubai ports deal. In February, Hillary Clinton denounced the deal to allow the state-owned Dubai company to manage some terminal operations at six American ports. In March, the Financial Times revealed that Bill Clinton, former president and first husband-in-waiting, was advising the United Arab Emirates about landing the deal. Last week, the Dubai company dropped out of the deal, under pressure from Republicans and Democrats who relentlessly attacked the premise that some US port terminals should be sold to an Arab state company.
The Clintons are doing the same thing regarding Iraq. Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq war resolution, defends her vote, and says the United States must finish what it started. Last November, Bill Clinton told an Arab student audience that the US invasion of Iraq had been a ''big mistake."
Husbands and wives are free to disagree on politics. But with the Clintons, when does a policy disagreement become a strategy to straddle both sides of the issue? Should voters take Hillary Clinton's policy statements at face value? Or should they see Bill Clinton winking and conclude what he says out loud is what Hillary is really thinking?
Most important for the 2008 presidential campaign, how does the Clintonian practice of covering all the bases measure up against a prospective opponent such as Senator John McCain?
The Arizona Republican cultivates the image of a straight talker. He backed President Bush on the ports deal and criticized ''the near hysteria" of critics, including Hillary Clinton. He endorses the Iraq war policy, although he criticizes aspects of its execution.
McCain happily exploits the image of a man unafraid to say what he believes, even if those beliefs are at odds with public opinion. That latest ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Americans hold McCain in exceptionally high regard. Fifty-nine percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of him; 29 percent had an unfavorable view. McCain also has broad bipartisan appeal.
Conviction and strength are two ingredients vital to a winning presidential campaign strategy. They helped reelect Bush, although over the last year, those once-perceived presidential qualities have devolved to stubbornness and ineptness.
The 2004 presidential campaign showed that voters don't always have to agree with a candidate, but they want to be reasonably clear about what a candidate believes. That was part of John Kerry's downfall, and it is Hillary Clinton's biggest challenge. What does she believe?
As Mrs. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton showed strength in the face of political and personal adversity. As a presidential contender, she must demonstrate it in a different context.
Together, Hillary and Bill Clinton can win the presidential nomination; but they both can't win the presidency. Voters must believe Hillary Clinton has the strength to do the job on her own, and the convictions to deserve it.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.
By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist | March 12, 2006
CAN HILLARY Clinton make it to the White House?
She has money, support from party insiders, and nonstop political buzz. The Democratic presidential nomination is considered hers for the taking. But there is still reason to doubt that the junior senator from New York, who is also Bill Clinton's wife, will make it to the Oval Office.
Recent political surveys taken in New York and California show voters who say they are ready for a female president, but less ready for Hillary Clinton to be the first. Last month, a survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion indicated that two-thirds of Americans believe another Clinton will run for president, but only one-third believe this one can win. The latest national ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Clinton garners a 52 percent favorability rating, and 46 percent unfavorability rating.
Clinton's political problem is usually described as ''divisiveness." Gender bias also plays a role. Republicans are trying to paint her as ''too angry" to be president.
But conviction might be the biggest obstacle: Does Clinton have it about anything other than a desire to be the first female president?
In mathematics, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In politics, Bill and Hillary Clinton traditionally rely on the triangle to get them where they need to go.
In the past, Clinton ''triangulation" meant positioning oneself between the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. This time around, the Clintons are giving triangulation a new meaning. On controversial issues, they are in opposite corners, essentially covering all the bases.
Take the Dubai ports deal. In February, Hillary Clinton denounced the deal to allow the state-owned Dubai company to manage some terminal operations at six American ports. In March, the Financial Times revealed that Bill Clinton, former president and first husband-in-waiting, was advising the United Arab Emirates about landing the deal. Last week, the Dubai company dropped out of the deal, under pressure from Republicans and Democrats who relentlessly attacked the premise that some US port terminals should be sold to an Arab state company.
The Clintons are doing the same thing regarding Iraq. Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq war resolution, defends her vote, and says the United States must finish what it started. Last November, Bill Clinton told an Arab student audience that the US invasion of Iraq had been a ''big mistake."
Husbands and wives are free to disagree on politics. But with the Clintons, when does a policy disagreement become a strategy to straddle both sides of the issue? Should voters take Hillary Clinton's policy statements at face value? Or should they see Bill Clinton winking and conclude what he says out loud is what Hillary is really thinking?
Most important for the 2008 presidential campaign, how does the Clintonian practice of covering all the bases measure up against a prospective opponent such as Senator John McCain?
The Arizona Republican cultivates the image of a straight talker. He backed President Bush on the ports deal and criticized ''the near hysteria" of critics, including Hillary Clinton. He endorses the Iraq war policy, although he criticizes aspects of its execution.
McCain happily exploits the image of a man unafraid to say what he believes, even if those beliefs are at odds with public opinion. That latest ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Americans hold McCain in exceptionally high regard. Fifty-nine percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of him; 29 percent had an unfavorable view. McCain also has broad bipartisan appeal.
Conviction and strength are two ingredients vital to a winning presidential campaign strategy. They helped reelect Bush, although over the last year, those once-perceived presidential qualities have devolved to stubbornness and ineptness.
The 2004 presidential campaign showed that voters don't always have to agree with a candidate, but they want to be reasonably clear about what a candidate believes. That was part of John Kerry's downfall, and it is Hillary Clinton's biggest challenge. What does she believe?
As Mrs. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton showed strength in the face of political and personal adversity. As a presidential contender, she must demonstrate it in a different context.
Together, Hillary and Bill Clinton can win the presidential nomination; but they both can't win the presidency. Voters must believe Hillary Clinton has the strength to do the job on her own, and the convictions to deserve it.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.