She's popular, she's actually famous, and so her record fundraising isn't really surprising. Just keep in mind that the record she set is for Democratic candidates (so far). Edwards isn't that far behind her, and Obama is expected to meet or exceed her totals.
GW Bush raised $50 million in one quarter, and $48 million in another quarter.
What I liked was the quote at the bottom of this Bloomberg article:
QUOTE |
Obama and Edwards don't need to match Clinton's fund- raising pace to stay competitive, said Clyde Wilcox, a government professor at Georgetown University in Washington. "All you really need is enough money to reach the voters,'' Wilcox said. "Hillary is not inevitable.'' |
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There has never been any doubt that the Clinton machine can churn out the dollars in fund raising. It has always been a strength for both of them. In the end it is going to be...does the American public like and believe you. There is where the trouble starts for any candidate and in particular Hillary.
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It seems to me that generally the Clintons are always spoken of in a positive light despite Bill's sex scandal. Bill makes US$100,000.00 for just showing up at a conference and Hillary is as was mentioned already - already famous. With the constant help from Hollywood they really do have a lot of backing.
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The Clinton's (especially Bill) are loved and revered outside of the US. Inside the US, it really depends on where you are from. All you have to do is look at Bill's and all the recent Democratic candidates and see where they were the strongest in voting results. The east and west coast in addition to portions of the north (primarily Chicago and Detriot) are all Democratic. The fly over country (the center of the US) overwhelmingly has voted Republican in majority over the last 2 decades.
While they are popular, Hillary is undoubtably the most polarizing offering the Democrats could present in November. Even within her party, there are people that just plain do not like nor trust her. Within the Democrat voting public, she is either loved or hated with a passion. So there is very little middle ground with her as a candidate...sounds like a familiar recent or dare say current president doesn't it?
I think it is great that a woman is running.
I seriously don't think she has much of a chance in "fly over country" (middle of the US). She needs to maintain the Democratic strong hold of the east and west coast. She cannot afford to lose any ground in the northern central states either. I see her biggest problem coming from the south. I still think it is going to be really difficult for older southern man to pull that lever for Hillary or Obama. To be honest, if it is Hillary or Obama as the Democratic candidate, I would not be surprised if there are record low turnouts for the election. This could be bad for the Democrats as it is possible that it all comes down to the electoral college....again. I know that the electoral college is what actually elects the president, but what I am saying is that it could be really close again like with Bush's first election. That is the one where he lost the popular vote, but won the electoral college. Just my opinion though...
Edited: Vincenzo on 3rd Apr, 2007 - 2:44pm
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Being the first female President of the US certainly will make her stand out in history and it will be interesting to see how she stands up to critique as the 'Iron Lady' did (Margaret Thatcher).
What do you think... will the Presidency really be run by Hillary or by Bill or both? Will Bill handle the work that normally the First Lady's does? In other words: visit charities, speak at the woman's ball, etc.
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I pray it doesn't happen! Hillary would be a disaster, and "First Lady" Bill would just be absurd. Yes, I can see him being the focus of "non-political" functions, just as every other First Lady has been.
President Hillary combined with Speaker Pelosi? The world will be reeling for decades.
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Clinton: Attacks won't scare me off
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says the pain and turmoil of her White House years don't discourage her in the least as she wages a campaign she hopes will bring her back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "I've decided this country is worth fighting for," she said, adding she is "distraught" about the last six years under President Bush.
Ref. www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-04-11-hillary_N.htm
I for one don't think Hillery would make a good President from all the stories I heard about her as a senitor. and well I think she is riding on the husbands coat tails right now. but then she would make a better president that Oma guy. who I think would make a good president is the current secretary of state, her name alludes me right now ( she is a black female Condilesa Rice) but she has the dignity as well as the understanding of the office. The republicans have to many dummies running right now that have no business running. but that will (I hope ) get smaller.
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