Too many people -- including Democrats -- are ready to write off the most serious contender in the 2008 horse race to the presidential primaries.
And no, I'm not talking about Barack Obama.
Though the Illinois Democrat may have raised a staggering $32.5 million during the most recent fundraising period (an astonishing feat, especially given that he refuses donations from corporate interests), Sen. Obama is still slagging in the polls.
The most recent polls of the nation's Democrats show that they intend to vote for Hillary Clinton in the primaries -- and not by a slim margin. Sen. Clinton is sitting pretty at 43%, while Obama is at 25%.
So, assuming that Clinton bests Obama in the primaries next year, can she go on and defeat the as-yet-uncrowned Republican nominee in the general election?
Again, the answer is yes.
The polls are stacked in her favor. 55% of the general public is ready to vote for the Democratic candidate, whoever he or she might be. And when candidates are named, nearly every major poll has her beating out both Republican front-runners in the general: John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
So what are Democrats afraid of? By no means is Hillary unelectable. The voters are telling the pollsters that every day. Even from the standpoint of the much-maligned electoral college system, Hillary can scoop up a victory. In 2004, John Kerry earned 252 electoral votes from a combination of nineteen states and Washington, D.C. Do you think any of the blue states have changed their mind between now and then? No, they're getting bluer. And so is the rest of the country.
Sure, the Republicans won't like her, but look at what they made us put up with for the past eight years! The population at large is ready for a change. A big one.
Hillary can win, and she's in it to win it. So even if she's your not your favorite candidate in the race, you'll do good not to write her off. Or she may -- like so many women -- just have to prove you wrong.
And no, I'm not talking about Barack Obama.
Though the Illinois Democrat may have raised a staggering $32.5 million during the most recent fundraising period (an astonishing feat, especially given that he refuses donations from corporate interests), Sen. Obama is still slagging in the polls.
The most recent polls of the nation's Democrats show that they intend to vote for Hillary Clinton in the primaries -- and not by a slim margin. Sen. Clinton is sitting pretty at 43%, while Obama is at 25%.
So, assuming that Clinton bests Obama in the primaries next year, can she go on and defeat the as-yet-uncrowned Republican nominee in the general election?
Again, the answer is yes.
The polls are stacked in her favor. 55% of the general public is ready to vote for the Democratic candidate, whoever he or she might be. And when candidates are named, nearly every major poll has her beating out both Republican front-runners in the general: John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
So what are Democrats afraid of? By no means is Hillary unelectable. The voters are telling the pollsters that every day. Even from the standpoint of the much-maligned electoral college system, Hillary can scoop up a victory. In 2004, John Kerry earned 252 electoral votes from a combination of nineteen states and Washington, D.C. Do you think any of the blue states have changed their mind between now and then? No, they're getting bluer. And so is the rest of the country.
Sure, the Republicans won't like her, but look at what they made us put up with for the past eight years! The population at large is ready for a change. A big one.
Hillary can win, and she's in it to win it. So even if she's your not your favorite candidate in the race, you'll do good not to write her off. Or she may -- like so many women -- just have to prove you wrong.
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