Clinton for President HQ Moving to Virginia
By: Lowell
Published On: 2/19/2007 9:02:07 PM
I'm not surprised at this, but I do think it's a good move:
Hillary Rodham Clinton is moving her presidential campaign headquarters from tony K Street in Washington, D.C., to the swing state of Virginia, The Post has learned.
She will cross the Potomac to set up camp in the sprawling suburban Ballston section of Arlington, Va. - the same area President Bush picked for his re-election headquarters in 2004.
[...]
Virginia has gone from solidly Republican to a swing state - having elected two consecutive Democratic governors, and Democratic Sen. Jim Webb last fall. Virginia's 13 Electoral College votes may prove the deciding factor in the 2008 election.
It looks like Arlington is becoming campaign central - George W. Bush, Jim Webb, George Allen, now Hillary Clinton. And it looks like Virginia is increasingly becoming a competitive, "swing" state. Both of those things are pretty exciting, if you ask me!
Comments
If she really wanted to be bold (True Blue - 2/19/2007 9:26:13 PM)
she'd move down to Richmond.
That would be quite a commute to (Lowell - 2/19/2007 9:29:34 PM)
the Senate!
Hillary is Exciting Alright!! (ub40fan - 2/19/2007 9:45:33 PM)
and she's as POLARIZING as a Melting Ice Cap ....
Even in casual conversation with very sane and decent people .... Hillary Clinton generates very negative passions ....
For a commanding yet affable presence go OBAMA .... It's time for the Democratic party to shake off the past and start a new ... at this point that means OBAMA!
It's good that Hillary got off of K Street .... because there isn't a doctor or health professional who's going to align with a bunch of blood sucking trial lawyers and corporate lobbiest.
Shake off the past and start a new .... OBAMA for President projecting Audacious Hope!! He's electable - Hillary is NOT!
Obama is no more electable than Hillary (DanG - 2/20/2007 1:05:06 AM)
The man may not be as polarizing as Hillary, but he has his weaknesses. Sadly, there are a lot of closet-racists who won't vote for Obama because of his race, especially in the South. Go ahead and show me those polls were 95% say they'd vote for a blackman. I'll show you the same polls that had Doug Wilder up 10% when he won by less than one. People will say what they think people want to hear in a poll or a survey, but they'll vote different on the ballot. Call me a cynic, but I believe this is the truth. Yeah, it's a damn shame. But not all truth is pleasant.
Also, Obama has very little experience. He's never served in an executive fashion. He's only been a Senator for what, two years now? He's unabshadly liberal in a country that hasn' voted for a liberal President in decades. Obama has plenty of weak-points, don't kid yourself. Probably just as many as Hillary.
"Sprawling Suburban Ballston"? (Randy Klear - 2/19/2007 9:59:03 PM)
Where did this NYPost reporter file from -- sprawling suburban Fort Lee, NJ?
If she uses the Metro, I'll be impressed (Todd Smyth - 2/19/2007 10:03:21 PM)
I agree it's a good move (Chris Guy - 2/19/2007 10:09:09 PM)
But I don't think it has to do with trying to bring Virginia into play. Nobody wants to be viewed as an inside-the-beltway politician. This way you're right down the road, without the D.C. address.
But if she does plan on contending in more than 21 states, like Kerry did, then that's great. She may raise more money than any Democrat or Republican, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Bush's headquarters NOT in Ballston (teacherken - 2/19/2007 11:30:04 PM)
but rather in Courthouse. Someone teach that reporter some Arlington Geography.
And Jim Webb's hdqtrs would also qualify as Courthouse (closest metro).
Hillary will hamper our growth (WillieStark - 2/19/2007 11:47:29 PM)
Democrats have had a recent change in fortunes. We do not want to go back to the point where we are the silly leftie ugly kids relegated to a powerless position in congress.
Walk down any street in the U.S. from the most liberal to moderate. Ask 20 people what they think of Hillary Clinton. 15 of the 20 will have the words, "I don't like her." come out of them. Whether their feelings are justified or not, this is the reality of the situation.
Think for a minute of what it will be like if she is the nominee. Think what it will be like trying to convince swing voters to vote democrat. Think of all the explaining you will have to do and cajoling and fighting you will have to do in your efforts to mobilize voters to vote for someone they (
albeit irrationally) do not like.
Then think of this brand new majority that we have now. All these new freshmen from swing districts that have given us the new and heady ability to actually do something about GOP excess of all kinds. Think of at least half of these new seats instantly disappearing. I guarantee you that is what will happen if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. It is not fair. It is not just. It is the reality of the situation.
As much respect as I have for Hillary and as much as I love Bill Clinton, I love and respect what we are trying to do much more. So we need to seriously think hard and long before we throw all our very hard earned progress away. It is time for Hillary to stop being selfish. Remember what happened with Nader in Florida that gave us GWB. Well get ready for another George Bush type administration if Hillary is the nominee.
Hillary is popular (demo925 - 2/20/2007 12:20:15 AM)
Willie- Look at the latest polling... Hillary has approval ratings over 55% and disapproval rating of under 40% so your 15 in 20 thing is nothing more than an old wives tale. In fact she has good ratings with I voters too. Sure there is 35% of the country that hates Hillary, but they also hate every other democrat. We are getting on the wrong path when we try to win the approval of these right wing folks, lets get the middle where Hillary is liked. It's why President Bush's approval rating will never go much under 30%.
In fact Hillary is the only Democrat that beats all of the possible Republican candidates in the latest polls. Americans want results and want they want a candidate who has experience. The voters bet on Bush and his uniter rhetoric but what has he done?
I'll give Hillary that; she has experience (DanG - 2/20/2007 1:06:22 AM)
Edwards and Obama have no executive experience. Hillary DID get to see it up-front and personal while working with Bill in the nineties.
What is a "Lefty?" (Matt H - 2/20/2007 11:01:50 AM)
Willie:
I agree with much of what you say except for the connotation that Hillary will take us back to "the point where we are the silly leftie ugly kids relegated to a powerless position in congress."
My problem with Hillary is that she is quick to let her naked ambition get in the way of her real values. She has to know the war in Iraq is wrong; she has to know that when she sat on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart, workers were being mistreated, and that unfair trade with China was in her best interests.
Still, what is a leftist? Hillary is a centrist, DLC-type (or, in other words, a Democrat who is not brave enough to join the Republican party). Most Americans are probably more progressive than the politicians realize, but what's a leftie? Is wanting child care, good affordable healthcare, peace in the world, decent labor standards, strong Unions, and a clean environment being a "leftie?" The neo-cons have moved the goal line so far to the "right" that FDR or LBJ Dem.s like me, look marginalized. Yet, my fight is really with non-believeing Dem.s.
Hillary is a lefty only to the extent that you buy into what the media wants to paint her as.
Is Webb a lefty, since he's for the middle-class and for income equality? He and I are 100% in synch in our views, and I wouldn't call him the ugly kid with no power.
Hillary is percieved as a lefty even if she isn't (WillieStark - 2/20/2007 12:09:00 PM)
Lefty is a perception only. You are correct in your statement that Hillary is a centrist. That is not how she is percieved by the country as a whole. Most people don't see beyond a superficial portrait of Hillary that has largely been painted by the "vast right wing conspiracy". Lefty is not the political leanings of almost all of the new Democrats we have in congress now ether but they don't carry the baggage she does.
I guess I mean by "lefty" those who are ultra left wing. I am hard pressed to find many of those in congress. But that is not what people believe.
You are also right that America is probably more progressive than many people realize, including everyday people. The progressives in this country let the GOP define us for too long.
My point about Hillary is not what she believes in her heart but how the general public perceives her and to what depth these feelings run. The vast majority of people have their minds made up about her one way or the other. They will not be swayed no matter what.
That is why I say she will hold us back. It is selfish to the party and to the country to run. We will lose both houses of congress if she wins the nomination. I would stake my entire life savings on it.
I don't know about you guys, but before we won back congress, I was just SICK of losing all the time. I don't ever want to go back there again. I think we need a progressive movement in the mold of Jim Webb.
One based on economic fairness and justice. One that fights for very basic social justice. One that holds the kind of progressive views that do not alienate half the country instantly. One that is not belligerent but steady and true. We need more people who are anti war for the reasons Jim Webb is. They do not scream and bitch incessantly.
I do not mean to disrespect anyones views here. But I could not be more adamant in my belief that Hillary will end our rule for another 10 years. It sucks but there is just waaayyyyyy to much baggage.
Good for her (drmontoya - 2/20/2007 1:32:39 AM)
I wish her the best, I am still waiting on Clark.
Is Clark even Running? (DanG - 2/20/2007 1:56:40 AM)
The worst thing Clark could do would be to wait to late...again.
It's not too late (vadem - 2/20/2007 8:05:52 AM)
And Clark won't wait too late this time. He's already said he knows that was a big factor last time and he's learned that lesson. Everyone else was just early! He's getting a good assessment of his opponents by watching their early maneuvers.
There's Always Dave Barry (PM - 2/20/2007 11:01:44 AM)
Humorist Dave Barry is once again running for President. Again. You didn't know? Last time he used this bumper sticker:
His announcement is discussed on this thread: http://blogs.herald....
p.s. My guess is that Hillary is spotlighting VA because she sees Mark Warner or Jim Webb as likely VP choices.
Agree about VP (DanG - 2/20/2007 2:01:01 PM)
Both have their strong suits. Warner is a more Centrist Democrat, has executive experience, and would give Hillary a better chance at winning in Virginia. Politically, Warner may be the best choice out there.
Jim Webb, though, is a better compliment to Hillary. Some people may feel uncomfortable with a woman President. Webb, as an "uber-man", may help with those fears. He's also very outspoken and honest, as composed to Hillary's political machinations.
That's "opposed to Hillary's", not "composed to Hillary's" (DanG - 2/20/2007 2:04:37 PM)
Ugghh... (doctormatt06 - 2/20/2007 1:26:51 PM)
It increasingly looks like Al Gore is not going to run, and without Gore, I have to make a tough decision between Hillary, Obama, and Edwards...NOOOO please run Al...PLEASSSEEE!!!
Who Americans WON'T Vote For: Gallup Bigotry Poll (PM - 2/20/2007 2:43:26 PM)
Well, this is interesting. And sad, too. I would have liked to see a category for "low intelligence"
I bet those numbers are actually lower in reality (DanG - 2/20/2007 3:30:18 PM)
There are plenty of closet-racists in this country. They may say that have no problem voting for a black man or a jewish man or a woman, but that's not the truth. Do you really think that this country, which in general is oppossed to gay marriage, would support a gay man for President? Not hardly. I take this poll with a very tiny grain of salt.