Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate

In the coming days, superdelegates will have a clear choice: who is ready to serve as President on day one and who is best able to beat John McCain in November? When you look at her wins in the important swing states and her strength against Sen. McCain in head-to-head matchups, there's no question that Hillary is the strongest candidate.

In a letter and memo sent to superdelegates today, Hillary lays out the case for why she is the strongest candidate to put together a winning coalition and beat John McCain in the Fall.

THE LETTER TO DELEGATES:

The stakes in this election are so high: with two wars abroad, our economy in crisis here at home, and so many families struggling across America, the need for new leadership has never been greater.

At this point, we do not yet have a nominee - and when the last votes are cast on June 3, neither Senator Obama nor I will have secured the nomination. It will be up to automatic delegates like you to help choose our party's nominee, and I would like to tell you why I believe I am the stronger candidate against Senator McCain and would be the best President and Commander in Chief.

Voters in every state have made it clear that they want to be heard and counted as part of this historic race. And as we reach the end of the primary season, more than 17 million people have supported me in my effort to become the Democratic nominee - more people than have ever voted for a potential nominee in the history of our party. In the past two weeks alone, record numbers of voters participated in the West Virginia and Kentucky primaries. And with 40 and 35 point margins of victory, it is clear that even when voters are repeatedly told this race is over, they're not giving up on me - and I am not giving up on them either.

After seven years of feeling invisible to the Bush administration, Americans are seeking a President who is strong, experienced, and ready to take on our toughest challenges, from serving as Commander in Chief and ending the war in Iraq to turning our economy around. They want a President who shares their core beliefs about our country and its future and "gets" what they go through every day to care for their families, pay the bills and try to put something away for the future.

We simply cannot afford another four - or eight - years in the wilderness. That is why, everywhere I go, people come up to me, grip my hand or arm, and urge me to keep on running. That is why I continue in this race: because I believe I am best prepared to lead this country as President - and best prepared to put together a broad coalition of voters to break the lock Republicans have had on the electoral map and beat Senator McCain in November.

Recent polls and election results show a clear trend: I am ahead in states that have been critical to victory in the past two elections. From Ohio, to Pennsylvania, to West Virginia and beyond, the results of recent primaries in battleground states show that I have strong support from the regions and demographics Democrats need to take back the White House. I am also currently ahead of Senator McCain in Gallup national tracking polls, while Senator Obama is behind him. And nearly all independent analyses show that I am in a stronger position to win the Electoral College, primarily because I lead Senator McCain in Florida and Ohio. I've enclosed a detailed analysis of recent electoral and polling information, and I hope you will take some time to review it carefully.

In addition, when the primaries are finished, I expect to lead in the popular vote and in delegates earned through primaries. Ultimately, the point of our primary process is to pick our strongest nominee - the one who would be the best President and Commander in Chief, who has the greatest support from members of our party, and who is most likely to win in November. So I hope you will consider not just the strength of the coalition backing me, but also that more people will have cast their votes for me.

I am in this race for them -- for all the men and women I meet who wake up every day and work hard to make a difference for their families. People who deserve a shot at the American dream - the chance to save for college, a home and retirement; to afford quality health care for their families; to fill the gas tank and buy the groceries with a little left over each month.

I am in this race for all the women in their nineties who've told me they were born before women could vote, and they want to live to see a woman in the White House. For all the women who are energized for the first time, and voting for the first time. For the little girls - and little boys - whose parents lift them onto their shoulders at our rallies, and whisper in their ears, "See, you can be anything you want to be." As the first woman ever to be in this position, I believe I have a responsibility to them.

Finally, I am in this race because I believe staying in this race will help unite the Democratic Party. I believe that if Senator Obama and I both make our case - and all Democrats have the chance to make their voices heard - everyone will be more likely to rally around the nominee.

In the end, I am committed to unifying this party. What Senator Obama and I share is so much greater than our differences; and no matter who wins this nomination, I will do everything I can to bring us together and move us forward.

But at this point, neither of us has crossed the finish line. I hope that in the time remaining, you will think hard about which candidate has the best chance to lead our party to victory in November. I hope you will consider the results of the recent primaries and what they tell us about the mindset of voters in the key battleground states. I hope you will think about the broad and winning coalition of voters I have built. And most important, I hope you will think about who is ready to stand on that stage with Senator McCain, fight for the deepest principles of our party, and lead our country forward into this new century.



Display:


Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 1)

am i the only one who sees desperation?


by Monolithic on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:02:00 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 2)

I'd say she is frustrated, not desperate. It's frustrating to watch the Democrats screw up their best chance for winning back the White House. It's also frustrating that Clinton doesn't have Florida's delegates (and Michigan's).
by zenful6219 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:09:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (1.00 / 1)

This diary might be up your alley.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/28/1857 41/832


We want to see Ivana [Trump] because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture. - Sarah Palin
by spacemanspiff on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:13:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Young Hillary Clinton (none / 0)


by Deadalus on Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:09:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ok that's enough (none / 0)

I have now seen this spamming video at least 8 separate times in various diaries.  Do you really have nothing else to say, except to title this piece with whatever insult you want to?  Reported as spam.


by 4justice on Wed May 28, 2008 at 10:12:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ok that's enough (none / 0)

Just giving it back to the spam artists who pepper this site with their GOP talking points against the Dem nominee.


by Deadalus on Wed May 28, 2008 at 10:51:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

Oh, I thought you were going to give a real answer I could respond to. This ain't worth it.


democracy!
by BlueGAinDC on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:02:48 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

She is welcome to try a little longer.  It won't work, but she's welcome to try.


by Reaper0Bot0 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:03:08 PM EST

It is a bit late for that (2.00 / 1)

She has been making this same argument for months now.  What do she and her supporters expect to happen?  Obama is 46 or so delegates away from winning this thing outright. One letter isn't going to stop that.


Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius
by Blue Neponset on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:04:35 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

When the going gets tough, the tough rights letters.


United we stand, divided we fall.
by mefeck on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:06:51 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

right letters


United we stand, divided we fall.
by mefeck on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:07:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 3)

write letters...damn


United we stand, divided we fall.
by mefeck on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:12:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 1)

heh.  thanks for the chuckle.  :)


Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove.
by fogiv on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:25:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

Keep pluggin' away at it!


No way. No how. No McCain.
by freedom78 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:35:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Her strength failed her. (none / 0)

This is a delegate race, and she couldn't muster the delegates. It's time to move on with our nominee.


should we go outside? / should we break some bread? / are you'nterested?
by Firewall on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:16:27 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

This paragraph makes me think she'll drop out after the last primary:

Finally, I am in this race because I believe staying in this race will help unite the Democratic Party. I believe that if Senator Obama and I both make our case - and all Democrats have the chance to make their voices heard - everyone will be more likely to rally around the nominee.


United we stand, divided we fall.
by mefeck on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:18:23 PM EST

Why Hillary isn't the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 3)

Long story short: Her campaign is the biggest project she's ever undertaken, unless you count her failed health care initiative under her husband's first term. And as Barack observed early on when someone asked him how we would be able to judge his ability to manage the country, we can judge by how the candidates manage their campaigns.

Hillary has botched hers. Badly. She ran as if it was winner-take-all and was shocked, shocked I tell you, when it didn't work out. True she got bad advice, but she chose and stuck by those advisers even when it was obvious their strategy wasn't working. Sitting out February while Barack won 11 straight contests was the death blow. Had she only campaigned in February, she would probably be claiming victory herself. Actually it would have happened a month ago because Barack wouldn't have been so pissy about staying in when it became so very unlikely that he could prevail.

She could not even be bothered to understand the rules of the qualifying round of the process by which she hopes to win the Presidency. None of the rest of it is nearly as important as this. I really had no horse in this race at the beginning of February, but at this point I think she has proven that she is not up to the job she seeks.

That pretty much trumps everything else.

by localroger on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:22:27 PM EST

Bingo (none / 0)

That's for some logic at this site.

For all that alleged "experience," her campaign has been a big fiasco from fundraising, to ignoring caucuses, to changing the metric.

Really a sad sight.


by Regenman on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:43:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary isn't the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

Yes. If, as HRC herself has suggested, the campaign is like a job interview. Obama has simply given us a better interview. Hillary started with a lot of advantages. Most Democrats liked Bill Clinton. She had the endorsement of about 100 SuperD's even before the campaign started. She had a huge war chest. Unfortunately she expected to wrap it up on February 5th. She has surrounded herself with some poor advisors. If this is an indication of the kinds of folks that she would pick for her cabinet, then she has really failed the job interview.


by blue jersey mom on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:43:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

Not really sure why this qualifies as a diary - cut and paste and 3 sentences...pfft.
Congratulations Steny Hoyer! Our 2008 Chickenshit Leader Of The Year!
by RockvilleLiberal2 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:23:46 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (2.00 / 2)

"In the coming days, superdelegates will have a clear choice:"

They've been choosing since Iowa. I'm sorry you think the math is in question.

It's like there's a raffle for a free TV. The winning ticket's been annuonced, but you're still trying to get people to buy tickets because Obama hasn't actually picked up the TV yet.


McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.
by catilinus on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:23:51 PM EST

Oh my God, not another metric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (none / 0)

Now it is "Delegates earned through primaries"!!!!

What's next "Delegates from states where the primaries were held in a month with "R" in it"?

Someone told me that SNL is over for the year.  Too bad.  As the saying goes "this stuff writes itself".

Anyone who mouth this mush with a straight face deserves an oscar.  

Do you hear laughter from the other side of the aisle.  You should.  The HRC Campaign is making Karl Rove the Machiavelli of the new millenium.  I mean look at the credit Hillary is giving him.  
Well to be fair they both have the same goal:  Stretching out the Democratic Primary season until the party implodes.

Please let it be over soon!


"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"
by xenontab on Wed May 28, 2008 at 07:45:39 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

it's damn weird that so many who claim they think Barack has won continue to speak disrespectfully about Hillary.  it's stupid.  She'll win if her argument holds sway and won't if it doesn't, but she has a fine argument.  


Hillary - alternative energy
by anna shane on Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:12:59 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

This woman lost her mind...She already lost, the whole world knows it!


by Hope Monger 2008 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:41:22 PM EST

so where is Obama's letter? (none / 0)

This is a routine letter than every candidate would send to the DNC RBC. I am sure Obama has his letter which lays out his case.

Rather than criticising this, or laughably, calling it "desperation" (when your guy has done it too), why don't you find Obama's letter and post it.

If all you've got to make your candidate's case before the RBC and the readers of this blog is insults, spamming, and jeering, then you have lost the argument and high ground.


by 4justice on Wed May 28, 2008 at 10:18:20 PM EST

Re: Why Hillary is the Strongest Candidate (none / 0)

anyone know where we can get a list of super delegate's email addresses?  I'd love to write them.


by nikkid on Wed May 28, 2008 at 10:22:21 PM EST


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