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Keep going, keep going--2012 is only four years away

Fraser Nelson

Wednesday, 27th August 2008

My take: Hillary did what was required of her but I saw plenty traces of a 2012 campaign in her speech. The CNN coverage (it’s all they show here in the press tent) focuses on how incredibly gracious she was – but I didn’t see it. Unsurprisingly, she told people to vote for Barack Obama but I felt she was going through the motions. It was more “hold your nose and vote Obama” plus a few mild attacks at her “friend” John McCain. As for her future, what really jumped out at me was the bit in her speech where she quoted Harriet Tubman’s advice to fleeing slaves:

“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they're shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going…. We’re Americans and we don’t quit…we don’t have a moment to lose or a moment to spare”.

Keep going, keep going…. She’s used this a few times before, but hardly a mantra for what was supposed to be a final curtain call, handing the torch to her erstwhile rival. Rather it was like the “I’ll be back” motif associated with the Governor of California. Hillary is only 60, and I suspect she’ll want to keep her fans together for an as-yet-undecided project. The Obama campaign have just released a statement saying how Obama – who is still not at the convention and watched all this with some family in Montana - called to thank Hillary after the speech. Team Obama is desperately trying to close down the split story that is threatening to be the main story of the convention. And it will not die after her speech tonight. Hillary’s habit of giving speeches which mention Obama either obliquely or not at all will continue to feed the narrative of a Hillary-Obama split. Expect to read about it right up to election day.

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Austin Barry

August 27th, 2008 8:13am

Hillary clearly believes that her inaugural pantsuit will only been mothballed for another four years.

molesworth 1

August 27th, 2008 9:11am

Only 5 posts below this James asserts that Hillary would be damned if she did, damned if she didn't & you've just proved him right!
If McCain wins this year, Obama is history & HRC might well win the DNC nomination in 4 yrs time... unless they blame her for such a defeat this year. If Obama wins this November's election he'll be the incumbent in 2012 & by 2016 Billary might be looking a bit past it. In fact, by that time, maybe Michelle Obama would fancy a crack at it...

Chuck Unsworth

August 27th, 2008 1:08pm

Who would trust either/any of the Clintons?

And why?

Craig Strachan

August 27th, 2008 4:45pm

I watched also watched the speech on CNN. John King was first to comment when she was done, and he was fulsome, focusing on the "Barack Obama is my candidiate" lines.

I switched to FOX, sure of getting another perspective, and right enough there was Bill Kristol saying it was a "shockingly minimal" endorsement of Obama.

Ho-hum...