On to South Carolina: Hillary gets back on track
But it’s all still to play for, says James Forsyth. Senator Clinton’s astonishing comeback does not mean that Obama is finished by any means -— and John McCain has injected much-needed energy into the Republican primaries, too
McCain is the candidate that the Republicans should nominate. This will be a tough year for the GOP and McCain is their most electable candidate — he is the only one who does not lose consistently to Obama in head-to-head match-ups — and also the one who would make the best president. McCain was the first Republican to realise that the strategy in Iraq was wrong and the most vocal and determined advocate of the surge. He also understands how America must fight this war and what it is fighting for better than any of his opponents on either side.
The volatility of this election is testament to how unsure America is about where it wants to go next. More than two thirds of Americans think that the country is heading in the wrong direction. But they are still trying to figure out what the right direction is. It seemed that Democrats had decided that what America needed was inspiration, and that Obama was the man to give it to them. But that apparently unstoppable Obama Express has now been derailed as surely as Obama’s win in Iowa put the Clinton restoration on hold.
Ultimately, the Democratic contest will come down to the kind of change that Democratic voters want. Hillary is a known commodity and offers incremental, cautious change. Obama is the risky but, perhaps, ultimately more rewarding bet. He also has one advantage over Hillary that should not be underestimated: he is the instant gratification candidate. Hillary is asking people to vote for her so that they can vote for change in November, but with Obama the change is immediate. It puts a new face — someone who four years ago not even the most dedicated political junkie had heard of — on the national stage, it presents a new face to the world, and above all it tells a story about their country that Americans like. One can’t help but wonder whether the constant predictions of an Obama landslide dulled that feeling in New Hampshire. If Obama can recapture that spirit, this contest will turn again.
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K.Vijayakumar
January 10th, 2008 10:39amIf sentiments made a significant number of voters to vote for Hillary in the NH primary thereby ensuring her win,it should be a matter of concern to the male contestants. In the very nature of things, women will be better placed than men to cash in on sentiments. Obama, beware!
Samantha Smear
January 10th, 2008 10:43pmIt seems the lady whose question made Hillary Clinton (weepy in the manner of a child threatened with having its lolly taken away?) went on to vote for Senator Obama because one of his speeches made her weep with emotion. On this form let us pray that when it comes to the wire in November the Anmerican people remember where they are and elect John McCain.
Was this article, by the way, worth publishing? One appreciates that it had to be written or revised in a hurry, but one read better and more stylish analyses in the common prints the morning after.
Robert Sawyer
January 12th, 2008 1:42amAn insignificant "win," in a media, non-event.
Apropos of what was gained. Each took with them seven delegates as this primary goes on and on ad naseum. It's important that we keep in mind, that the Bill Clinton named the "Come back, Kid" was 45 years old, arguably a kid, Senator Clinton is a tired and soon to be worn out, 60 year old woman.
David L Nilsson
January 12th, 2008 9:25amLike everyone in the dead-tree media, Forsyth fails to notice the one candidate who unites rigid respect for America's traditions with a vision of its future that is exciting thousands of real voters, from all parties and none, and attracting millions in contributions from little people. Despite a blackout from the monied interests that are terrified of the consequences to their bottom lines of the USA ceasing to be the world's bully and welfare wagon for immigrants, this candidate got more votes than Giuliani in one state and almost as many in the other. www.ronpaul2008.com