Bill Clinton to stay on the attack - - purposely trying to play bad cop against Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Bill Clinton to stay on the attack
BY PATRICK HEALY THE NEW YORK TIMES

ANDERSON, S.C. -- Advisers to Sen. Hillary Clinton have concluded that Bill Clinton's aggressive politicking against Sen. Barack Obama is resonating with voters, and they intend to keep him on the campaign trail in a major role after the South Carolina primary.

The Clinton team has decided that the benefits of having Bill Clinton challenge Obama so forcefully, over Iraq and Obama's record and statements, are worth the trade-offs of potentially overshadowing Hillary Clinton at times, undermining his reputation as a statesman and raising the question among voters about whether they are putting him in the White House as much as her.

After three weeks of nearly nonstop campaigning, set off by Hillary Clinton's third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Bill Clinton has shown as much ability as his wife -- or even more -- to stir public and media skepticism about Obama's position on Iraq and his message of nonpartisan leadership, Clinton advisers say.

Bill Clinton is purposely trying to play bad cop against Obama, a senator from Illinois, and is keenly aware that a flash of anger or annoyance will draw even more media and public attention to his arguments, campaign officials say. He will continue campaigning full-time for Hillary Clinton after South Carolina in states with primaries on Feb. 5 -- Super Tuesday -- where he is especially popular, like Arkansas, California and New York, officials said.

They also see benefits in Bill Clinton drawing the ire of the Obama camp, predicting that there will be a voter backlash against Obama if the former president looks like a victim in the cut-and-thrust of the race.

"He's the most popular Democrat in the country, he is the most successful president in recent memory, and attacks on him by Sen. Obama and his surrogates will be rejected by voters," said Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman.

<SNIP>

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080125/NEWS/801250491/-1/newssitemap

[ellacott]

1. Howard Wolfson's quote was interesting

They are correct that they can win with this strategy. It's also true that this can blow up in their faces. If some of the Democratic leaders are more vocal, and public, with their dissatisfaction this can have negative consequences.

[jefferson_dem]

5. ClintonInc. = "Say and do anything. Change nothing."

If true, it's simply more evidence that Obama was right about their "any means necessary" program.

...and that's something I will not support in November.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Obama must feel like a tiger

in a San Francisco zoo.

And Bill keeps climing over the fence and throwing popcorn at him.

What to do, what to do? Damned if ya do ...

[reality based]

3. From Zogby today

"More evidence that the race is tightening down the stretch: Thursday’s polling alone had Obama leading with 36%, but Clinton was just five points back at 31% (a good day for her). Edwards came in with 19% yesterday alone. The one-day sample was not enough to draw sweeping conclusions, but it is an indicator that this race continues to change.

"In case you were wondering about the effectiveness of former President Clinton’s campaign work on behalf of his wife, here is an indication: South Carolina Democrats hold an overwhelmingly positive view of Bill Clinton – yesterday’s polling alone shows he has a 75% favorable rating, compared to just 20% who hold an unfavorable view of him."

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1434

[joeybee12]

6. Too bad it's Zogby...

...I don't think he's been right all that often.

[pampango]

14. Even those of us who question Bill's campaign tactics, don't question

his effectiveness or political smarts. ;)

[reality based]

17. Obama has made a mistake in attacking Bill Clinton.

It adds to the doubts of many Democrats about his reliability for supporting core Democratic Party values.

[pampango]

18. I would disagree that Bill is a vulnerable wall-flower who was

viscously attacked by Obama and is simply trying to hold his own against big, mean, ol' Barack.

Obama and Hillary are 1A and 1B with me. I will be happy to see either of them get the nomination, but I reject DU'ers who portray either of them as anything other than great Democratic candidates who will make a great president.

[joeybee12]

4. They've apparently decided the benefits outweigh the risks...

...I bet they rein Bill in in a couple weeks after he's bloodied BO up.

[jefferson_dem]

8. If they use this strategy in the primaries, they will get whatever fate they deserve in the General.

Fuckem.

[joeybee12]

10. Sorry, but most voters are not paying as close attention to all this

as those of us at GDP are...all they see is Barak being defensive and accusatory, and it doesn't look good.

Happens every election cycle, and if BO is too thin-skinned to take criticism, he should find a new career...after all, he has the luxury to look now that his home is paid for.

[ellacott]

20. It's not about Obama being thin skinned

It's the perception of the voters. Bill had many options, he chose the lowest option.

This election has been watched more closely because of the historic nature(female, Black male).

[joeybee12]

11. Sorry, but most voters are not paying as close attention to all this

as those of us at GDP are...all they see is Barak being defensive and accusatory, and it doesn't look good.

Happens every election cycle, and if BO is too thin-skinned to take criticism, he should find a new career...after all, he has the luxury to look now that his home is paid for.

[BenDavid]

16. Joey, you are perceptive my friend. Once SC is over and all

have moved on to those 2/5 states you will see less of WJC and more of HRC. But WJC will not stay in the background. HRC's campaign will use him in those states he has a huge following and he will be the warm up act and then you have the main event HRC.

And the obama camp wants to minimize WJC, and just how do they do it. By bringing out someone and charging that bill clinton is the new Lee Atwater who was a racist...Yeah, that will get you a lot of votes....uh huh NOT!

[MethuenProgressive]

7. "He's the most popular Democrat in the country, the most successful president in recent memory,"

And Obama's shaking in his Amedeo Testoni loafers.

[Azathoth]

9. It's all about the power...the good of the party be damned n/t

[jackson_dem]

13. Yes, the Obama and Hillary have run very ugly campaigns

[flpoljunkie]

12. They are playing nicey, nice today. Politics as usual--"in it to win it"--apparently at any cost--

to the party and to the country. Haven't we just lived through almost eight years of this!

Hillary is fooling no one, insisting we'll all be united in November, yet again yesterday. They must be worried about what they are doing to the party.

Time to "turn the page!"

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Nothing wrong with good cop/bad cop in politics

That is the classic dance done by each party's slate in the General Election for President and Vice President. What matters is HOW those rolls are played, not that they exist. They always exist. Usually the lead candidate is the good cop and some surrogate is the bad one. But the Geneva accords should always be recognized.

[ShortnFiery]

19. Save that for the "small echo chamber" that will exist if HRC gets the nod and Our Party *fractures*

:shrug: