The New York Times reports that Hillary Clinton is giving off signals that her campaign for President could be nearing an end. It's hard to know if this veil of tears is just Hillary using the crying gambit -- as she did in New Hampshire -- in the pages of her hometown newspaper. But as she acknowledges in the article, running for President is a marathon from which the fittest political athlete emerges victorious.
The Times article helps highlight a critical difference between Clinton and Obama which may explain why Obama is proving himself to be the fitter of the two Democratic candidates. With Clinton, it appears that the voter's job is to help her to realize her ambitions by giving her money or votes. By contrast, Obama presents himself as the vessel for achieving voter's hopes. In short, with Hillary it's about what voters can do for her. And for Obama, it's about what he can do for voters.
The effect of these different approaches is that Clinton appears tired as she struggles to break an 11 state losing streak in the upcoming March 4th primaries. It's as though she needs the voters to give her the strength to keep going and that evidence of insufficient support saps her strength. By contrast, Obama looks like he hasn't really broken a sweat as he goes from victory to victory.
By presenting himself as the vehicle for voter's hopes, Obama captures their energy and projects it towards the future. I feel badly that Clinton's presidential dreams could soon be shattered. But her pain is not enough of a reason to vote for her.
Nevertheless, this race is not over. It's still close and Clinton could still pull out a victory. We'll know the results on March 5th.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-23-2008 @ 6:06PM
gjampol said...
People are too stupid to realize that Obama is a fake. He's promising change, but what kind of change? Change for the sake of change is poor policy.
Clinton is the more qualified of the two candidates. She has the political acumen to push through her policies. She has experience that Obama can only dream about.
Young people are flocking to Obama because they're attracted to the same fairy tale aura that worked for John Kennedy.
2-23-2008 @ 7:15PM
Tyler said...
The crux of the matter is that if you want change vote for Clinton. If you really want to change things vote for Obama. But do you want 28 years of Bushes and Clintons running the country?? I sure don't!!!! And we've seen what the republicans have done and what they want to continue doing.
2-24-2008 @ 1:19AM
maxmcgloin said...
No, they were smart enough to see that Hillary is a fake.
2-23-2008 @ 6:49PM
moonie said...
it's all over for Hillary just a matter of time before she bloats out her concession speech
2-23-2008 @ 8:48PM
Anitra said...
Hillary Clinton's message is the same. Elect me, because I have more experience. What kind of experience, exactly?...
HILLARY CLINTON AS FIRST LADY / NY SENATOR:
Hillary Clinton often says that she should be President because of her experience, including 8 years as First Lady and 6 as NY Senator. This is her record for that period of time:
As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Patrick Moynihan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would 'demonize' anyone who opposed it. But she couldn't even get it to a vote in a Congress controlled by her OWN PARTY at the time! (And in the next election, her party lost control of both the House and Senate, due in part to her nasty and divisive tactics.) Bill and Hillary Clinton failed miserably to rally others around their cause because they simply do not know how to bring Democrats and Republicans together! Lately, Hillary speaks of her "friend" John McCain, trying to compete with Barack on this issue, but those who know her history realize it's just "politics as usual"
Hillary recommended her former law partners, Web Hubbell, Vince Foster, and William Kennedy for positions in the Justice Department, White House staff, and the Treasury, respectively. Hubbell was later imprisoned, Foster committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign!
Hillary also recommended a close friend of the Clintons, Craig Livingstone, for the position of director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of up to 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (“FILEGATE”) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, both Hillary and her husband denied knowing him. FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene confirmed in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1996, both the drug use and Hillary's involvement in hiring Livingstone. After that, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office, after serving 7 presidents for over thirty years.
In order to open “slots” in the White House for her friends the Thomasons (to whom millions of dollars in travel contracts could be awarded), Hillary had the entire staff of the White House Travel Office fired; they were reported to the FBI for 'gross mismanagement' and their reputations ruined. After a 30-month investigation, only one, Billy Dale, was charged with any crime whatsoever (mixing personal money with White House funds when he cashed checks). The jury acquitted him in less than 2 hours.
And then were the Bill Clinton "Bimbo Eruptions"... In the end, Bill lost his law license for lying to the grand jury. And hel was impeached by the House. AND HILLARY ALMOST GOT HERSELF INDICTED FOR PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE (WHICH SHE AVOIDED MOSTLY BECAUSE SHE REPEATED, "I DO NOT RECALL," "I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION, AND "I DON'T KNOW" 56 TIMES UNDER OATH).
Then Hillary left the White House, but later had to return $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork she had STOLEN!!!
Hillary decided to run for the Senate in a state where she had never lived before simply because she thought it would be her best chance at winning.
In the campaign for the Senate, Hillary (as usual) played the 'woman card' by portraying her opponent (Lazio) as a bully who was picking on her.
As the junior Senator from New York, Hillary has passed NO MAJOR LEGISLATION! She has deferred to the senior Senator (Schumer) to tend to the needs of New Yorkers.
Hillary's one notable vote: SUPPORTING THE PLAN TO INVADE IRAQ, which she has since disavowed and twisted, but refuses to admit was a mistake. Barack Obama, however, is the only '08 Democratic Presidential Candidate who had the good judgment to oppose the war from day one!
2-24-2008 @ 9:49AM
B Bryen said...
Well put if people will take the time to read it, I can't believe more people don't talk about her stealing the furniture out of the White House , and the Major Domo of the WH had to publicly disclose her sticky paw's. She said the items were gifts to her and Bill, she's a 60 old hag.
2-23-2008 @ 9:19PM
Nancy Sheffield said...
My deceased husband who handled the white house press flights for PAA had told me all of this several years ago, I don't understand why it hasn't been common knowledge and my thanks to you for telling the whole truthful story.
2-23-2008 @ 9:33PM
Steve said...
Obama couldn't make pimple on Jfk's rear end stop
compairing this asshole to JFK. THIS FOOL DOESNOT EVEN HONOR OUR US FLAG.THATS THE MAN YOU FOOLS WANT TO RUN OUR COUNTRY WHAT A JOKE
2-23-2008 @ 10:03PM
matt said...
nice FUD there buddy. oh yea hes a Muslim too and will then go ahead and kill all non-Muslims upon being elected. And holy *** have you heard? His middle name is Hussein... hes going to become a dictator.
if there's anyone who doesn't deserve to honor the flag its you. the fact that he feels, if this is true, one shouldn't have to necessarily "honor the flag" is taking ones freedom of speech to its fullest. To spread such FUD shows how free you think this nation should be.
2-23-2008 @ 9:48PM
Jose Moreno said...
Anitra, thanks for the info. I had already changed my mind about Hillary. Initially I was all out for her but, but, she ended up spoiling her image herself; therefore, I am leaning towards Obama. Thanks again.
2-23-2008 @ 10:36PM
TX CHL Instructor said...
Obama is a Socialist. He is so far to the left that he make McCain look like a Conservative. He even makes Monica's Boyfriend's wife look like a Conservative. There is only one candidate that is even remotely interested in restoring the US to a constitutional republic, and he is not in the above list.
2-24-2008 @ 12:13AM
tre said...
For those you do not believe in Obama; I have met the man and all I can say is I know he at least BELIEVES what he says, whether he can do it is truly the question here. ??
2-24-2008 @ 12:27AM
John Huckleberry said...
Sad to see that Obama and the Democrat party are playing the same games Bush played with Kerry. He has become what he has said he isn't and the country is going right along with it. Obama has become a false "profit." Not change like he says he is. Sad very sad. If the Democrat counted Florida and Michigan Clinton would be a head. The Republicans screwed over the Democrats in FL with lies and half truths and now Obama and the DNC are doing it again against their own people. Wake up people.
2-24-2008 @ 3:08AM
D3R3K said...
Regardless of who wins, all politicians are the same... educated scums.
2-24-2008 @ 4:17AM
Jerome said...
This article has got it exactly right and I commend Peter Cohan for his insightful comments. "With Clinton, it appears that the voter's job is to help her to realize her ambitions...Obama presents himself as the vessel for achieving voter's hopes." Well said! Remember the "vision thing?" Where is Hillary's vision? It is amazing to me that 2 such "experienced" politicians could get it SO wrong.
2-24-2008 @ 4:55AM
Bob Lomison said...
Hillary bankrupted her campaign! How can she manage the Federal Budget? Hillary couldn't pass health care the first time! What is different now? If experience as First Lady counts we should consider nominating Laura Bush, Barbara Bush or Nancy Regan!
Look forward to her concession speech! We need change we can believe in!
2-24-2008 @ 6:34AM
Bob Davies said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssSrfohsVs
Ohio Senior Action has just come out HARD AGAINST Hillary.
""""Ohio Primary Voters know Hillary Clinton lies in the Debate regarding The Clinton record on Health Care and jobs.. Hillary should start with telling the simple truth - for a CHANGE. Hillary will LOSE the General Election if Nominated just like all the good Ohio Jobs the Clintons sold overseas with NAFTA in the 1990's."""""
In addition to buying airtime across Ohio, they have distributed the piece with literature to over 150,000 consistently Democratic voting households Statewide.
2-29-2008 @ 2:48AM
Dick Russell said...
Add to Anitra's comment
Re the $200,000 of White House property reportedly accidently taken by the movers for the Clintons (please note the qualification - this is probably their defense).
It is important to note that the customary White House inventory of non-capital property taken when the Clinton's moved in was cancelled at mid-compilation by Hillary - the new boss of the staff. The then obscure staff functionary on the job of inventory work was
ordered by Hilllary to stop the inventory process. That functionary had the order entered into the appropriate log where it would be her defense if there were later criticism of missing government property. This was a classic and proper civil service employee CYA action. Reportedly the log was nowheres to be found when the Clinton's moved out . Bad management all the way around.
The above incident is significant because the minor, obscure and then unknown furniture and silverware counter was soon to be famous as LINDA TRIPP.
3-14-2008 @ 9:59PM
Jack said...
The media is selecting the next President. McCain is "w" in a military uniform, then we have Oprah's boy, cheerleader, court jester. Hillary the one everyone hates because she has experience, has goals, actually has ideas where the country needs to head. We talk about change, but get endorsed by the same old farts that already lost their Presidential bid, the Kennedy clan, old money, whose father & uncle also played with the women and wives stood by them. Inexperience is the only change I see.
3-14-2008 @ 10:06PM
Jack said...
This is a difficult election. Obama has no experience, endorsed by the same old farts that couldn't win their own election, the Kennedy clan,who have old money, JFK was no better the Pres. Clinton if we bring up the womanizer he and Uncle Bobby were & of course Queen Oprah who can buy her own country. McCain he is as old as some of the old farts in the Bible. Senator HRC, she has been knocked down, beat up by the media in & out of the White House, she struggled thru the womans movement , this woman has life & political experience to handle what the "w" has left the country with. She believes there needs to be change in the health care system, she has learn from her mistakes from the 90's, this is her election for Pres. not Bill's. I'm tired of that argument. I don't think barack has any experience, just Queen Harpo's money and her TV and magazine popularity and the college kids jumping on the band wagon.