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New Hillary Ad In Montana: No Mention Of Obama
Hillary goes up on the air in Montana with a pretty standard spot about the Bush economy and taking on the special interests -- with no mention of Obama...
As best as I can determine, no Hillary ad has mentioned Obama at all since the Indiana and North Carolina results suggested that the outcome of the primary is now pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Late Update: I should add that this and other spots have drawn an implicit contrast with Obama.
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ANY ad Hillary runs at this point is AGAINST Obama!!
He is her opponent and any reference to her being 'the only' anything is a direct hit at Obama.
she is not hitting BUSH and she is not hitting McCain.
Greg, your headline is misleading and we are not stupid.
give. me. a. break.
May 29, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's a big difference between running pro-Hillary spots and anti-Obama spots. It is a signal that they are admitting defeat privately, even if publicly they soldier on.
Her campaign is probably one of two things at this point (if not both):
- trying to money coming in to pay off her massive debt
- possibly try force her onto the ticket by staying in a getting the VP slot as a concession
Greg and TPM are not pro-Hillary and the headline is totally accurate.
Chill.
May 29, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, here's an idea: quit spending money!
May 29, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
At some point they're going to reach the point of diminishing returns - where the $$ coming in won't offset the $$ going out. That's when Hillary will fold her tents - after she's gotten every nickel she can out of her not-so-well-to-do supporters.
Kinda depressing, really.
May 29, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
She actually reached that point long ago, but unfortunately for us she has had the means to pour millions of her own money into her campaign to keep it afloat.
May 29, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry YODA, you need to CHILL.
There is no big difference. She is running ads against Obama whenEVER she runs one AT THIS JUNCTURE.
Anthing pro-Hillary at this point is ANTI Obama. That is the only point that matters.
How about you take a chill pill instead?
May 29, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude I jsut took one of those pills I've been recommending. It's soooooooooo good. I'm gonna take two more.
Ahhhhh. Everything is good man. I LOVE you dude. I just realized that it ain't worth talkin bout all this politics stuff cause like we're jsut sands in the hour glass. All we are is dust in the wind. You know what I'm sayin?
I love you man.
May 29, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Love you BACK.
May 29, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. The Clinton campaign is about scorched earth/take no prisoners.
Debt is not a concern of the Clinton campaign. The Clinton’s combined current assets points to any debt incurred being well rewarded after the leaving the Office of President.
The Clinton campaign is not about one of two slots. The Clinton campaign is solely about only the top of the ticket. The Clinton campaign is solely about going to the Nomination Convention and strong arming the Nomination. The Clinton campaign is solely about waking up Delegates in Denver with horse’s heads/dead hookers and young boys in their beds.
Believing anything else is a fairy-tale not even fit for our children at bed-time.
May 29, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually using the name Barak Obama would have taken three seconds . . . And cost HRC more debt . . .
May 29, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's trying for the second spot on the McCain ticket.
May 29, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you Mandy Grunwald.
You seem to be the only person in Camp Clinton who understands math.
May 29, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minute - she may not mention him by name, but the hell this isn't about Obama
Now that's silly - "I'm the only candidate who voted against the Energy Bill," etc.
Just not mentioning his name does not mean that wasn't directed at Obama - that's the only direction it was aimed at!
My lord - that's the only person she's running against, Greg!
May 29, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Tena? It's OK, really. I have no problem with her continuing to campaign if this is what her campaign looks like. There's no ammunition for McCain in the distinctions this ad is drawing.
Maybe I'm missing the subliminal images of the words "WHITE = HARDWORKING" though. :-)
May 29, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude I don't either.
If you'd ever understand what I was saying it would help me a lot because it invariably looks like I'm bitching for no reason when I haven't made myself clear, I guess. So it's my fault, but I do try.
It's not that I'm accusing Greg of bias or anything else - but if I see anyone at all post bullshit, I'll yell.
He fixed it and that's great!
He's right - it's not an attack ad. But it is aimed at Obama and Greg acknowledged that and that was my point.
May 29, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just for the record, I'm not a dude. :-)
And I do get what your saying, most of the time (I think), and most often agree with you, even if I find your, um, mode of expressing yourself a little over the top. Much of the time.
I just figured out that Greg's clarification went up between your comment and my response, so we were likely reacting to a slightly different presentation of the issue.
Still, I think it is fair for Hillary to continue to draw distinctions between herself and Obama, to the degree that it is promoting her own policies and experience rather than deriding his. As long as nothing in her ad states or implies that he is unfit to be the nominee, I'm fine with her claiming to have the better position or record on particular issues. I don't find this ad particularly persuasive on those points anyway; maybe if I did I would be more alarmed on Obama's behalf.
May 29, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Precisely!!
That ONLY business is a direct hit at Obama.
May 29, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
South African golfer, Ernie Els, upon winning a tournament where Tiger Woods was not competing in said the following words at the post-game media interview:
" If you-know-who was here I would not have won this tournament"
We did not require a degree in communications to figure out whom was he referring to.
Nice try Clinton!
May 29, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly!
May 29, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yawn.
May 29, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who really cares what she's doing? If she walks around downtown Billings with a sandwich board that says "Ready on Day One" it won't particularly affect the outcome of the race. I don't understand how every commercial that comes out of Camp Clinton qualifies as news at this late date. If you've got a boner for news from irrelevant campaigns, you can always start covering Ron Paul events.
May 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't - I honestly don't care.
I also don't really care how someone interprets this ad. But I am mystified how anyone can claim these ads aren't directed at Obama since that's her opponent and her entire aim is to beat him out of the nomination.
I mean - really.
May 29, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah---it's a clear inference when she says "I'm The Only One" that Obama doesn't deliver on health care, isn't for energy reform, and other issues. It's a sin of omission, basically.
May 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
there's a huge difference between an implicit contrast like this and a spot that directly attacks Obama. Huge.
May 29, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone in the media directly asks the HRC campaign why they aren't running anti-Obama ads or mailings since NC?
I mean, it's a pretty stark change in campaign tactic and a clear signal that they don't believe they can win.
I'm sure the answer will be the usual campaign spin but nonetheless I'd like to hear it.
May 29, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think they figured out how much the vigorous anti-Obama tone was galvanizing divisions that weren't in her favor.
This is probably an oversimplification, but it felt to me that the message began to shift when they scuttled Penn. I feel like they then played out the anti-Obama campaigns that were already in the pipeline, but that their refocused research showed them that vigorously attacking Senator Obama was damaging her image as much as it was damaging his (if not more.)
To me, the repacked campaign isn't privately admitting defeat The new message is working for Senator Clinton. It doesn't smack of petty desperation as much of the earlier campaign did, and I'll bet their research is picking up results.
They've figured out that slash and burn is a turnoff. They still want to win, and they know this is a better way to do it. If they'd tossed Triangulation overboard much earlier, they'd be a lot closer than they are now.
May 29, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
And can you confirm that HRC campaign ads and mailings have not said "Obama" since the NC primary?
That would be pretty compelling evidence of their surrender.
May 29, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for pointing out the obvious Greg, but we can see the difference.What we are actually saying is that it is still a pop at Obama if you pay close attention to it.
May 29, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
WhatEVER the 'huge' difference you may beleive there is ...the point is that it is STILL a HIT!!
All you want us to beleive is that the car crash wasn't fatal so why make a big deal that everyone is hospitalized in critical or needn't surgery.
According to your logic, since they all 'survived' the crash...we should not hold the driver accountable.
Point being, that logic was fine in March and April, as she might have had a chance. Now all she is doing is smearing the nominee and she needs to STFU!!
Her challenging Obama on anything is wrong! As it is against the interest of the Democratic party and solely her own selfish ambitions and interest that it furthers.
May 29, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, I agree with you here.
(Still think you would benefit from going back and reading your old columns once in awhile, though! Might clear your head in between those Wolfson/Ickes conference calls.)
May 29, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's very true, it is a huge distinction and I am pleased she's taking this tone in her final ads.
But its worth noting that this is not a distinction that Hillary's campaign (or her supporters) has ever recognized or acknowledged when it comes to the ads and statements of Obama's campaign.
http://attacktimeline.com/
May 29, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
have ever acknowledged.
Jesus, its like the part of my brain that manages whether I use the singular or plural form has just shut down on me today.
May 29, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
True enough, Greg. But the same people in Montana who are seeing that ad are also seeing on their nightly news reports, and reading in their newspapers, that the Clinton camapign and its surrogates are angrily criticizing Obama and his supporters every day, accentuating divisions in the Democratic Party for the sake of increasingly desperate and irrelevant campaign gains, working to drive down Obama's poll numbers in head-to-heads by siphoning off potential Democratic supporters, and disparaging Obama's candidacy and his chances in the fall.
The key point is this: Given that it is already May 29th, with the election just over five months away, and given that the Party now needs to turn its full attentions, and the bulk of its human and financial resources, to the challenging task of helping Obama defeat John McCain, everything Clinton does that is designed to weaken Obama's candidacy and forces the Obama campaign and its supporters to expend valuable time, resources and energy on continuing to fend off the Clinton campaign is, in effect, an attack on Obama, and does damage to Democratic chances in the fall.
Five months is not a lot of time. For some perspective, consider what was happening five months ago: we were just a few days away from the Super Tuesday batch of primaries.
We cannot afford to continue to waste time on the Clinton melodrama!
May 29, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I care. Every Obama supporter should care.
What Hillary is doing is providing ANTI-Obama talking points to the GOP, just as she has throughout this entire campaign.
There is nothing McCain is saying about Obama that he did not take from Hillary!!
Geesh, how much clearer does it need to be that her sole focus is to take down Obama as the nominee?
She wants to ensure he is unelectable!!!
May 29, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
What useful anti-Obama talking points could the GOP get from this ad?
"Obama: not quite as good as Hillary! So vote for the McCain! Who's also not as good as Hillary!"
May 29, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary Airing Montana Commercial Aimed at No One in Particular!
Yeah.
Right.
May 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary Deepens Campaign Debt By Airing Montana Commercial Aimed at No One in Particular!
May 29, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anything can happen.
May 29, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like the Ron Paul campaign slogan.
May 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're absolutely right. Anything can happen... in the primary in your mind.
May 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. We get that that's her campaign theme this week of the month. She obliquely made precisely that point in South Dakota, recently, as I recall.
May 29, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary's 30 second commercial, or Hillary's three month long Obama bashing?
Who are you going to believe?
May 29, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
No mention of OBAMA? There isnt a person of color in the whole GD ad (yes they have them in Montana too).
Naw us darkies and Chuckle heads is being punished cause we done read books after massa said we dont need to come out of schools being able to read, and we listened to that runaway arab-y slave Obama as well.
HRC is clearly fighting Joementum for the such-an-ignorant-redneck-I-would-vote-for a-jew-or-a-woman-who-validates-my-ignorance-as-All-American-Values group.
May 29, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, boy! I sure am sick of these Hillary threads.... I'm sure this will degrade into an all out bitch-fest soon between the two camps.
I'm tired of fighting with my own party members.
Remember: You don't have to support the candidate. Sometimes you have to suck it up and vote for your party and/or the party's platform DESPITE the candidate.
We're all against the war and to restoring some measure of fiscal reponsibility.
Also keep in mind: Most of us have made up our minds and will defend our candidates passionately.
Ask yourself: What is the point of continuing to argue your point if everyone has made their stand and thinks they are right, and their candidate is right.
Are you just farting in the wind?
May 29, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Airbursh them darkies out before a redneck gets offended...
May 29, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Precisely!!
That ONLY business is a direct hit at Obama.
May 29, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I see your final statement Greg - yes, thank you. That's what I was saying - of course this is meant as a contrast to Obama.
May 29, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
6 more days, people.
May 29, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ohh how I will bask in the Schadenfreude when she finally has to throw in the towel.
I can taste it.
May 29, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
You can taste it? I can't even begin to imagine the euphoria and shadenfreude that will overtake me. Maybe she'll cry.
May 29, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh the sweet sweet taste of her bitter tears.
Seriously. I'm thinking of keeping some bubbly in the fridge for it.
May 29, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oooh, good idea.
I have half a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue I've been saving for a special occassion. I think the end of a dynasty counts as "special."
May 29, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yum! Johnnie Walker!
Yes, I think the final conflagration that brings down a political dynasty is always worth warming your hands over.
Maybe we should bring marshmallows!
May 29, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
You people are fucking dreaming. When Roberts holds out the Bible for Obama next January 20, Hillary will try to jump between them and take the oath herself.
May 29, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sick of "McDonalds TV ad" racism, its still racism. Sorry but when I see HRC do it, and I know WHY she is doing it, I get peeved.
May 29, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
well OT, but - I cannot believe McLame is resurrecting Phil fucking Gramm.
Of all the disgusting people!
I had high hopes I'd never see that son of a bitch again.
May 29, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sad thing is the Scott McClellan kiss-and-tell stomped all over the McCain/Gramm/Swiss bank/mortage crisis thing.
May 29, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
O yes, but -
The minute Phil shows that ugly goddamn turtle face of his, stretching that neck out of his collar I'm hoping everyone remembers.
Phil is not well-liked even among a lot of Repugs = he's crooked as a dog's hind leg.
May 29, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, isn't there anything McCain's campaign can do to NOT fuck over our troops. Everything he does, whether inadvertent or not seems to hurt them. This Gramm mortgage business is just another one for the list.
Especially, when you consider:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/military_subprime_071129w/
May 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why doesn't Hillary attack McCain? She attacks Bush, she attacks Obama, but she never directly attacks McCain by name, she implies "another Bush term" but that's about as close as she gets.
Correct me in I'm wrong here, I don't spend too much time reading up on her lately, but I think that's weird and it raises questions for me....
May 29, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because she knows she doesn't have a Sno-cone's chance in hell of facing him in the GE.
Why ruin her chances for 2012 by letting Obama be the nominee?
May 29, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's already burned her bridge for 2012 by tlaking smack about caucus states and by supporting FL and MI over the 4 early states. She wouldn't make it through the 4 early states with a single victory.
May 29, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because secretly they have some kind of pact?
They made it over shots of vodka one night on that junket they took and has been talked about - where she suggested playing a drinking game - which her people somehow thought was going to translate into votes for her when they brought it up.
Why I will never know - who told them people were looking for a president who is a drunk? We have one now - and that has worked out so very well.
May 29, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forgot about that meeting. I wonder what they discussed?
May 29, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder what was discussed?
Pussy.
roflmao - I couldn't resist - I'm so sorry.
May 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Details, Tena, I want details!
May 29, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somewhere in there I will bet you that McLame drunkenly listed the virtues of Jenna Bush.
And no I won't take that back. He loves underage blondes and they kept her on that campaign helicopter with him.
Go back and look at the pictures. And I put nothing past Bush.
May 29, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of the real meeting. Not pussy, I prefer weiners! IMHO.
May 29, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
well me too, and I have no idea what Hillary is into and don't want to know.
that was just the perfect opening for that post.
May 29, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!!
May 29, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I know we wouldn't have this much fun on a GOP board! :)
May 29, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Was Bill knockin' boots with Cindy while they "talked"?!?!
May 29, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sweet Jesus, I try hard enough not to think of that creepy Botoxed Barbie with McSame. Now I need to go wash my brain off. Yuck.
May 29, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glad to help! ;)
May 29, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look folks; Senator Clinton is still trying to gain the nomination. That is why she is trying to get Florida and Michigan seated, and is trying to persuade the Super Delegates to support her. She has not said that she is suspending her campaign or conceding to Senator Obama.
That being the case, of course she is going to run ads that talk her up before an upcoming Primary. That is as benign an ad as we Obama supporters have any right to expect from someone that is still contesting the remaining primaries. Let us not go overboard, and turn into a bunch of petulant whiners. We can live with those type of ads for another week. Calm down folks. We have a long campaign ahead of us against the real foe, so keep things in perspective. There is nothing wrong with a candidate running an ad like this one.
May 29, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
O I agree - and I said I don't care what she does and I mean that - as far as ads go.
I care if she pitches fits and threatens and then goes on and keeps this going and takes it all the way to the convention but since I don't think that's going to happen, she can pitch all the fits she wants.
May 29, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey now, let's not forget Hillary's point of being ahead in Presidential polling against McCain............FIVE MONTHS before the election!
Sigghhhhhh, what straw will she not grasp in utter desperation??
May 29, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I could share in everyone's belief that this whole thing will be over in six days. Wolfson told CNN last night that if the Rules Committee does not give her what she wants this weekend and if Obama even receives one single delegate in MI, she's appealing and this will go into July or August.
Yes, I know Pelosi just vowed to not let this go past June, but come on...only Clinton can end her campaign and I don't see that happening anytime soon.
The only thing that will happen this weekend is that the goal posts will be moved AGAIN and Obama will still need 100+ delegates to win.
I'm a devout Obama supporter and wish to all heaven and hell that SD's will come out and put him over the top, even with the new goal post magic number. But then again, they may not.
Please let this whole thing end soon!
May 29, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a carpel tunnel-inducing rat-tat-tat of keystrokes we've all had to waste on HRC indignation. If she'd bowed out gracefully when we could all agree she should have, what would we have been typing about in the meantime? Tossed on a sea of lost opportunity, oh the cost!
May 29, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink