l just spoke with a Democratic Party official, who asked for anonymity so as to speak candidly, who said we in the media are all missing the point of this Democratic fight.
The delegate math is difficult for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, the official said. But it's not a question of CAN she achieve it. Of course she can, the official said.
The question is -- what will Clinton have to do in order to achieve it?
What will she have to do to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in order to eke out her improbable victory?
She will have to "break his back," the official said. She will have to destroy Obama, make Obama completely unacceptable.
"Her securing the nomination is certainly possible - but it will require exercising the 'Tonya Harding option.'" the official said. "Is that really what we Democrats want?"
The Tonya Harding Option -- the first time I've heard it put that way.
It implies that Clinton is so set on ensuring that Obama doesn't get the nomination, not only is she willing to take extra-ruthless steps, but in the end neither she nor Obama win the gold.
(In this metaphor, presumably, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would be Oksana Baiul. Does that make former President Bill Clinton Jeff Gillooly?)
Clinton has only two options for winning:
- Crush Obama in the coming primaries. It wasn't considered possible until the Rev. Wright intervened and took the air out of the Obama campaign. Now it's still unlikely, but not out of the question.
- Make Obama so unelectible in the general election that the superdelegates, and maybe even some pledged delegates, will abandon him and vote for Hillary rather than risk a loss in November. If she keeps picking at him the way she has, she'll certainly increase his poll negatives and improve McCain's prospects against him.
Both options nearly guarantee a split in the Dem party and big trouble for them in November.
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