Photo: Mitt Romney in San Diego, January 2008. Nicole Lozare/KPBS.
Note to both Democratic candidates: Consider quitting.
It's not an option easily mulled over for highly educated, highly accomplished patriotic professionals, but consider the consequences.
By my biased calculations, Mitt Romney really should have won his party’s nomination. He has the familial and political pedigrees. He has the poise. Even for those critics who point to his record as governor of Massachusetts as proof of his being a flip-flopper, apparently it’s a non-issue.
After all, who blows hot and cold on more important issues than John McCain, the presumptive nominee?
Just because Gov. Romney failed to hang tough in the race or to capture the popular right-wing vote, he still won respect. He showed a measure of leadership by choosing to withdraw from the race. I don’t buy that he was trying to save face after losing a string of states. Maybe he’s preparing for the 2012 race but even so, quitting didn’t hurt him.
Chuck
from Escondido, CA
March 25, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Asking her to reconsider gives her the opportunity to be truly Clintonian. It gives her the opportunity to put together a study group, discuss the matter with her advisors, poll the key issues and still end up changing nothing. It's basically a way to delay a decision until a concensus is reached by other means, or the decision itself becomes moot. How about
Quit now, for the good of your party!
?
Chris
March 25, 2008 at 05:33 PM
I don't mind that both candidates are still in the race, what's wrong with a vigorous democratic contest? Obama has the edge, but clearly a great many Democratic Americans still want to hear what Hillary has to say - she has an obligation to stay in the race. The contest is obviously a character debate at this point - and both are strong enough to weather the Primary storm for as long as it lasts.
To my mind, the real test of character will be how the Democratic Party resolves this great contest. Superdelegates should fall in line and allow the people's will - anything else is elitist, backroom B.S...If shenanigans prevail in Denver than the Democratic Party deserves to implode and make room for somehting(s) new.
Kari from Mission Valley
March 25, 2008 at 11:28 PM
I agree with Chris, this the first time in many years we are witnessing democracy in action. What is wrong with that. It is about time we got to witness what our parents and grandparents talked about happening during the elections of the 1960's. And, people are becoming more involved with this election than in any other elections since. Maybe, the country is hungry for issues being discussed without being told they are unpatriotic. Because of no incumbent, this will surely be an e-ticket ride.
Alma
March 26, 2008 at 02:52 AM
Normally I would agree with both of you, Chris and Kari. But I just don't think that's what is happening right now between Senators Clinton and Obama. There is the consideration of strategy that should be considered, and which was my point in writing the article. Voters don't generally like brawls over non-policy issues. These are character attacks and fodder for the Republican nominee to use against the Dem nominee.
If this is what it takes to make something better for future generations, then so be it. But it won't really come as a huge surprise to many (including me) if the Dems lose in November and point to this segment of the race as being a tipping point.
Davesnot
from Oceanside
March 26, 2008 at 06:40 PM
You say that the Democratic party doesn't have a leader..
I feel the party has a leader.. the establishment just doesn't want to accept him.
Move it on over... a new dog's movin' in.
I can't see how people can still be enamoured with Hillary.. duckin' sniper bullets? Yeah.. easy to mess that memory up. She is in it for the power.. not the people.
Obama gives off a Teddy Roosevelt feel. Sure.. Teddy was Republican.. but he made decisions based on what was good for the people.. not the party.. Clinton has established that she is as much a party puppet as Bush is.. For me a Clinton puppet beats a Bush one..
...but a real decision maker that bases decisions on what is right for the people.. that's what we have a chance to elect.
Here we've complained for years about getting someone that is a stand-up guy.. now we have one.. but we are like 2-year-olds.. We seem to go against what is good just because we know we _should_ do what's good.
Well.. show some maturity America. Vote for Obama.
Steven
March 26, 2008 at 11:42 PM
If shenanigans prevail in Denver than the Democratic Party deserves to implode and make room for somehting(s) new.
I can has 3rd party vote now, please?
/lolblogger, baby!
nic
March 29, 2008 at 04:58 PM
I think I could be ok with Hillary Clinton staying in the race until all of the states have voted, with the caveat that the kitchen sink/scorched earth campaigning is stopped. What her campaign is doing with that strategy is just making it too easy for the McCain campaign.
I'm beginning to suspect that her campaign (and fmr Pres. Clinton is leading the charge) feels that if she can't win, then no Democrat can win. That didn't go so well for Tonya Harding, Clinton campaign.
