Even the Dems are starting to notice. - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

FishForLunch · 08-07-2006, 09:43 PM

Hatin’ on Hillary: N.H. Dems lambaste Clinton
By Brett Arends
Boston Herald Business Columnist

Monday, August 7, 2006 - Updated: 09:36 AM EST

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Dick Bennett has been polling New Hampshire voters for 30 years. And he’s never seen anything like it.

“Lying b**** . . . shrew . . . Machiavellian . . . evil, power-mad witch . . . the ultimate self-serving politician.”

No prizes for guessing which presidential front-runner drew these remarks in focus groups.

But these weren’t Republicans talking about Hillary Clinton. They weren’t even independents.

These were ordinary, grass-roots Democrats. People who identified themselves as “likely” voters in the pivotal state’s Democratic primary. And, behind closed doors, this is what nearly half of them are saying.

“I was amazed,” says Bennett. “I thought there might be some negatives, but I didn’t know it would be as strong as this. It’s stunning, the similarities between the Republicans and the Democrats, the comments they have about her.”

Bennett runs American Research Group Inc., a highly regarded, independent polling company based in Manchester, N.H. He’s been conducting voter surveys there since 1976. The polls are financed by subscribers and corporate sponsors.

He has so far recruited 410 likely voters in the 2008 Democratic primary, and sat down with them privately in small groups to find out what they really think about the candidates and the issues.

His conclusion? “Forty-five percent of the Democrats are just as negative about her as Republicans are. More Republicans dislike her, but the Democrats dislike her in the same way.”

Hillary’s growing brain trust in the party’s upper reaches already knows she has high “negatives” among ordinary Democrats. They think she can win those voters over with the right strategy and message.

But they should get out of D.C., New York and L.A. more often, and visit grassroots members.

Because we’re not talking about “soft” negatives like, say, “out of touch” or “arrogant.”

We’re talking: “Criminal . . . megalomaniac . . . fraud . . . dangerous . . . devil incarnate . . . satanic . . . power freak.”

Satanic.

And: “Political wh***.”

(Note: I don’t usually like reporting such personal remarks, but in this case you can hardly understand the situation without them. I have no strong personal feelings about the senator.)

There are caveats. Any survey can be inaccurate or misleading. And 55 percent of ARG’s sample was either neutral or positive about Sen. Clinton. Thirty-two percent currently say they plan to vote for her in the primary.

But Bennett says he’s never before seen so many N.H. voters show so much hatred toward a member of their own party. He’s never even seen anything close.

He believes top national Democrats are missing this grassroots intensity. Instead, he suspects, they are blinded by poll numbers, which give Hillary a big early lead based on her name recognition.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, agrees.

“There is far more anti-Hillary sentiment in the Democratic Party than the pollsters understand,” he says. In the race for the nomination, “she is ripe for plucking,” he says.

Sen. Clinton’s team could not be reached for comment.

New Hampshire is small, but it’s a bellwether state with clout.

Its primary probably holds the key to the Democratic nomination. And New Hampshire, alone, swung from Bush to Kerry in ’04.

It’s hard to see any Democrat winning the White House without carrying the state in the presidential election. And it’s hard, right now, to see Hillary carrying the state.

dude1394 · 08-07-2006, 09:46 PM

The good people of New Hampshire.

Mavdog · 08-08-2006, 10:19 AM

I wondfer why a "business columnist" is penning an article about politics?

read it and weep: Clinton is going to smash her opponents in the NY Senate race.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 5, 2006
Former Pentagon official Kathleen Troia McFarland and Yonkers Mayor John Spencer have emerged as the leading contenders for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, but neither is making headway. In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey of the race, Clinton now leads both candidates 61% to 31% (see crosstabs).

Further breakdowns of the numbers also show little difference in how voters respond to the two Republican hopefuls. McFarland attracts 64% of Republicans, 11% of Democrats, 29% of unaffiliated voters. Spencer attracts 64% of Republicans, 12% of Democrats, 28% of unaffiliated voters.

Hillary Clinton is viewed favorably by 62% of all voters, Spencer by 36%, McFarland by 35%. About 35% don't yet voice an opinion of either Republican.

Clinton is viewed unfavorably by 37%, "very" unfavorably by 23%.

Drbio · 08-08-2006, 10:43 AM

Yeah really...heaven forbid that the opinion of a professional columnist with business expertise would count more than a dork named mavdog who posts almost exclusively on a political forum on a basketball board.

EricaLubarsky · 08-08-2006, 02:13 PM

Most dems already know that-- we dont have the bitter hatred against a powerful woman that the reps have but she's been one of those democratic embarassments for a while.

FishForLunch · 08-08-2006, 05:30 PM

Mavdog would accept the NY times Editorial as legitimate when it comes to political commentary, not a business columist.

nashtymavsfan13 · 08-08-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

The good people of New Hampshire.

Word. Hilary sucks.

dude1394 · 08-08-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishForLunch

Mavdog would accept the NY times Editorial as legitimate when it comes to political commentary, not a business columist.

Dan Rather comes to mind actually.

Rhylan · 08-08-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Most dems already know that-- we dont have the bitter hatred against a powerful woman that the reps have but she's been one of those democratic embarassments for a while.

No idea I had bitter hatred against a powerful woman...

I just have strong disapproval against humans with the political opinions of a Hillary Clinton... no matter what shape, size, sex, color or age.

MavKikiNYC · 08-08-2006, 10:45 PM

Dems in Connecticut are scewing their pooch tonight, defeating Liebermann in a primary.

Stupid Connecticut liberals.

dude1394 · 08-08-2006, 10:46 PM

It's just democrats living up to their dna man. Can't get over the 60's.

mcsluggo · 08-09-2006, 01:11 PM

Lieberman screwed his own pooch, when he said he'd run even if he lost the primary. I supported him til that instant...

but after that, f* the Nader wannabe. Maybe he can get a Bush cabinet appointment instead (like nader should have been offered)

Drbio · 08-09-2006, 01:31 PM

Lieberman has more honor and integrity in his little finger than the entire dem party combined.

dude1394 · 10-07-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

Lieberman screwed his own pooch, when he said he'd run even if he lost the primary. I supported him til that instant...

but after that, f* the Nader wannabe. Maybe he can get a Bush cabinet appointment instead (like nader should have been offered)

There may be some f'ing going on but YOU aren't doing it, Joe is.

http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/...N04391119.html
Lieberman up 20+. Kicking the netroots candidate, run-away-lamont.

Quote:

CONNECTICUT - Sen. Joseph Lieberman, running as an independent, has a 53 percent to 33 percent lead on Democratic anti-war challenger Ned Lamont. Lieberman, a three-term Democratic incumbent, lost the party primary in August after Lamont attacked his support for the Iraq war.

So how many candidates has dailykos gotten elected now.....that would be one big goose-egg.