The Primaries Continue: Could Clinton 2008 Become Nader 2000?

[CPD]

Since Senator Clinton won 3 of 4 states on March 4th, the date appears further and further away for when the Democratic ticket will be settled. While it appears as if these victories evened the playing field between Senators Clinton and Obama, she only picked up a net gain of 4-10 (depending on your sources) pledged delegates, leaving Obama still ahead by over 100. Tiny details like delegate count and popular votes don't seem to matter to the press, and inevitably they will continue to flame the contentiousness between these two campaigns. So, here's where we stand with no end point, barring the convention in August, in sight: Obama remains with a lead in both pledged delegates and popular votes; Clinton continues to attack his credentials; the Michigan and Florida delegates, backed by Clinton, are now back on the table; and the specter of the dreaded "Superdelegates" looms uneasily in the near future.

Of course there are only two possible outcomes -- either Obama or Clinton will win the nomination -- but in the process the Democratic party could prove to be the real loser. Let's say Clinton gets the nomination. As she will most likely not be able to overtake Obama in either pledged delegates or popular vote, a Clinton ticket will have to come from either Florida and Michigan getting their delegates count or the "Superdelegates" will have to side heavily in her favor despite the delegate count elected by the voters. Either of these two scenarios will most likely affirm the worst thoughts about politics and the Democratic party, not to mention they would feel like a dismissing slap in the face to Obama's many fervent supporters. One writer has prophesized that this outcome could turn the August convention into Chicago, 1968, and thereby turn off a whole new generation to political activism and/or the Democratic Party.

Now, let's take the more likely outcome that Senator Obama will remain ahead and the "Superdelegates" side with the popular vote and delegate count from the primaries and Obama gets the nomination. Unless Clinton drops out of the race, this scenario will probably not bear out until the Summer. This would entail at least a few months of more Clinton attack ads, more of Clinton questioning Obama's ability to take office. It seems to be the consensus that she does better in the primaries after she has went on the attack against Obama, so there would be no reason for her to stop. But at what cost?

By displaying anything but Party unity and negatively campaigning against Obama, Clinton will only divide or turn off Democratic voters for the general election. Not only has her campaign stooped to equating Obama with Ken Starr, not only has she provided the Republicans with a whole warchest of negative tactics to use against Obama, but she has even elevated McCain above Obama on the issue of experience and ability to be Commander and Chief, as she recently said: "[McCain]’s never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002.” And as the primary season continues, the Clinton and Obama supporters further divide into more and more ossified factions. In the recent exit poll from Ohio, 32% of voters questioned said that they would not be satisfied if Obama wins the ticket, and 29% would only be satisfied if Clinton wins. That means that it might be possible that if Obama wins the ticket, 29% of Clinton supporters will not vote for him, or worse, they could vote for McCain, as a recent study said 25% of Clinton supporters would vote for McCain in the Fall.

So, assuming that Obama will be the Democratic nominee in the Fall, Clinton's continued efforts to win at any cost could disillusion enough voters to give the Republicans the White House once again. Could this actually be possible.? If it is, then you heard it here first. And if this does turn out to be the case, Clinton could be seen as the "spoiler" for the Democrats in 2008. Who knows? Maybe Clinton would decide to run again in the next presidential election and upon hearing the news someone could echo her recent remarks about Ralph Nader: "Wow, that’s really unfortunate. I remember when he did this before. It’s not good for anybody, especially our country.”

Watch the clip below of Clinton's recent rhetoric and try to imagine Clinton and her supporters, who presumably buy this kind of talk, actually endorsing or voting for an Obama candidacy.
As one reporter said, "That's what you say when you want to be John McCain's vice-presidential choice. That's not what you say when you're trying to become the Democratic nominee for president."