Post-primary update: I was wrong about Hillary. As Bill might say, we all make mistakes.

Salem, NH--Something happened to Hillary Clinton between Iowa and New Hampshire: she lost her message. In the final weeks of Iowa, Clinton focused almost exclusively on her record of experience and time in Washington, cloaking herself in the legacy of the 1990s and the shadow of Bill's presidency.

Experience is still virtually the only rationale for her candidacy, particularly the claim that she is the only Democrat prepared to be president on "day one"--a phrase she repeats over and over on the trail. But, in the wake of Iowa, Clinton seems dazed that voters want a fresh start. "I don't know when experience became some sort of liability in running for the highest office in the land," Clinton said last night in Salem. Maybe it's when your time in Washington is symbolized by a vote for an unpopular war, ties to big corporations and a soap opera presidency. Judging from the results in Iowa and the buzz on the ground in New Hampshire, most Democrats think Bill was a good president and Hillary is an able and astute senator, but they are ready for something different and new.

In light of the diminished importance of conventional Washington experience, Clinton has taken to scrutinizing the message of change espoused by Obama and Edwards. "Voters deserve to have information," she says, before going on the offensive. These attacks range from bizarre to downright misleading. She belittles the senate records of Edwards and Obama, even though the New York Times reported that as the junior senator from New York, "she has few significant legislative accomplishments to her name." She criticizes Obama for backing legislation that she herself supported, like funding for the war in Iraq. And she dismisses Edwards' advocacy of a Patient's Bill of Rights because it failed to pass the House in 2002, a situation that was entirely out of Edwards' control.

The contradictions inherent in Clinton's latest "contrasts" make it unlikely that any of these accusations will stick. I couldn't help noticing that Clinton's campaign now seems devoid of an overarching narrative--a compelling reason why people should vote for her and not someone else. She has neither the passionate populism of Edwards nor the transformational appeal of Obama. It now seems likely that running on experience alone won't get her back into the Oval Office.

She still draws big crowds, like the over 600 people who came to hear her in Salem last night. But the room seemed hushed and dispirited. Referring to the excitement surrounding Obama, one questioner pointedly asked Clinton, "What are you going to do to take this man down?"

The most affecting moment of the night came midway through Clinton's speech, when two young men unfurled orange signs reading "Iron My Shirt" and chanted those bizarre words. Clinton looked dazed momentarily but then cooly responded, "The remnants of sexism, alive and well tonight." Huge applause. She continued: "I am also running for president to break through the highest and tallest glass ceiling in our country." More huge applause.

It was a great unscripted moment, a glimpse into how talented a politician she can be. If she veered off script more often, Clinton might not be in the unfortunate political predicament she finds herself today.

Comments (14)

1. "Clinton has taken to scrutinizing the message of change espoused by Obama and Edwards."

   It really is silly. Who was it?, FROSTY ZOOM? Who said Clinton's message the Saturday Debate was...

   "I have the experience to CHANGE"?

   Posted by Mask at 01/08/2008 @ 11:53am

2. Unless the new narrative contains a convincing dissertation on why she was pro Kyle/Lieberman ... I'm pretty much still disposed to pass on a Hillary nomination.

   Posted by V at 01/08/2008 @ 12:19pm

3. The most affecting moment of the night came midway through Clinton's speech, when two young men unfurled orange signs reading "Iron My Shirt" and chanted those bizarre words. Clinton looked dazed momentarily but then cooly responded, "The remnants of sexism, alive and well tonight." Huge applause.

   I hope this was not another Hillary PLANT to get an applause and media soundbite. It seems unbelievable that guys would "sneak" into an "indoor" rally comprised of Hillary volunteers and staff.

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/08/2008 @ 12:40pm

4. Posted by MASK 01/08/2008 @ 11:53am

   twasn't i.

   wish i had, though.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 01/08/2008 @ 1:02pm

5. Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 01/08/2008 @ 1:02pm

   Might have been HMAN or B_KOOL...just wanted to credit the person who came up with it, wasn't me either.

   Posted by Mask at 01/08/2008 @ 1:20pm

6. I tried sneaking a sign into a Hillary rally during the 96 campaign. Before the thing was even half unfurled, we were being kindly 'escorted' from the building. She had NO witty remarks for us. Acted like she didn't even see us (even though it was a huge sign, directly in her line of sight). I was kind of impressed with how 'coolly' she handled the whole thing, but it could nary dull my anger at the dampening of my 'free speech.'

   Posted by Rintrah at 01/08/2008 @ 1:37pm

7. Posted by MASK 01/08/2008 @ 1:20pm

   nope.

   Posted by Hman23 at 01/08/2008 @ 1:54pm

8. Posted by HMAN23 01/08/2008 @ 1:54pm

   Well...maybe it was B_KOOL. Don't want to slight the originator.

   Posted by Mask at 01/08/2008 @ 1:57pm

9. She's fucked. What can she do? She didn't count on actually having to compete.

   Posted by Lil at 01/08/2008 @ 2:07pm

10. The ONLY thing Senator Clinton needs is to send her husband home (or, perhaps, to Lapland), and require him to stay out of sight with his mouth closed until after February 5th... but, it is probably already too late. In fact, it was too late on the day she announced her candidacy... as his behavior during the intervening months has amply demonstrated.

    Posted by Bluehawk at 01/08/2008 @ 4:55pm

11. Well, I guess Hillary is great already. She needs no endless promises of empty changes by Mr. Obama (change what? if Dubya goes home next year, isn't that already a huge change?) and no unrealistic populism of Mr. Edwards. Hey, after all, for the time Mr. Obama has been in public offices, he changed nothing except moving from a dusty Chicago office to the grandeur US Senate. And super millionaire Edwards? Well, I guess he got from you mre than he gave you; spare me.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 01/08/2008 @ 8:50pm

12. Posted by HELENDAO 01/08/2008 @ 8:50pm

    I guess those fears we had about Hillary and her supporters being "good winners" were groundless...huh?

    Posted by Mask at 01/08/2008 @ 10:02pm

13. Posted by MASK 01/08/2008 @ 10:02pm

    Alright, what Mr. Obama has achieved so far in his life and in this campaign is great for a beginner. However, don't think of yourselves a new Einstein just because you got all A in college.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 01/08/2008 @ 10:17pm

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    Posted by xz116926 at 01/14/2008 @ 01:46am