THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Published on TheHill.com on April 18, 2007.
All the polling and analysis of the 2008 presidential primaries neatly bifurcate their consideration into partisan categories. In the Democratic primary, Clinton, Obama and Edwards face off, while in the Republican contest, the polls take measure of Giuliani, McCain, Romney and, depending on their assumptions, Gingrich and Fred Thompson. But this analysis fundamentally ignores one of the most important elements in the looming contest of 2008: the likelihood that independents and even Republicans may enter the Democratic primary to support or oppose Hillary Clinton. So polarizing is her candidacy that the migration into the Democratic primary could be enormous, even so large as to overshadow the core Democratic partisans who always vote in their party’s contests.
ABORTION, GUN CONTROL HEAD BACK TO SPOTLIGHT
Hillary and Rudy will be most affected by public reaction to these social issues.
HUGE INCREASE IN HILLARY’S NEGATIVES
There has been a sudden and highly significant shift in the Democratic Presidential race: Hillary Clinton is rapidly losing her frontrunner position to Barack Obama as her negative ratings climb.
According to the Gallup poll, most Americans don’t like Hillary Clinton and the number of people who view her negatively has been steadily increasing ever since she announced her candidacy for President in January.
BIDEN’S NEPOTISM
Joe Biden’s Presidential Committee paid $24,252 to the law firm of Oldaker, Biden & Belair LLP, where his son R. Hunter Biden is a partner. Biden only raised about $2.5 million during the first quarter.
RON BURKLE, HILLARY’S STAR BUNDLER, IS AWOL ON HILLARY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
Where’s Ron? Last month, Ron Burkle, Bill and Hillary’s uber-fundraiser, held a gala event for Hillary’s Hollywood supporters at his Malibu mansion. He’s also listed as one of her 84 bundlers – the people who solicit other donors and collect their checks.
But apparently Ron forgot to make a contribution himself – he’s not listed anywhere on Hillary’s Exploratory Committee filing.f
MORE ON HILLARY FILINGS:WHERE DOES POLLSTER PENN LIVE AND WORK?
Mark Penn, Clinton’s Georgetown/DC pollster who is the ‘Worldwide President and CEO of Burson-Marsteller’, the mega public relations and lobbying firm, made two contributions to Hillary Clinton for $2300.00 each. Curiously, Penn’s address is listed as Miami, Florida, 33140 and his occupation as CEO of Penn & Schoen.
No mention of Burson-Marsteller.
‘FIRST PRIMARY’: OBAMA ROMPED
Published in The New York Post on April 17, 2007.
Bill Clinton defined the March 31 financial filings as the “first primary” as he exhorted donors to do their utmost to lift his wife to the winners’ circle. Now the results are in – and Sen. Barack Obama is the victor by a wide margin.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FUNDRAISING, 1ST QUARTER 2008:
- Obama, Hillary have $19 and $22.5 million available for the Democratic primary
- Rudy and Romney each have about $12 million available for the Republican primary
- McCain HAS ONLY $3.3 MILLION
