Clinton narrative fails to emerge
by WonkoKevin
One of the more surprising things to happen this campaign season is something that hasn’t happened–the emergence of the Hillary Clinton narrative. Despite being the center of attention for so long, or perhaps because of it, there is no exciting vision attached to her candidacy, manifest as bloggers continue to turn their attention to Obama and Edwards and away from Clinton. Clinton’s Wonkosphere liberal buzz share was in the low 20’s for the sixth straight day, while Obama remained steady and Edward’s buzz turned super-positive; Obama also benefitted from Dennis Kucinich’s announcement that his supporters should vote for Obama as second choice.
Bloggers and MSM rap on the hope of a Obama presidency and what it would mean for racial relations in the country, and the populist anti-corporate message of Edwards… and the promise of constitutionalism in a Ron Paul presidency, and of a return to true federalism in a Thompson administration, and of tough action against terrorist by Rudy… Where is the talk of idealism when bloggers talk about Clinton? Bloggers have paid lots of attention to Clinton’s words, policies, personality, and history (as well they should), but have not correspondingly talked about what it would mean to finally have a female president, or what it means to continue the Clinton-Bush dynasty. Instead Clinton stands out as the ultimate pragmatist amongst a field of relative idealists. For bloggers, it’s a lot more interesting to pay attention to the idealists right now. Democrats have a recent habit however of turning away from the idealist at the last moment, and going with the pragmatist who can manage the micromarkets that make up the Democratic party.
