If Hillary doesn’t win big in Pennsylvania tonight, will she have the good sense to withdraw?
Pierre Rousselin writes for France’s Le Figaro, “She needs a win that is vivid enough to reverse the course of the election … otherwise all that will remain is for her to drop out or, through reckless calculation, be dislodged against her will, which will prolong a fratricidal duel that can only undermine the chances for Democrats to return to the White House.”
EDITORIAL by Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Sandrine Ageorges
April 22, 2008
France – Le Figaro – Original Article (France)
Hillary Clinton is putting everything she has into the Pennsylvania primary election. In this state where she’s the favorite, it won’t be enough to win – she needs a win that is vivid enough to reverse the course of the election and to present herself as the one without whom the Democrats cannot beat John McCain in November.
It won’t be easy. The lead once enjoyed by the former First Lady in this working-class state, which seems sociologically cut-to-order for her, has been significantly reduced.
Barrack Obama may make beautiful faux pas, but Hillary Clinton has a gift for over-reacting that causes her to lose advantages of the moment. Such was the case during the debut of the sometimes racist, often demagogic paster who was a long-time spiritual advisor of her rival. Barrack Obama managed to get out of his rut with a well-noted speech on race.
When more recently, the Black candidate began to speak of the “bitterness” of the “have-nots” in Pennsylvania who “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment,” Hillary Clinton made much ado about denouncing his contempt for ordinary people. There was in fact, in that phrase, an indication that could lead one to believe that despite his magic, Barrack Obama is just a politician like any other.
[Editor’s Note: At a San Francisco fundraiser, Obama was quoted as saying, “It’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”]
But it’s not clear that Clinton’s attack made any impact. To the spontaneity – albeit clumsy – of the Illinois senator, Hillary Clinton replied with a calculation which highlighted her attitude toward God, the right to bear arms and immigration, none of which is exempt from electoral ulterior motives.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. Elections.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US