The democratic process has to play out, or the supporters of the losing candidate are going to feel their candidate did not get a fair shake. If they get disgruntled badly enough, they won't vote in November. So all of this pressure on Clinton - who is totally within her rights to stay in the race - to quit could damage the party more in the long run than her continuing to run at this point.
This is a special case. The Clinton candidacy carries special meaning for many of her supporters beyond their appreciation of her policy positions. Many of her supporters are being hardened in their support of her because of the sexist backlash against her. The more crap they see dumped on her, the more adamant they get about supporting her specifically. And if they end up convinced that sexism is the real reason she's pushed out of the race, there's going to be a lot of very bitter and disgruntled Clinton supporters.
That would be true if she were running because she truly believed that Obama would be bad for the country, or couldn't win against McCain. But Obama's polling FAR better against McCain than she is. She's staying in because of ego, and has as much as said that she'll run the party into the ground rather than quit. All she's doing is giving the Republicans the ammo they'll need to defeat Obama in the general, at which point she can sit back and say, "See, I could've done better."
That would be true if she were running because she truly believed that Obama would be bad for the country, or couldn't win against McCain.
My comment was about the way her followers feel, not Clinton herself. For many of them, this race has become "about" sexism. They also recognize that this is Clinton's only shot.
has as much as said that she'll run the party into the ground rather than quit
Are you referring to something specific she said, or the general perception that she's the only one playing hardball?
I don't see how this race has become about sexism. (And, to that point, Ms. Clinton hasn't helped her cause by tearing up here and there on the trail.)
For that matter, that was always a risk, one that she should have seen coming. In contrast, Obama has been dogged by race recently, and he seemed equipped and ready to handle it.
I agree with simianpower that she's in the race for ego's sake at this point. Even her advisors have admitted that there's no way for her to win.
Besides, the party, as an entity, is a perception, and if a great number of people believe she's damaging the party, then she really is damaging it.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-29 12:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-29 12:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-29 12:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-29 07:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-29 01:28 pm (UTC)My comment was about the way her followers feel, not Clinton herself. For many of them, this race has become "about" sexism. They also recognize that this is Clinton's only shot.
has as much as said that she'll run the party into the ground rather than quit
Are you referring to something specific she said, or the general perception that she's the only one playing hardball?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-30 09:03 pm (UTC)For that matter, that was always a risk, one that she should have seen coming. In contrast, Obama has been dogged by race recently, and he seemed equipped and ready to handle it.
I agree with
Besides, the party, as an entity, is a perception, and if a great number of people believe she's damaging the party, then she really is damaging it.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-31 01:53 pm (UTC)