tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119943.post2110644294925965137..comments2023-09-29T06:57:06.991-07:00Comments on Anglachel's Journal: Iowa in RetrospectAnglachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110546252851760414noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119943.post-7652270205634707812008-01-09T21:24:00.000-08:002008-01-09T21:24:00.000-08:00It is hard to piece together as I collect clues an...It is hard to piece together as I collect clues and reports from many blogs, but the basic story appears to be that Obama, Edwards and Clinton camps *all* courted the Biden, Dodd and Richardson camps to try to get agreements to throw support to them over the other guy/gal. Now, why would candidate X throw support behind this frontrunner vs. another? VP slot comes to mind. Richardson is cruising for a VP slot, that's clear. All reports say that the three second tier camps rebuffed Clinton camp wooing in the last few weeks, despite early polling showing that HRC was the 2nd choice of the *supporters*. <BR/><BR/>I have read two different comments by Iowa precinct people saying that the Obama precint people really went after the Richardson precinct captains. Proximity, friendships, insider political deals, etc., all the usual tools of the political game would get called into play.<BR/><BR/>Let me be clear - trying to win over support this way is perfectly legitimate in my opinion. It's not playing dirty. I expect the different camps to size each other up, check each other out, make various offers and skirmish over support. Was it Richardson calling up Obama personally? Nah. All done by the state and local operatives, but clearly approved by the candidates.<BR/><BR/>My point is more that an individual Richardson supporter who might have had HRC as her second choice when she walked in the door would have had to stand up to some formidable oppostion to have moved over to the HRC corner of the room, particularly if the people there were friends, co-workers, her kid's teacher, etc., all yelling at her to come join them with Obama. This is not something unique to Obama - this is how caucuses run, though perhaps they were more aggressive this year. <BR/><BR/>My point here is Obama's team effectively exploited a very unique political environment, one that is not going to be repeated in any other primary. Strategically, an excellent move on his part. However, the underlying fundamentals - who supported HRC and why - do not favor him in the majority of the reamining primaries.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for commenting.Anglachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01110546252851760414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4119943.post-39349912594105749262008-01-09T02:47:00.000-08:002008-01-09T02:47:00.000-08:00So -- how high up in the respective campaigns did ...So -- how high up in the respective campaigns did the 'dealing' go? Did the low-level Obama supporters just make it up? It's hard for me to imagine Richarson himself sending people to Obama instead of Hillary, as he seemed to be defending her and 'experience' in the NH debate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com