THE IRAQ ALBATROSS.... Scott Lemieux on Hillary Clinton: Admittedly, this is the kind of counterfactual that's impossible to prove, but my guess is that if she had voted against the war Clinton would be the Democratic candidate. Given the closeness of the race, her inherent advantages going in, and that the war had to be a liability it's hard to imagine that she wouldn't have prevailed without the Iraq albatross. Whether or not Clinton's support was sincere - I don't think it really matters - sometimes getting big policies wrong really is politically damaging.
talkleft.com
Kevin Drum agrees with this :
[M]y guess is that if she had voted against the war Clinton would be the Democratic candidate. Given the closeness of the race, her inherent advantages going in, and that the war had to be a liability it's hard to imagine that she wouldn't have prevailed without the Iraq albatross.
If that were true, then it would be a great thing. But I think it is not. Consider the exit polling. In Iowa , Obama and Clinton won the same number of voters who said the economy was the biggest issue as said Iraq was the biggest issue.
Found 5 days, 21 hours, 5 minutes, and 59 seconds ago
stephenfrug.blogspot.com
: Booman Tribune -- via Atrios , who agrees too.
Found 5 days, 22 hours, 37 minutes, and 11 seconds ago
kikoshouse.blogspot.com
SCOTT LEMIEUX
Found 5 days, 21 hours, 5 minutes, and 58 seconds ago
