Perkins on the Solution to Clinton's 'Problem'
State Senator Bill Perkins of Harlem, an early, vocal Obama backer, told me yesterday that Clinton's exit speech was a "giant step" toward winning back the affections of the Obama supporters who were offended by her pre-concession tactics, but that it should be seen as a "beginning.”
”Less visible and less dramatic efforts need to be part of it," said Perkins.
He said he expected her to continue to pressure disaffected supporters, especially women, to back Obama. And, in a bit of analysis that’s sure to thrill Clinton supporters, he cast the outreach as the first step in a sort of twelve-step program to political rehabilitation.
"At some point you have to recognize you have a problem," said Mr. Perkins. "Once you recognize that and say 'I have to repair that, I have to regroup,' you can fix it."
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 49.8
- 42.5
- Obama +7.3
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 57.3
- 35.9
- +21.4
- McCain
- 50.1
- 42.3
- +7.8
Sen Perkins raises outreach as the first step.
Many "Clinton Women" feel that the Obama campaign has yet to really extend the hand to them. They don't just care about reproductive rights, they care about economic development, political empowerment, and being respected as equals. Waiving Roe v. Wade in front of them is, many of them feel, belittling and demeaning.
One of the things that would help would be for surrogates like Sen Perkins to start reaching out to those "Clinton Women" or for Sen Obama to incorporate women's issues into his stump speeches.
Clinton supporters:
I voted for Obama in the primaries mostly because her name was Clinton. I feel that the country was being controlled by the Bush and Clinton families. It was political incest. Now that Obama is the Democratic pick, Mr. Clinton is withholding his true support for Obama to the detriment of his wife. I am sure that Hillary will run again and she would've had my vote. He is hurting her more than helping her with his immature attitude towards Obama. If you think that disgruntled Hillary voters were bad, if Obama loses because of Bill Clinton-wait and see what disgruntled Obama voters will do. For every vote he is taking away from Obama with this little charade, he is taking away votes from Hillary.