“Chill Out” Clinton Chides

Former President Bill Clinton told Democrats to “chill out” over the weekend in San Jose at the state’s party convention. He was chiding them about their concerns over a drag-out fight to the polling stations between the party’s two biggest presidential contenders, his wife Hillary and Senator Barack Obama. “We are going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say,” he told his party.

So-called super-delegates were the hottest VIP’s at the convention, where they were privy to closed-door meetings with both candidates. The speech came following complaints from some party members that his wife is more focused on her own agenda than that of the party. Hillary made statements over the weekend that she’ll continue to fight all the way to the convention if necessary.

Indeed, an election that seemed in the bag two years ago has degenerated into a brawl between Democrats and Republicans that has equally shocked members of both parties. A poll released Friday that found the Republican candidate, John McCain, ahead of both Obama and Clinton in a theoretical election.

Many Democrats have expressed their disapproval at Clinton’s decision to press on, saying she could have a Ralph Nader-like effect that will allow McCain to pick up the pieces and gain support. Bill Clinton called the long race a strengthening factor, a sentiment shared by Obama over the weekend; both said it has kept peoples’ minds focused on politics. The former president jogging convention-goers’ memories by saying that in the summer of his first presidential bid he was in third place behind candidates from other parties. From there, he catapulted to first place, from which he never fell.

Candice Yacono

(photo credit: zenobia_joy)

April 7th, 2009 by admin | Posted in National Politics | (0)