Hillary Clinton: I don't 'look very wistful'

February 24, 2008 08:13 PM EST

BOTH in her demeanor and her words, the senator from New York — who long enjoyed front-runner status for the Democratic presidential nomination — made it clear she wasn’t buying stories describing her campaign as dispirited and demoralized.

She joked with reporters and photographers on the campaign plane, again hammered rival Barack Obama for mailings in Ohio that she said misrepresented her views on health care and NAFTA, and dismissed a Sunday New York Times story that characterized her campaign — and her — as coming to grips with the possibility of losing.

When asked by a reporter about the Times report describing her as “wistful,” Clinton chuckled and said, “I don’t think I look very wistful.”



Although she said she hadn’t read the piece, she appeared dismissive and only briefly addressed it. “I am working as hard as I can. We have good campaigns in Texas and Ohio and I feel really positive about what’s going to happen on March the 4th. I just really believe we’re going to do well.”

Two aides said privately that they don’t recognize the portrait of a dwindling campaign that has appeared in media reports since the televised debate in Austin last week, when Clinton told Obama she was “honored” to be in the race with him and would be fine no matter what happens.

To many, the remarks sounded like valedictory comments by a candidate who was perhaps seeing the end. But aides said that’s not the impression they get when on the road — from either the candidate or her supporters.

“She’s a doer and a fighter, and there is incredible energy on the road and incredible energy in the national office,” said one.

Bottom photo...wistful?

She has a lot of good points but she is definitely NOT a doer and a fighter. Her record in the senate is that of a "go along to get along" politician who for some reason still fears the right wing.

I believe she has the right instincts but she has sublimated them in order to kiss up to the power structure and that's exactly what she has done in the senate. Joining the fundamentalist congressional prayer group - gimme a break. A 6 year old kid could see through that.

Bill Clinton had a moderately successful term as president but he was the same way - afraid to show his progressive side because he too was afraid of the nutty right.

any vital, thriving political party.

Of course, there are those who insist on projecting their own beliefs onto her and casting the senator in their own narrow view. To call the two-term presidency of Bill Clinton 'moderately successful' begs for an example of a Democratic presidency comparable, in my lifetime.

Not like Obama, who is such a doer and a fighter that he's vowed to take on the Republicans every chance he gets. Right? Exactly right. Going right, right, right.

He gave such a nice interview. He spoke of the Hillary he knew, the one that does so many things that the average person doesn't get to know. He commented on how well liked and respected she was by her fellow senators, including the conservatives, which must be true since I remember the nice things that Lindsey Graham and Sam Brownback have been saying about her for the last few years.

He spoke admiringly of her vast knowledge of policy. He said that he was a policy wonk himself, but that in his more than 30 years in politics he had never met with someone who knew policy issues in such depth as Hillary.

I don't know if she feels wistful, but I sure will if she doesn't get the nomination.

Ohio Governor Strickland also gave a similar endorsement of Hillary Clinton today and yesterday, saying the race is "not over."

I hope that Ohio listens to him.