Clinton Campaigns in Virginia
By Perry Bacon Jr.
ARLINGTON -- As she campaigns to win here in next Tuesday's primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton made the case against Sen. Barack Obama and for herself in a more concise way than she often does on the stump.
"I ask you to consider, as you think about voting and talking to people that you know, how to answer two questions," Clinton said to a crowd of more than a thousand, mostly students, at the end of a speech at Washington-Lee High School. "Who would be the best president on day one to walk into the Oval Office with two wars going on, with an economy falling apart and so much happening and start solving our problems right away? And for Democrats, who would be our best candidate to stand on stage with Senator McCain and talk about national security, the economy and all the other important issues?"
Much the way Republicans spent 2007 bashing Clinton to prove themselves to their own party, Clinton focused on the likely GOP nominee, Sen. John McCain, more than on her rival Obama, whom she named only once. (She also repeated a familiar critique that his health care plan would not cover as many people as hers.)
"Senator McCain will be the Republican nominee, and I have the greatest respect for my friend and my colleague Senator McCain," she said, "but I believe he offers more of the same -- more of the same economic policy, more of the same military policies in Iraq."
She continued:" He said recently he could see American troops in Iraq for 100 years. Well, I want them coming home in 60 days....Senator McCain has said he doesn't know much about the economy."
McCain earlier this year said Americans would be more focused on the conditions on the ground in Iraq and the number of casualties in the war than how long some troops would remain there, likening Iraq to Korea and other places where some level of American troops have long remained after conflicts.
Clinton stopped in Virginia before a trip to Seattle to campaign for the Washington vote on Saturday.
Posted at 6:09 PM ET on Feb 7, 2008
Share This: 
Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Starting on Day One, Hillary Clinton will be prepared to fly into Bosnia with Sinbad:
Posted by: davestickler | February 7, 2008 06:54 PM
Hillary will be ready on day one to lead this nation. i dont think obama knows what new direction he will be going. you can spout out alot of things, but if you have not done it, it will take awhile to get going. GO HILLARY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
Posted by: melodymg | February 7, 2008 06:55 PM
Oh yes, Perry Bacon Jr. The spreader of rumors and innuendoes about Obama back in December. What a pathetic excuse for a journalist.
And to HRC: both you and McCain offer more of the same. Glad we can choose someone who really does come with new ideas and none of the sleaze of the 1990's.
Obama '08
Posted by: anthmroy | February 7, 2008 06:59 PM
I can't think of anyone more capable and more ready to take over the position of President than Hillary Clinton.
She certainly has my vote.
Posted by: audart | February 7, 2008 07:08 PM
O yeah, Hilary will be hilarious from day one!
Obama, he will be just wondering in the White House Lawn!
Bill CLinton? He will be busy with another intern, Monica!
Those who think Hilary will turn the country around and give the economic boost are living in fool's paradise.
Hilary's white house, we will be still fighting in Iraq ( no matter what she pledges now to get your vote) draining 100 billions dollars.
Hilary's white house, there will be watergate scandals, bitter partisanship. Democrats will loose in both senate and house.
So, you decide ....
35 years of cosmetic change & scandals or new HOPE?
Posted by: jamila_morsheda | February 7, 2008 07:15 PM
Nothing against Obama but Hillary will be able to do the most good right now, no leap of faith needed.
Posted by: chriszick | February 7, 2008 07:28 PM
Senator Obama is by the best candidate running for President. His integrity, principled judgment, and inspirational leadership starkly contrasts with Clinton's willingness to assert and spread falsehoods, unprincipled vote for the Iraq War, and wretched failure in her attempt to reform healthcare in 1993.
We are all paying for her lack of courage to stand against the war and have been waiting 15 years for healthcare reform that she and her husband did not bring to us after 8 years in the White House and her 7 years in the Senate. Has all her years of experience accomplished anything positive that you can remember?
Senator Obama has broad support across the U.S. His numerous backers are widespread and motivated, while Clinton's backers are faltering, disappointed that she frittered away her huge lead, and beginning to realize that they are not backing the best and most honorable candidate in the race.
Senator Obama wins converts every day. Once voters realize how much preferable he is to Clinton... or to McCain... they stick loyally by him, embracing and then passing along his message that we must unify to create positive change.
Don't give Clinton and the Republicans any encouragement. It will only make the changes that we seek as a country more difficult to enact.
If you want a change from the divisiveness of the politics of cynicism, if you want seasoned experience (11 years as an elected official, winning elected office 3 times), if you want someone who stands on principle, then Vote for Senator Barack Obama. Register, go the polls, and place a check mark next to his name.
Posted by: junkmail | February 7, 2008 07:29 PM
As an independent liberal that has spent his short life living abroad, I cannot figure out why, after Bush II, the country is willing to vote again for someone based on character, rather than substance. It makes me wonder if the past eight years have had the profound effect it has had on me... Also, having lived abroad I have seen my share of extremely intelligent and unifying candidates in many countries, and yet many (if not all) have fallen flat on their face. While many people claim in these posts that they are "sick and tired" of the "Washington Establishment" et al; however, I am tired of broken promises and unrealistic goals. By no means am I claiming that Senator Clinton is the perfect candidate, but she definitely the best candidate and I will vote for the person who I believe is the most competent and best qualified.
Posted by: jepelletier | February 7, 2008 08:07 PM
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.