Expectations
The Clintons are the champion masters of raising and lowering expectations for strategic effect.
Tonight, Obama took it to them. Early in his victory speech in Raleigh, he congratulated HRC on "what appears to be" her victory in Indiana. Of course, no one had called the race. HRC is delaying her speech until the results are clearer. Most networks have it too close to call, with the Chicago outskirts still to report.
Now, what in the world was Obama doing, virtually conceding the primary?
I'll tell you what he was doing. He was smirking inside.
Even if HRC wins with 2 - 4%, she loses the expectations game, but if Obama pulls it out, if Gary and Hammond respond like they well might, Obama may finally have put her out of the game.
Yes, we can.
UPDATE (30 minutes later): HRC is speaking right now, and lo and behold, she just claimed victory in Indiana, before virtually anyone has called the vote and before Obama's strongest counties report, with only 40,000 votes separating them. That's not an expectations game. That's a reckless gamble, in my opinion. She's betting her bottom dollar, and if Indiania somehow slides to Obama, I think she's done.
UPDATE: President William Jefferson Clinton is standing behind his wife, but he is not listening. He claps when he realized everyone else is clapping. He's watching the audience over her shoulder. He's plotting and daydreaming. Whoa, he just woke up. Chelsea must have stepped on his foot. He's biting his lip. He's planning a vacation.
UPDATE: Not only do the Chicago suburbs still have to report, but so does Bloomington, home to IU. Obama may win Indiana, and if so, after that speech, she will be reaching out for a gentle resolution. They both laid the foundation tonight for a sweet reconcilation.
UPDATE: Pat Buchanan agrees, have mercy. He even talked about BC clapping at the wrong times. As I live and breathe.
Tonight, Obama took it to them. Early in his victory speech in Raleigh, he congratulated HRC on "what appears to be" her victory in Indiana. Of course, no one had called the race. HRC is delaying her speech until the results are clearer. Most networks have it too close to call, with the Chicago outskirts still to report.
Now, what in the world was Obama doing, virtually conceding the primary?
I'll tell you what he was doing. He was smirking inside.
Even if HRC wins with 2 - 4%, she loses the expectations game, but if Obama pulls it out, if Gary and Hammond respond like they well might, Obama may finally have put her out of the game.
Yes, we can.
UPDATE (30 minutes later): HRC is speaking right now, and lo and behold, she just claimed victory in Indiana, before virtually anyone has called the vote and before Obama's strongest counties report, with only 40,000 votes separating them. That's not an expectations game. That's a reckless gamble, in my opinion. She's betting her bottom dollar, and if Indiania somehow slides to Obama, I think she's done.
UPDATE: President William Jefferson Clinton is standing behind his wife, but he is not listening. He claps when he realized everyone else is clapping. He's watching the audience over her shoulder. He's plotting and daydreaming. Whoa, he just woke up. Chelsea must have stepped on his foot. He's biting his lip. He's planning a vacation.
UPDATE: Not only do the Chicago suburbs still have to report, but so does Bloomington, home to IU. Obama may win Indiana, and if so, after that speech, she will be reaching out for a gentle resolution. They both laid the foundation tonight for a sweet reconcilation.
UPDATE: Pat Buchanan agrees, have mercy. He even talked about BC clapping at the wrong times. As I live and breathe.
posted by JRB at 9:15 PM
1 Comments:
Whenever I find myself in agreement with Pat Buchanan, I go and stick my head in a bucket of ice water and splash around for a couple of minutes.
HRC has canceled all of her public appearances for tomorrow.
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