In political stories timing is everything. Hillary Clinton began the democratic primaries with a tremendous head start – most of her story elements were already clearly defined and working together seamlessly. Her Passion to be President is white-hot. She hit the ground running with two key democratic constituencies: The old Friends of Bill network of operatives, and donors gave her a money raising lead (sure to get media coverage) and as the only woman running she had an automatic leg up with Women Voters (and the media got a prepackaged narrative featuring Hillary as Hero). Her Clinton name-brand guaranteed the very best of enemies. If Karl Rove actually did resign so he could start the attack on Hillary it would be tremendous story blessing – an Antagonist Democrats love to hate. Instead of starting attacks, Hilary needs to respond to them, and prove she is bloody-minded enough to be truly presidential.
Hillary’s weakness is in Awareness – the moment of inspiration that makes us actually pull the lever under her name. She is killer smart, but her solutions to problems seem overly calculated and leaden. (her failed 1993 Health Care Plan is an example we are still living with). Positioning herself as the experienced candidate, she has forced herself to carry a lot of baggage making her responses in the debates seem prepackaged – particularly on Iraq where fresh thinking is desperately desired. A lighter, quicker Obama, or the more naturally eloquent Edwards, may take advantage of this weakness on the stump. Edwards in particular seems to be zeroing in on the chinks in her armor. Will Hillary be Transformed into the nominee? I don’t know, but her story is getting interesting.
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