By Stephanie Woodrow
While most Democrats are thrilled with the outcome of the midterm elections, there's one Democrat who should be concerned, even though she won her race. Congratulations are in order to soon-to-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and no-longer-freshman Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who won their seats with 80 percent and 67 percent of the votes, respectively. But Clinton shouldn't be completely thrilled.
It only took moments after Clinton was sworn in as the 64th Senator from New York for the presidential buzz to begin. As the first lady to an administration that all too many people now remember as "the good old days," and with allusions to her husband being the new JFK (although she's no Jackie), Clinton has been considered by many to be the frontrunner for the Democratic nominee for president in 2008.
But as Pelosi is about to assume the highest position a woman has ever been elected to in government, one question lumens - what affect will this have on Clinton?
Although Clinton has yet to form an exploratory committee, one of the first steps in a presidential run, she has hired Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and probably the best fundraiser in the Democratic Party. Not to mention her warchest of almost $14 million as of the end of October, plus her advisors confirmed on Sunday that she has started interview possible campaign staffers and speaking to top Democrats, including New York Governor-elect Eliot Spizter about securing their support. All of these signs point to a presidential run; however, Clinton shouldn't be picking out her second set of White House china just yet.
The Des Moines Register recently conducted a poll, both showing as of now, Clinton cannot win the general election in 2008. The September 10-13, put the "frontrunners" in head-to-head matchups, and found the most likely president to be former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) or Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
In the poll, Giuliani and McCain both defeated Clinton, Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-Iowa), Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and former Sen. John Edwards (D-S.C.) in head-to-head matchups. Clinton was the only person in the poll who didn't beat anyone in the hypothetical general election. The Democratic Party isn't stupid; they won't choose a nominee who can't win a general election. They've been in that position before and don't seem to care for it.
But back to the Speaker.
As the highest elected woman in U.S. government history, Pelosi has a lot riding on her shoulders - the feminist movement. Well, not exactly. But unfortunately for her, and women in general, anytime she doesn't take a risk or holds back from making a decision, some people will say it's because she's a woman. And if there comes a time when she cant get enough support on an issue, people will wonder if a man would have had more persuasion. Let's be clear that I don't think Pelosi is doomed to fail as Speaker. But I do believe many of her mistakes will be credited to her gender rather than her character. As much as it hurts to admit, the causes of her mistakes will be deemed "because she's a woman."
And that leads us back to Clinton.
When Clinton gets into the Democratic debates, she's going to be hit harder than most other candidates. While there is no denying how skillful and intelligent of a politician she is, there will be no way for her to defend her "womanhood." Republicans will project Pelosi's mistakes on Clinton and she will have no easy way out. If the only way to prove something is through action, then the only way Clinton will be able to prove she will not encounter the same "womanly" mistakes Pelosi will make is by being elected president and proving herself.
But are the Democrats willing to take that chance? Are they willing to elect someone to run in a general election when every poll shows she cant win against any Republican? People in the party may like her, and there is no denying the power of the Clinton name, but there is no Democrat who would rather have Clinton as the nominee than a Democrat back in the White House.