Watching MSNBC earlier too, but Todd
Beeton got the transcript. Andrea Mitchell spinning Clinton:
They think they will do no worse than second. They don’t think they will
come in 3rd. They think that Edwards is locked in at 3rd. Their own polling
mirrors what other polling shows, that if traditional Democrats turn out,
they can win, if women come out, that’s obviously in her favor…If Obama
doesn’t win by too much, they still think from their overnights in NH, which
shows her back up in NH, she can still recover there, but if it’s a big Obama
win here, then they’ve got a problem, then he’s got a big bounce going into
New Hampshire.
Here’s the truth. Ready?
Two people need to win tonight: Edwards and Obama. It’s a toss up on who needs
it most.
If the 2004 turn out model replicates itself tonight, Clinton will likely
win Iowa. That’s when you’ll see a collective heart attack from every media
pundit found lying on the floor in full make-up, with Matthews’ having a little
extra rouge than others. Some bloggers will offer spittle as posts.
If the DMR poll is correct, which it has been in the past, though this year it was mostly about independents, Obama will win Iowa.
He could also win Iowa if Richardson is lying and he’s already delegated his
caucus goers to go Obama, like Kucinich. A friend I was talking to out of D.C.
said she/he saw Richardson on camera flatly deny there was any deal struck.
I didn’t see it, but there you go, for what it’s worth. Could be that Richardson
saw a possible appointment slipping through his fingers and wanted to be on
the record, no matter what goes on inside the caucus rooms. Biden has not done
a deal with Obama.
The bottom line is that no matter where Clinton places in Iowa nothing changes
for Clinton’s campaign. It’s on to New Hampshire, Nevada, more debates, then
February 5th, which is truly super Tuesday. Neither Obama or Edwards can say
this emphatically. So no matter what happens tonight, Clinton won’t miss a beat
and neither will her campaign.
Iowa is just the beginning. Don’t let anyone spin you otherwise. Steady as
we go.
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