NPR: House Republicans Say Clinton is Tougher Candidate

House Republicans Say Clinton is Tougher Candidate

It seems the Republicans are changing their minds about who would be the tougher candidate to face in the fall. Rep. Tom Cole, the GOP's campaign chief now says Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the tougher candidate for Republicans to face in the fall, rather than Sen. Barack Obama.

"I think he is the weaker (Democratic) candidate," Cole told reporters Monday. Obama "is by any definition very liberal, to the left of Hillary Clinton, in a center-right country," Cole said. "That is very, very helpful to us."

It's an interesting change, but it also begs the question, why is he saying it?

Marc Ambinder of theAtlantic.com thing Cole is "attempting a fumbling jijitsu move by luring the Democrats into a false sense of remorse about almost nominating Obama because Obama, in fact, would be the more difficult candidate."

"Indeed, Democratic superdelegates might actually pay attention to what Tom Cole says. Or he could be telling the truth. I suspect that the actual difference in drag between Clinton, once nominated, and Obama, once nominated, would be fairly minimal, perhaps only a few knots' worth of headwind. In any event, the Democrats are likely to pick up House seats, so even assuming that Cole is telling the truth, what we're debating here is the size of the Democratic margin over Republicans."

5:17 AM ET | 04-29-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

It shouldn't take a Republican candidate to recognize this point, as if by doing so, it questions this point as a truthful statement...no matter what "side" you're on, you have to wonder what's going on with the Obama and his camp...Rev Wright was fiercely defended by Obama and his supporters, now that he speaks his mind (some truth) and deflects his attacks on him to the African American Church (the same deflecting technique Obama uses again and again...he continues to deflect critizism of him onto his supporters) the Obama camp is demonizing him...what a mess! I suspect that Obama learned alot from this man and now "the Obama chickens are coming home to roost"...and even now Obama seems incapable of defending himself(perhaps, if ENOUGHT PRESSURE is placed on him, he may come out fighting?)...but as far as character strength, he doesn't have it...agree or not, he is just not "The One"...

PS: While I can feel sad for Obama's situation, this all relates to his JUDGEMENT AND SENSE OF REASON...why is it that people that aren't supporters of Obama were able to see this coming quite awhile ago...hopefully, at this point blinders are off...

Sent by ard | 7:04 AM ET | 04-29-2008

So, now, suddenly, the GOP wants to run against Obama because they think Clinton will be a stronger candidate. Uh-huh, sure! In the words of B'rer Rabbit: "Please don't throw me in the brier patch!"

Sent by Gary | 7:13 AM ET | 04-29-2008

Beware Republicans bearing gifts.

Sent by George de Man | 7:35 AM ET | 04-29-2008

ard: So what you are saying is that we're back to the same old same old in American politics--the lesser of two (this time three) evils. Because you can't possibly think that either of the other candidates are any less deflecting of criticism. No person who attempts to have an unbiased perspective can think otherwise, given what you say here. Just listen to McCain on Hagee and Clinton on Scaife. Please explain how they're any different.

If they are not any better, then who cares whether Obama is 'The One' or not? I would appreciate a viable alternative, because the militant anti-Obama camp has given me none.

Sent by Drew | 8:10 AM ET | 04-29-2008

Let's see if the obviously right wing commenters start lambasting Clinton and praising Obama to steer the poor dumb Democrats to the candidate they can beat in November. Well, ard and deek and your buddies, what do you say?

Sent by Gary | 8:18 AM ET | 04-29-2008

I think it's funny how Reverend Wright is showing up in the first comment of every NPR blog today, no matter how irrelevant to the post at hand. No shame.

Sent by anonymous | 12:30 PM ET | 04-29-2008

Gary, I say that this is the most entertaining year of politics I have seen in my life.

It's all the more enjoyable when you see chickens coming home to roost and self-devouring political poison finally being shown it's own ugly face.

The dems embraced those that will destroy them.

Sent by deek | 12:49 PM ET | 04-29-2008

Drew,

I can agree that we are always challenged to have a "perfect" candidate campaigning to direct this Nation to higher ground, however, tragic as it sounds...perhaps, until someone can reach that Benchmark, I feel it is better to deal with the "problems of the candidates" you know than go off with one you don't really know anything about...especially when there's smoke coming out of everything he touches...

PS: Poor analogy, I know, yet I think you get my point...this Country is under too much stress to elect someone who repeatedly has controversy and shows a serious lack of judgement...at least the other candidates don't hestitate to make tough choices and are decisive...and yes, I believe Clinton could do the job...I'd even settle for McCain if necessary...

Sent by ard | 4:25 PM ET | 04-29-2008

The choice is simple, dear citizens and superdelegates: want more of the same? Vote McCain. Want a slight change of direction? Vote HRC. Want the most change in direction? Vote Obama. Oh, and if you vote for McCain you're basically rewarding the GOP for the last 8 years and saying 'good job, we approve.' I'm sure the big honchos of the GOP and the Neocons will interpret a victory as a reward for the policies of the Bush Administration. Is that the message Americans want to send? That really is all there is to it. Now that baseball season is starting, let's move on to more complicated subjects, shall we? Anyone seen Barry Bonds' flaxseed oil?

Sent by John R. Otten | 10:52 AM ET | 04-30-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.