Hillary – Not Clinton – Prevailed Last NightPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jan. 09‚ 2008The polls in the final days showing Barack Obama with a double-digit lead in New Hampshire were not wrong, and I was not unreasonable – though a bit cocky – to gloat that the Clintons were history. Instead, what happened was 17% of New Hampshire voters made up their minds on Election Day. And Hillary Clinton’s huge gender gap suggests that the last-minute media attacks on her “crying” swayed women to her side. Just like Iowa, New Hampshire voters said that change was more important than experience – which continues to be her Achilles heel as the race moves to Nevada and South Carolina. Last week, the New York Senator was in danger of losing because voters saw her as “Clinton” – the establishment candidate who will carry on a political dynasty when voters want something new. But on Election Day, enough came to view her as “Hillary” who would create change by becoming the first woman President. This explains the unexpected result in New Hampshire, but Clinton still faces a challenge in capitalizing on voters desire for "change". |