It started with the "inevitability" meme. That was deadly for Clinton because no one likes to be told they have no choice. People will go out of their way to guarantee they have a choice. They will reject the new car and $250,000 dollars in their hands for what is behind door number one because they want to have options. Being optionless makes the committed people feel powerless against a sea of the entrenched DC establishment that they have been fighting so hard against for the past four years.
It. Will. Not. Stand.
But here is the funny thing. Edwards has been bashing Clinton pretty relentlessly but he always mentions her double talking, corportatism and lobby loving ways (none of which are true, but I digress). But it wasn't Edwards that was pushing the inevitability meme. THAT was almost the exclusive territory of the media, particularly Tweety. Oh, sure, other candidates took advantage when they saw it was working but it was driven by the media.
Now, why would the media glom on to this particular CW and flog it for all it's worth? Well, they got a horse race and we all know they like things tight and suspenseful. But if that is true, why not do the corporatist, lobby loving crap like Edwards did? It's because they knew it wouldn't stick. People who like Hillary know it's bogus but those who might be a little bit inclined to vote for her sure as hell don't like having no choice in the matter. So, they went with Edwards. Until he looked like a loser due to public financing. Then they got all worked up over Gore, because he wasn't Clinton either. But Gore let them down. So now they are in Obama's camp (thank God the Edwards diaries are easing up a bit. That level of hero worship was getting nauseating) But Obama is a genuine cypher and possibly not as committed to Change! as they thought, not to mention his ideas on Social security are troubling and his healthcare initiative doesn't go far enough.
Kossacks and other voters know all of that. Deep down inside, they know that Hillary isn't as loathsome as she's been made out to be and certainly not significantly worse than any of the others. In fact, she comes with some ratter obvious built in advantages.
But they aren't ready to come to that yet. They want to still have a choice.
So, here's my question, guys: Let's say you could see the writing on the wall. You know Edwards can't win it, Obama looks vulnerable to a full frontal GOP attack and your favorite other candidate just ain't getting any traction? What would Hillary have to do to earn your trust? I don't want to hear that there is absolutely nothing she can do. I know that already. I'm asking you to name your high hurdles. Raise the bar as high as you like. Tell me what it is that she would have to do to get you vote for her.
Go.