Hillary Clinton is a strong woman. She is not one who breaks down when people give her a compliment, as she did today, or when people ask her, "How do you do it?" as she did in New Hampshire. That is, unless it's election eve.
The woman who asked Clinton, "How do you do it?" cast her vote for Barack Obama the next day. Her reason, she said, was because, after Clinton's reply, she "turned to the right and went right into political rhetoric again." I presume this means it didn't seem genuine to her.
The reason these misty moments get so much attention is because they are unusual. I can't recall ever hearing of Clinton or any other candidate tearing up on the trail before that moment. That such a rare event occured for only the second time, and that yet again it was on election eve, does not seem coincidental.
In New Hampshire, we were treated to advisers telling us how Hillary Clinton is "softer," as though she were being sold as a bottle of Downy or a box of Snuggle. She spoke more softly. She said "personal" a lot. And she sealed the deal with a tear in her eye. It was all a part of the narrative her campaign was trying to sell.
I'm not saying Clinton is emotionless, or that any emotion out of her is preplanned. But if I can speak quietly, put a quiver in my voice, and put a tear in my eye, so can she.
Feel free to accuse me of cynicism for thinking election-eve surprises from politicians may not be spontaneous. But that's a perfectly valid belief to have, it is my honest assessment, and I am no troll for thinking it, or for sharing it.