We are all constantly talking about 08 though many of us agree that it's way to early. I'd like to throw an article out there to get some thoughts flowing.
From Elanor Clift at Newsweek
It's not just the left-right thing that could slow Hillary's march to the nomination. It's the transparency of what she's doing that has even her biggest fans worried. It doesn't look authentic. If primary voters conclude they need a Red State friendly candidate, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner is the real thing. Why settle for Red State-lite Hillary? Warner is already where he needs to be on the right, and he's inching to the left, an easier task all around.
More after the fold...
Personally I don't know a whole lot about Warner, but I do feel that running Hillary would be a monumental mistake for Democrats in 08. To date I've been heavy on the Clark/Obama band wagon. However, the more I hear about Warner, the more impressed I am. Warner/Obama sounds better every day. Mrs. Clift has some interesting things to say about the current perceived differences of the two in their latest moves:
First Hillary:
If Hillary Clinton had asked my advice, I would have told her that cosponsoring a bill to make flag burning a crime is one step too far on her journey to the middle. Obviously, she feels strong enough in her appeal to Democrats that she can afford her Sister Souljah moment without endangering her core support.
Given her history, it makes political sense for Hillary to send cultural signals that she's much more conservative than her caricature. Still, her tap dance toward the right carries a cost.
It may not be determinative, but she's got to figure into her calculations an almost certain challenge from the left.
I don't think anyone can really deny that Hillary has come off lately as a bit less than sincere in her political endeavors. Many on the left, myself included, are becoming more and more concerned with her further alignment with the DLC type thought flow that has historically killed our party.
But what makes Warner a better option?
If there's a formula for electing a Democrat president, Warner is the latest iteration.
Warner is an appealing figure in a Jimmy Stewart kind of way--boyishly lanky with a toothy smile that he good-naturedly complained one journalist likened to "mah-jongg tiles."
Warner is a political novice compared to Hillary, but he's shown a deft feel for the cultural obstacles that trip up Democrats. A key to his winning the governor's race four years ago was his sponsorship of a team in the NASCAR Truck Series. It would have been a bit much to present himself as a devotee of stock-car racing, but he let NASCAR fans know he respected their culture. He did not venture beyond the line of authenticity, and it paid off.
The key there is "He did not venture beyond the line of authenticity." That seems very difficult for Democrats to understand. You have to be sincere when you try to connect to groups you might not normally connect with. Don't pander to them, and don't try and make yourself out to be something that you're not. In other words, if you've never played baseball before, don't try and show up to a spring training event in a baseball unifrom trying to act like "one of the guys". No one buys that. (Though I'm sure there are better examples, Dukakis in the tank comes to mind.) If you were instead to show up in casual duds and just walk around and talk to the players without acting like you are something special, you might get somewhere. Americans distrust politicans as a rule, so when politicans try to connect without complete sincerity it's usually detected. (At least by those that aren't drinking the kool-aid.)
Gotta add a DailyKos plug as well:
The leading liberal blog, Daily Kos, says forget Hillary: "Warner is the one to watch." It must drive Hillary bats to watch Warner glide seamlessly left while her lurches to the right are cast as opportunism.
Of course these are just small excerpts from the article, but hopefully it's enough to encourage you to read the whole thing and share your thoughts here about 08 (as early as it may be) and where we/you stand with Warner and Hillary.