Is She a Good Candidate?

Earlier today, I lamented that Hillary Clinton is in the same position as 2008. Yesterday, I took a critical look at Bernie Sanders' candidacy. Looking over both, I guess it begs the same questions be asked about Hillary's candidacy as Bernie's- Can she win, can she govern?

Let's start with the winning part, as she would have to do so to ever govern. Hillary Clinton's electoral record does not provide a clear-cut answer here. There certainly is an argument against her ability to win. She lost in 2008's primary, and could possibly do so in 2016. Her polling with independents is down from her highs of about five years ago. Republican trumped up investigations have put her credibility in question with some portion of the electorate. She does not do as well in current polling against the Republicans as Sanders does, though that of course is tied to her taking attacks that he is not.

There are good arguments that she can win though. She is viewed as tougher on terrorism than any Republicans, Bernie, or even the President, by the public. She is viewed as competent and experienced. She was recently voted the most admired woman in America. She has been through the pressure cooker of American elections and Republican attacks. She won a tough Senate race, and contested a primary process against a President who is very popular within the Democratic Party. Her track record provides evidence that she is up to the fight. She also happens to have the most popular surrogate in America.

So this gets down to my main criteria- can she expand her base, or win over independents. Unlike with Bernie, where it will mostly be about the base, Clinton has a tougher choice to make. On the one hand, there is a solid argument to be made that a feminist appeal to women could put Clinton over the top. On the other hand, Clinton could have a better appeal to moderates and independents than President Obama, by wrapping herself in her husband's Presidential record. On the other hand, there are arguments against both of those strategies- from her currently low numbers with independents to her career long problems with the activist-left. At best, her electability is a question mark. She is probably a safe bet to eventually beat back the crazier Republican candidates, but that doesn't currently show up in polling.

Second off- can she govern. This seems much more clear to me. She was known as an effective Senator, someone that worked across the aisle, even with political enemies. She managed negotiations with world leaders across the globe on delicate matters like nuclear weapons, the environment, and the economy. She has a solid record that suggests she can achieve her goals. Some on the left would question if her goals are progressive enough, or consistent enough. Most on the right would suggest her goals aren't good for the country. I am just fine with her policy goals.

All of this leads to a conclusion that isn't obvious or clear, but isn't nearly as bad as the media would have you believe. Hillary could be an electable candidate, if her campaign gets it together and runs well. She may be anyway. She probably would do a very good job governing too. For those reasons, I'm backing her.