# What will Clinton do if she loses to Obama? Continue being a Senator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 9, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924 "2008-02-09T14:48:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/21 "2008-02-09T18:28:15Z")
If Clinton loses the primary, she will continue to serve as NY’s senator, where she is quite popular, and she will be a Senator of great stature for many years to come. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/22 "2008-02-09T18:30:56Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] As for why people are coming out for Hillary - because she is just as historic a candidate as Barack, minus the likability IMHO. And being the establishment candidate carrys a lot of weight with a lot of people still. [/QUOTE] No, no, no, you’ve got it backwards. [Barack Obama is the “establishment candidate”](http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-15-bill-clinton-nevada_N.htm). I mean really, if you can’t even get your facts straight. . . 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/23 "2008-02-09T18:43:43Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] No, no, no, you’ve got it backwards. [Barack Obama is the “establishment candidate”](http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-15-bill-clinton-nevada_N.htm). I mean really, if you can’t even get your facts straight. . . 😛 [/QUOTE] Yeah my heads on straight… :o ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/24 "2008-02-09T19:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Who? McCain’s got the GOP nod all but taken care of. Obama has the best chance in all reality of becoming the next president… So who are you referring to? Huck? [/QUOTE] How do you figure that? 😕 Wishful thinking? Hillary has a small but significant lead over Obama for the nomination. And then neither of them has a walk over McCain. Sure, they both would defeat Huckabee handily. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/25 "2008-02-09T19:49:58Z")
I’m listening to the pundits, slate, time, cnn, wash post etc…etc…numbers are one thing, but if BHO does what is expected in the next several days it’s going to dramaticlly change the race. I’m making inferences on what I am reading… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/26 "2008-02-09T21:59:54Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] As for why people are coming out for Hillary - because she is just as historic a candidate as Barack, minus the likability IMHO. [/quote] ??? Even Obama has said “You’re likeable _enough_, Hillary.” Damned gentlemanly of him, wasn’t that? > [@](#): > > And being the establishment candidate carrys a lot of weight with a lot of people still. As does having the media-corps Heathers declare you to be that carry a lot of weight with a lot of other people. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/27 "2008-02-09T22:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I’m listening to the pundits, slate, time, cnn, wash post etc…etc…numbers are one thing, but if BHO does what is expected in the next several days it’s going to dramaticlly change the race. I’m making inferences on what I am reading… [/QUOTE] Ah, you just had to play the “race” card, didn’t you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/28 "2008-02-09T22:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I’m listening to the pundits, slate, time, cnn, wash post etc…etc…numbers are one thing, but if BHO does what is expected in the next several days it’s going to dramaticlly change the race. I’m making inferences on what I am reading… [/QUOTE] I wish I shared your optimism. But the states that bode well for Obama in the rest of February simply don’t have enough delegates to propel him very far in front. Then Ohio and Texas would give the advantage back to Hillary. If the results tonight are blowouts, maybe that will be a sign of change. Too often in this race Obama has piled up nice poll numbers, and for whatever reason the actual votes don’t come in as well. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/29 "2008-02-09T22:10:59Z")
Too many of Obama’s won states so far are ones he’d have little chance of carrying in November for me not to be concerned about that old chestnut, electability. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/30 "2008-02-09T22:19:26Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I wish I shared your optimism. But the states that bode well for Obama in the rest of February simply don’t have enough delegates to propel him very far in front. Then Ohio and Texas would give the advantage back to Hillary. If the results tonight are blowouts, maybe that will be a sign of change. Too often in this race Obama has piled up nice poll numbers, and for whatever reason the actual votes don’t come in as well. [/QUOTE] Don’t buy into the media spin. If you look at polling _averages_, rather than the polls most favorable to Obama, he actually does very well relative to his numbers (he significantly outperformed polls in Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, for example). Anyway, the total number of delegates allocated through the rest of February is 596. Between them Ohio and Texas only have 389 delegates. It’s entirely possible for Obama to build up a big lead through the rest of this month that Hillary can’t overcome on the 4th of March. Just to be clear, I still think Hillary has the inside track to the nomination, but it’s far from unlikely that Obama winds up winning. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/31 "2008-02-09T22:26:14Z")
I think Hillary is well poised to be a major ex-political figure like Jimmy Carter. She is at her best when she talks about education, and I hope she continues to fight for schools. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/32 "2008-02-09T22:34:37Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I wish I shared your optimism. But the states that bode well for Obama in the rest of February simply don’t have enough delegates to propel him very far in front. Then Ohio and Texas would give the advantage back to Hillary. If the results tonight are blowouts, maybe that will be a sign of change. Too often in this race Obama has piled up nice poll numbers, and for whatever reason the actual votes don’t come in as well. [/QUOTE] Apparently you haven’t seen [my post about the Nebraska caucuses](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9458543&postcount=125) yet. It’s shaping up to be a _landslide_. And [this just in](http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/131511.asp?fom=blog_last3) from Washington: > [@](#): > > The mood is celebratory if chaotic at Washington Middle School at 21st Avenue and South Jackson. A racially and age-diverse group of hundreds of Democrats, many with children in tow, gathered in a stuffy lunchroom at 1 p.m. (Far more diversified that Seattle overall.) > > There are a handful of Clinton signs here, but the energy for Obama is palpable. Some Obaba backers carry handmade signs and a joyful spirit, talking of history-making in the process and change. Nothing official yet, of course, but I think we have cause for our optimism. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/33 "2008-02-09T22:46:46Z")
I knew Hillary would run for President in 1992. That’s why this is relevant. Everyone knows that the Presidency is the Clinton prize and always has been. We knew that the NY seat was all about that. That’s why this is more relevant with her than with McCain and Obama. If McCain loses he’s retirement age anyway. If Obama loses he’s young and has his whole career ahead of him. I think Clinton will wait and see who wins the general if she loses. If McCain wins she can run again in 2012, if Obama wins well that’s a bit tougher. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/34 "2008-02-09T23:04:01Z")
I think she might have to accept that the country is ready for a woman president and that she is fully capable of being that president but that it won’t happen anyway because lots of people really don’t like her. Even if it’s not fair that they don’t like her, they don’t. I expect to see a black president and a woman president in my lifetime. I think the first woman president will be a Republican. I think Olympia Snowe would be a good crossover candidate. For that matter, she’d be a good running mate for McCain. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/35 "2008-02-09T23:11:10Z")
Totally agree with you about Olympia Snowe. I’d vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/36 "2008-02-09T23:11:49Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] Apparently you haven’t seen [my post about the Nebraska caucuses](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9458543&postcount=125) yet. It’s shaping up to be a _landslide_. And [this just in](http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/131511.asp?fom=blog_last3) from Washington: Nothing official yet, of course, but I think we have cause for our optimism. [/QUOTE] I have never wanted so desperately to be proven wrong. Can’t wait to see the results come in. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/37 "2008-02-09T23:16:05Z")
Was there any question about Obama carrying Chocolate City? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/38 "2008-02-09T23:19:19Z")
Wow. Just fucking WOW. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself. Too bad you’re clearly not. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/39 "2008-02-09T23:20:29Z")
It’s an old, traditional, well-established, and in this case illustrative nickname. Don’t flaunt your ignorance of that. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924/40 "2008-02-09T23:24:22Z")
It’s Washington STATE we’re talking about, not DC. So much for telling other people not to flaunt their ignorance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-clinton-do-if-she-loses-to-obama-continue-being-a-senator/436924.md?page=3)