Hillary In A Box

Hillary Clinton is in a quandary when it comes to beating back a fierce challenge from Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The talk of political activists has been the nasty, personal tone of the recent campaign exchange between Clinton and Obama--as they bitterly battle over truth and consistency.

The exchange ultimately damages Clinton more than Obama in the upcoming general election.

First, Hillary's style is beginning to evoke memories of the "burn the villages and salt the fields" campaigning style of the Clinton machine of the 90s. With the voters demanding change, and frustrated over what they feel is a unresponsive government, I am doubtful voters will want to go "back to the future" with another dose of a Clinton-Clinton White House.

Republican candidates know this and took great pleasure in tying the Clintons together in Thursday's Florida debate. And Republicans are increasingly heartened in general about their presidential prospects.

It's entirely fine for candidates to highlight each other's weaknesses in the presidential nomination process--after all, this is a process by which a political party picks its strongest candidate. Also, if all the dirty laundry is aired early, it becomes less of an issue in November.

However, Clinton already is having massive trouble pulling in crossover voters--something that is no problem for Obama. She may ultimately win the hearts and minds of committed Democratic activists but lose the support of Independents and soft Republicans.

At the same time, Clinton can't continually just stand and take body blows from Obama's campaign--she must aggressively respond or she'll hit the canvas.

She is definitely in bad place at this point in the campaign.