Hillary Clinton has put herself in the seat of the old line Democrats. Democrats have always tried to style themselves as friends and allies to the common man. Bill Clinton did an excellent job of putting himself in that seat. Hillary has learned from the best.
She started her quest by cuddling up with the powerful labor unions. This act swung hundreds of thousands of blue collar workers into her column. Promising to promote the economy and the needs of workers, Mrs. Clinton persuaded big labor to endorse her candidacy.
Being married to Bill Clinton who is a rags to riches story has not hurt her appeal to hard working blue collar America. Bill was regarded as a member of the class of common working people. His humble beginnings and being raised by a single mom resonated with blue collar workers across the nation. Hillary has been able to tap into some of this popularity for her White House run.
She has stood strongly for civil rights and the economic rights of the working class. This may not be enough to offset the perception that she has become a Washington insider. Obama has so far been able to take away the non-union blue collar vote from her. To accomplish this he has made himself to seem like the outsider who came up from the ranks to represent the ordinary people of the United States.
Hillary has not yet been able to shake off the insider image. At this stage, it is unlikely that she will. This will not hurt her against the Republican candidate, but it has cost her too many votes during the primary season. This one flaw has forced her to put her hope in the superdelegate votes to help sway the nomination to her in the convention.
Somehow, Hillary has manage to put herself in the same light as every other member of the highly educated elite. Mr. Obama's social and educational credentials are nearly identical to Mrs. Clinton's, but he clearly has the inside track at this point in the campaign.
This has put Hillary Clinton in the difficult spot of needing to appeal to the masses, but seeming more a part of the institution. She could return to baking cookies or being the dutiful wife, but this would lessen her image as being a capable world leader. Democrats cannot win nominations by swaying only the rich, famous, and powerful in the party.
Hillary could benefit from some personal problem that would bring public sympathy to her side. She would then seem human and have a hope of regaining momentum with the blue collar voters. However, at this time, it would be too little and too late to change the outcome of this race.
