Hillary Clinton came out a clear-cut dominant figure in the CNN-hosted first Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night, as she articulated her views on some of the key national and international issues with ease and confidence – traits her supporters had long wanted to see.
Mrs. Clinton appeared to be a person in-charge of the Democratic discourse during much of the time, and with a lot of political aptitude.
But does it mean a smooth sailing for her in the months ahead of the 2016 presidential election? What does Mrs. Clinton’s surge mean for Vice President Joseph Biden, who is said to be consulting with family for a possible presidential run? And in addition to the question over email use on private server by Mrs. Clinton as secretary of state, what else are the Republicans looking at to aim their political guns at the leading Democratic candidate?
On the first point, there are many variables that might ultimately test the grit and leadership qualities of Mrs. Clinton, in terms of her conversation with the American public, weary of political frictions in Washington, and constant noises about wars overseas.
Will she continue to have a more candid discourse with the Americans, is a question awaiting answer. Mrs. Clinton has to show leadership on one hand, and on the other, she would not like to overly criticize or oppose Obama’s policies. She has expressed opposition to some aspects of Trans Pacific Trade deal but was careful enough not to criticize President Obama during the debate.
With President Bill Clinton Photo: By White House photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By consciously not distancing herself from Obama’s successful policies, Mrs. Clinton would naturally resonate with Democrats. As well as, a calculated affirmation of the Obama White House policies, where she agrees, and a careful act of tightrope walking, where she differs, might shield Mrs. Clinton against possible vigorous defense of the Obama Administration’s record by VP Biden, if he chooses to enter the fray.
Until she wins Democratic nomination, Mrs. Clinton is likely to pursue a delicate fine line in exhibiting leadership and not making a sudden splash. But that may be a tough calling over some unfolding developments like the ever-deteriorating Middle Eastern conundrum, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the U.S. preeminence on the world stage with a dive into Syrian abyss.
For Vice President Biden, the moment for decision may not have disappeared completely with the first demonstration of brilliance by Mrs. Clinton, who clearly drew on her years of experience as diplomat.
While Mrs. Clinton’s performance has challenged the idea of Biden being a bigger Democratic hope, the debate itself cannot be termed as one decisive factor in the face of intense emerging political season. Republicans would try to challenge her on many issues, as vowed by Jeb Bush, if he wins nomination versus Hillary Clinton.
President Obama confers with Secretary Clinton during 2009 NATO summit in France. Photo: By Pete Souza, official White House photographer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Yet, Mrs. Clinton outsmarted Sanders, and even put the Vermont Senator on the back foot on the issue of guns, pointing out that gun violence claims 90 lives a day. The former First Lady also brought into focus that Sanders had voted to defend gun makers from lawsuits. In the words of The New York Times, Mrs. Clinton turned a “showdown that had been expected to scrutinize her character into a forceful critique of his (Sander’s) record.”
But Sanders also carried the moment when he attacked Mrs. Clinton’s relatively mild stand on resolving the Wall Street’s stranglehold on American lives. She also faced a probing by a Democratic rival about her vote in favor of George W Bush’s 2003 Iraq war. How Mrs. Clinton deals with criticism of her past and recent statements on Iran and other foreign policy and international security issues including support for an assertive military interventionist approach – termed hawkish by some analysts – remains to be seen. Her fellow democrats opposed her idea of enforcing a no-fly zone over Syria at a time of heightened Russian involvement.
Republicans, faced with a lack of resonance on immigration and some international issues like the U.S. taking in more Syrian refugees, will now expect something to come out of the Congressional hearings regarding 2012 Benghazi attacks on Mrs. Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as the country’s top diplomat.
What stances Republican hopefuls including Donald Trump and Jeb Bush may adopt, will have a double-edged prospect – they could either distinguish themselves with political resonance across the United States or be content with relating to the Republican base. The requirement of a bold new thinking that may connect with demographic realities is likely to test a majority of the Republican White House aspirants.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mrs. Clinton would seek to make the most of Republican fault lines as their establishment candidate Jeb Bush fares far below expectations, and Trump has been unexpectedly setting the tone and tenor on some hot issues facing America.
Currently, however, it is Hillary Clinton, who has won the limelight in her quest to secure a Democratic nomination – and with that grasp a big political moment to become the first woman president of the United States.
But, analysts say, she will have to be consistent in her performance.
“I think that Hillary Clinton was very strong last night. I think she was very fluent – fluid, which is not always the case with her,” David Axelrod former advisor to President Obama told CNN while making the point that she looked quite comfortable on the stage.
“But she did – the first thing to persuade people to believe is to make them believe that you believe. And I think she crossed that first hurdle last night. She has to continue doing that,” Axelrod added, speaking as the channel’s commentator in New Day program.
She is going to dominate the upcoming debates as well. Jeb Bush fares far below expectations . Hilary has won the limelight in her quest to secure a Democratic nomination – and with that grasp a big political moment to become the first woman president of the United States. David Axelrod has aptly describe her performance : “But she did – the first thing to persuade people to believe is to make them believe that you believe. And I think she crossed that first hurdle last night. She has to continue doing that,” .