As Sullivan points out, this race would’ve been much closer had Senator Clinton not resorted to attacks based on divisive politics. Farrakhan and the like.
It’s worth recalling what this primary came to be about, because of a self-conscious decision by the Clintons to adopt the tactics and politics of the people who persecuted and hounded them in the 1990s. It was indeed in the end about smearing and labeling Obama as a far-left, atheist, elite, pansy Godless snob fraud. That was almost all it came to be about. It was the Clintons’ core message and core belief. And if anywhere would have proved its salience, it would surely have been beleaguered and depressed central and western Pennsylvania; and it would surely have worked with white ethnic voters over 50.
You know, I’m all for tough campaigning. Against the goddamn Republicans.
Good job, Senator Clinton!
