by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Octorber 3, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

en. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) quest for the Democratic presidential nomination got brighter as she raised $27 million, far eclipsing runner-up Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Il.) $19 million, whose novelty is beginning to fade. Obama's performance in the Sept. 26 debate at Dartmouth College supplied more momentum to Hillary, creating an air of inevitability. While there's still time between now and the Jan. 15, 2008 Iowa Caucuses, Barack finds himself playing catch-up, a dangerous game if he wants to retain the possibility of accepting No. 2 on the ticket. Barack must not get too negative while trying to make up ground or risk alienating the Clinton campaign. More donors are beginning to flock to Hillary because, so far, her campaign and performance in televised debates have been surprisingly mistake free. Her recent laughter has disarmed her critics.

      Hillary's recent fundraising success indicates that a growing group Democratic voters believe she will become the Party's nominee. When President George W. Bush echoed that view last week but thought she'd lose the general election, it underscored to Republicans the growing reality of another Clinton presidency. Former House Speaker and conservative pundit Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) predicted Hillary would become the next president, by a slim margin. Republicans generally believe that Hillary would galvanize the base better than any other candidate. But recent statements by religious conservative Richard Viguerie suggests that, unless a new candidate emerges, the Christian coalition might support a third-party candidate or sit-out the '08 election. GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani's pro-choice stance doesn't hold interest with religious conservatives, whose pro-life stance inspires the base.

      While she still presents a “buttoned up” image, Hillary has been breaking loose with hearty laughter, throwing critics for a loop. Her laughter, while criticized by some a phony, reveals a more human side, winning applause from her audience. Hillary shows she can take a page out of the Reagan playbook, known for invoking laughter and humor in overly serious dialogue. “With tough subjects, I use humor as a social lubricant to move situations forward,” said Hillary advisor Fred Hochberg. “Laughter is part of having a sense of humor and has that same ability, to move things along,” hinting Hillary's working on her sense of humor. If nothing else, laughing shows that you're having fun, something contagious for presidential candidates. Acting too serious backfires by focusing on the negative, leaving the audience turned off and unwilling to hear new ideas.

      Creating the perfect storm for Hillary's campaign, Bush continues to ask for more funding for the Iraq War. Bush's recent request of $190 billion timed with the House's attempt to pass legislation to fund health insurance for children, drove more voters from the GOP. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll indicates that an overwhelming number of possible voters opposed Bush's request for more funding. Opposition stems largely from Bush's assertion that there's no money for discretionary programs like children's healthcare. Feeling the heat, GOP candidates have lagged far behind Democrats in fund-raising goals. Hillary collected nearly double the contributions of the top GOP candidates, attesting, if nothing else, to donors' interests in taking the country in a different direction. Hillary has already saved $17 million for the general election, way ahead of fellow Democrats and the GOP.

      Hillary's performance in the last TV debate and on recent interviews shows she's becoming more media-savvy, where form trumps substance. Showing more humor helps fundraising by making her more appealing to prospective voters. Responding to criticism with humor was the trademark of late President Ronald Reagan, known for disarming his opposition with good humor and clever one-liners. There's no better standard for TV interviews or debating than Reagan's cheerful, bubbly disposition. Hillary's overly serious past made her look stiff and overly serious. Her new more lighthearted approach adds credibility by creating a more receptive audience to her ideas, no matter how controversial. Showing humor and laughing heartily has created problems for Hillary's critics, stuck with her stereotype of being overly serious. Hillary's money tree seems best nurtured by her sense of humor.

      Hillary's fellow Democratic and GOP candidates aren't too amused by her newfound sense of humor. It's rubbing the public the right way and generating unprecedented amounts of campaign cash. There's just no substitute to watching someone enjoying themselves, whether in the TV hot-seat or on the campaign trail. “Seems pretty basic—that's the way she laughs,” said Hochberg. “She has a good sense of humor about the process,” learning, as the smart one's do, that humor disarms critics and makes the audience more receptive. It's no fluke that she's surpassed Barack's prodigious fundraising success. Instead of spouting more facts, Hillary learned that making yourself more likeable goes along way. Her fundraising success indicates that her message is getting through. She's found spontaneity and laughter the key to getting more results.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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