She also clearly makes a stand against continuing to rely to any large degree on non-renewable resources and giving the scientific community more authority and right. Clinton Platform;

Clinton's platform is currently relying very heavily upon the idea of helping the middle class. Her campaign bus is currently touring Iowa with a slogan of "The Middle Class Express." She is actively seeking middle class support, and her platform is dominated by issues resolving to make those who currently feel invisible in the current administration. She is speaking to the idea that the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing. The sentiment is a strongly held belief in middle America and the platform is strong, as it speaks to the current feeling of America.

If you place your mouse over the numbers next to Clinton's opening picture on her official website her position statement is detailed in her top ten campaign positions and points. 1. To end the war in Iraq. 2. To achieve universal, affordable healthcare. 3. To create good jobs for middle class Americans with the right investments in modern infrastructure and in new clean, energy-efficient technologies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil and combat global warming. 4. To provide world-class education form pre-kindergarten to affordable college for all. 5. To promote 21st century scientific innovation, including stem cell research. 6. To return to fiscal responsibility, move back toward a balanced budget, and safeguard Social Security and Medicare for future generations. 7. To restore competence and end cronyism in government, with a president who cares about and works for Americans who have been invisible to this administration. 8. To combat terrorism, strengthen our military, and care for our veterans. 9. To restore America's standing in the world and repair our alliances. 10. To build a more tolerant, united America, working to achieve big goals again, with a president who's ready for change and ready to lead from day one.

Though many of these statements may seem like simple talking points they are just that simple, concise and clear. Any weakness would likely be addressed by saying that her statements are lofty and look like those made by people seeking big election results rather than real change. The strengths on the other hand, are also significant, as her platform clearly responds to everything she thinks is important and skirts issues she believes should not be part of the process. She is responding to current American sentiment and she seems to possess the spirit of America in her statements. The platform conforms to her democratic party platform but it also speaks to her experience as a senator, first lady of both Arkansas and the U.S. And citizen of the U.S.

Most of her platform statements seem doable, if she is not trapped by a Republican congress, and she does have clear action plans, especially for sensitive issues such as Iraq, Social Security, Health care and diplomacy. The resolution to combat so many serious issues, may prove difficult in the future, especially since she makes it clear that she is not interested in cutting taxes to help the middle class but would likely raise taxes to improve services and demand change in other areas. One strong statement she makes involves national fiscal responsibility, an issue that can not likely be resolved without new or existing taxes being paid. All of the problems she has outlined as important need address, and yet it is also clear that they are all very large social changes that may not be cured, per say any time soon.

Reporting on Clinton is largely favorable, or have been up to this point. As the campaign begins to heat up and the democratic candidates, seeking endorsement by the party begin to challenge each other on issues the situation has become more critical of Clinton. Articles on Yahoo news, many of which are AP sourced, in the last few weeks have been favorable of her lead as well as stressing her lead in polls in Arkansas and her rivalry with Obama in the polls elsewhere. The main emphasis of recent Clinton coverage is that of her rivalry with Obama and the fact that he has recently begun to openly criticize her. Television and

This will likely change as the election grows closer.
Debates within the Democratic party, have as of today taken a turn for attacking Clinton, as all the candidates in the debates, have begun to stress that she is inconstant and therefore not a strong leader. They have been especially hard on her war vote history. She has been stressed and cool and collected and firm on her positions, stressing that the candidates are attacking her because she is ahead in the polls. Debates with Republicans are clearly more conflicting as she is clearly responding to democratic opinion and platform stands, many which directly contradict the goals of the current administration and the republican platform. Clinton has always to me seemed a strong debater, able to return debate issues to those that are the most important. I do not believe that my opinion differs to much from media reporting, as they seem to be currently stressing not her actual abilities but others attacks of her.

Candidate Finance Info:

Clinton has raised more money than any other candidate at this stage. She is slightly behind Obama in the number of 200+ dollar donors she has received funds from but in every other area she is the leader. She has received the most in the 2,300 category as well as the 4,600 category. The majority of the total contributions 65% have been received from the 2,300 category. Gender is broken down for Clinton this way: Percent of Funds, Number of Contributors Total Amount, Female 44.2% 17524 $26,528,674 Male 55.8% 17717 $33,426,882. Nevada has contributed $458,973 to the Clinton Campaign.

In Millions of Dollars, According to the FEC

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/hillary.clinton.html

Opinion Polls:

Clinton is clearly ahead in the opinion polls.

Polls

Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points. Based on interviews with 1,017 adult Americans. The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted September 7-9, 2007. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/hillary.clinton.html

In a recent Gallop poll Clinton's growing lead in the election has been associated with women's support. In another Gallop poll Clinton is given the poll standing as the only candidate that has good health care answers.

Candidate Advertising:

It is clear that Clinton has superior advertising, as she is plugged in to the most modern set of electronic and traditional resources of any candidate to date. Her platform is relatively friendly and her appearances, on advertising are readily available even though it is still relatively early and television and radio have not been blanketed.

The candidate narrates in some adds and also appears on screen, at her many public speaking engagements.

The ads are available on the internet at many locations some popular some specific to the candidate.

Her Campaign slogan seems to be "ready to lead."

Clinton does not mention opponents unless in defense of herself, thus far.

The candidate is the sponsor of almost all the ads I have seen, thus far.

Nevada Campaigning:

Clinton has definitely increased her appearances in Nevada, but she seems to be sticking to democratic venues, rather than general public campaigning, like that she has done in Iowa. She has promised to help Nevada's working families, balance work and home life. She also announced her American Retirement Accounts plan in Nevada.

Evaluation & Synthesis:

believe that Clinton truly is the best, most prepared candidate for the job. I believe her platform is general enough but responsive to pressing social needs, that many Americans are thinking about and I believe this will help her a great deal. She has also seems to set aside issues that she does not feel are election issues, such as gay marriage, taxes and abortion for those that are more election worthy such as Iraq, health care and economic reform. If I were to change anything it would be the demonstration of active change that reflects her desire to change the election funding system, through future reform. I like her plan to exit Iraq rationally and soon. I also really like her rational take on diplomacy, as America does have a black eye and we need to be talking to everyone. I least like her stand on taxes as I do believe that middle class relief is still needed though rich people should be taxed more equitably.

If I were to change any platform issue I would address her stand on Social Security. Though I do not agree with Bush on anything else I do believe that allowing individuals to divert Social Security tax to private retirement funds, as individuals do need direct control of these funds and they need to understand where these funds go and count on them in the future. This would cost the government funds, but in a situation of a fiscal balance, which Clinton seeks this would not be a big issue, as we would not need to…