Don’t frickin’ cry for me, New Hampshire

I know it is a long way a way and not important anyway, but Hilary's teary antics in New Hampshire have riled me. In fact, everything about Hilary and New Hampshire seems to bug me.

First, the way her victory has been presented as an incredible turn around after the defeat in Iowa. Bollocks. Clinton was well ahead in New Hampshire prior to Iowa. It would have been remarkable if she'd not won. In fact, in a few short days, she almost managed to lose it. In December, 13 out of the 18 polls (1) conducted in New Hampshire predicted a Clinton victory, with margins of victory anywhere up to 17%.

Even The Guardian (2) bought into the comeback nonsense, writing it up as "a stunning victory" over the "the seemingly unstoppable bandwagon of her rival Barack Obama." It was nothing of the kind. Yup, there was a big surge in Obama's favour in January, but that shouldn't obscure the fact that the state was in her pocket, and she still, somehow, almost managed to lose it. The Guardian shouldn't be encouraging this sort of dizziness.

Second, the crying thing - what was that all about?

If it was genuine, it raises questions about her ability character. If she falls apart at the prospect of losing a primary ballot, how is she going to cope with a presidential race, or with being president? If it was faked it was a lousy stunt, pandering to stereotypes of vulnerable women in need of support. Way to go, sister.

Either way, the suspicion that it was all put on for the camera will linger, and while it may have helped sway a few waverers in New Hampshire, it will have irritated a lot more across the country. They'll write it off as another piece of Clinton manipulation.

Either way, I can't see Ahmadinejad being moved by Hilary's tears.

1 - Courtesy of the aply named Real Clear Politics: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nh/new_hampshire_democratic_primary-194.html#polls.
2 - 'Clinton reveals turning point in race for White House,' by Simon Jeffery, Ewen MacAskill and Suzanne Goldenberg in The Guardian, 9th of January, 2008. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/hillaryclinton/story/0,,2237910,00.html)