Hillary Clinton believes she can expand the '08 map

[Brittain33]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/hillary-clinton-2016-map

Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, and Arizona.

Hubris, party of 1?

[Mehmentum]

We don't have any polling out of Indiana, so I have no clue there, but so far the head to head polling suggest she could win some of the other states, though which ones depends on who her opponent is.

For example, the Bush vs. Clinton map looks like a repeat of 2012.  Huckabee dominates in the South, but is trailing in Arizona.  Christie does horribly in the South, but does better in the northeast and midwest.

Obviously, its two years out and a lot could happen, but these states could definitely be in play.

[Mister Mets]

It's probably not true, but it's a smart thing for her to say.

[Lief 🗽]

Replace Indiana with North Carolina and it's a reasonable upper-end.

[hurricanehink]

But both Indiana and North Carolina were won in the '08 map. Not sure how including the former would be "expanding". 2012 map though, sure.

[JRP1994]

• Opens link
• Sees Arkansas and Georgia blue
• Sees North Carolina red
• Throws in the trash

[Mister Mets]

Gerald Ford and George HW Bush are probably the only people in semi-recent memory to not argue that they can expand the map from where it was four years earlier.

Everyone else will claim they can even if they know it's very unlikely.

[KCDem]

Gerald Ford and George HW Bush are probably the only people in semi-recent memory to not argue that they can expand the map from where it was four years earlier.

Everyone else will claim they can even if they know it's very unlikely.

Obama expanded the map...

[Bull Moose Base]

It's probably not true, but it's a smart thing for her to say.

Actually she didn't say it. And it's realistic she expands the map. Which is enough to make it true.

[King]

Democrats need to distance themselves from these comments. Someone believing they can win and win big goes against their platform.

[henster]

She needs to worry about holding Iowa and Colorado before trying to expand the map.

[Mehmentum]

She needs to worry about holding Iowa and Colorado before trying to expand the map.

Why not?

If in 2016, the polls are showing her performing better in, say Georgia than she is in Colorado, why shouldn't she focus more on Georgia?  Clinton happens to be weaker than Obama in Iowa and Colorado, that doesn't mean she isn't stronger than him in others.

[Devils30]

Arkansas isn't happening and North Carolina would flip if she wins by more than 4-5% nationally. If she won 54-45 nationally then Arizona Indiana Georgia Missouri is realistic. But it would take a bad Republican candidate as well.

[HAnnA MArin County]

Arkansas isn't happening and North Carolina would flip if she wins by more than 4-5% nationally. If she won 54-45 nationally then Arizona Indiana Georgia Missouri is realistic. But it would take a bad Republican candidate as well.

Isn't that all the Republicans have are bad candidates?

[Tender Branson]

MO and AZ could be the only states where she has a slight chance.

The 2014 election pretty much showed that Hillary is not going to win AR, KY or WV.

IN is out of the mix.

GA could look close in the polling, but is fool's gold.

[Mr. Illini]

This is her absolute ceiling, IMO.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

No way she wins AR. We need MO polls, but after Obama's double digit loss there I can't imagine her winning it in 2016. She would have both states in 2008 though.

[The_Doctor]

I want to see the numbers among whites for Hillary in 2016. If it's similar levels to Grimes and similar to Obama in 2012, as I would expect (if not a little worse), Indiana, Georgia, Arkansas, and Missouri are not probably viable enough to even throw money at to force the Republicans on the defense.

I want to see the strength of the Clinton messaging and appeal among whites before believing the hype.

[Mister Mets]

Gerald Ford and George HW Bush are probably the only people in semi-recent memory to not argue that they can expand the map from where it was four years earlier.

Everyone else will claim they can even if they know it's very unlikely.

Obama expanded the map...

As did other Presidents who came from the out party. And technically Dukakis and Romney.

It's less likely for Hillary because her party's been in the White House for two terms.

[Cory]

• Opens link
• Sees Arkansas and Georgia blue
• Sees North Carolina red
• Throws in the trash

[badgate]

The only thing Romney expanded was the square footage of his California residence.

[henster]

Really hoping this is just noise from her and she doesn't really plan to spend any money in those states. The focus needs to holding Obama states and NC there is no need for AR/MO/IN etc.

[RogueBeaver]

ROFLMAO.

[Ljube]

While she is busy "expanding the map", the Republicans will beat her in unexpanded swing states and take the presidency.
It's either stupidity or hubris and either is good for the Republicans.

[Lief 🗽]

I remember when Republicans and "serious" journalists made fun of Obama for thinking he could win Indiana, North Carolina, and even Virginia!

Of course no one seems to make fun when Republicans try to win states like Michigan that they haven't won since the 1980s.