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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has lost her fear factor, arguably the former first lady’s most potent political weapon since she launched her presidential bid nearly 16 months ago. Lawmakers in recent weeks have been flocking to her rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), despite the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy and Obama’s contentious “bitter” comments. In addition, they have been outspoken in their criticism of Clinton as she has vowed to stay in the race. That is in sharp contrast to much of 2007, when she was viewed as the inevitable Democratic nominee and the odds-on favorite to be the next commander in chief. Lawmakers at the state and local level endorsed the New York senator throughout last year, as did many Democratic political strategists and members of Congress. One of the few Democratic lobbyists supporting Obama last summer told The Hill, “The Democrats who are supporting Obama are backing him because they want to. Democrats are backing Clinton because they feel they have to.” When she was the front-runner, Obama backers were cautious about what they said in public, with some stating privately that they feared the Clintons would remember every negative word uttered about them. Clinton supporters strongly dispute those characterizations and claim she is by far the most qualified candidate to become president. But there are clear indications that, as she slipped in the polls, her support in Congress eroded, and more lawmakers have been willing to take on Clinton in the media. The critical comments made this week were far more biting than right before the New York senator was expected to lose in New Hampshire. And they were also more critical than before other Clinton must-wins in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. While some in the media wrote off Clinton at various junctures of the race, many Democrats bit their tongues. They were not sold that the battle was over then. But they are now. Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), an Obama backer, did not hold back when he said, “It’s obvious that the nomination process is over.” Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), the powerful Judiciary Committee chairman who endorsed Obama early in the race and fought impeachment charges against then-President Bill Clinton, was also blunt: “Bill and Hillary Clinton can become genuine American leaders by ending this in a way that reflects positively on them.” He added that, if the former first lady remains in the race, criticism will mount. Clinton backers have also expressed doubt about the race continuing. Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), a Clinton supporter, said this week that she should halt her campaign: “I urge her to take the day off and think very seriously about doing what’s best for the country and best for the party.” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), another Clinton backer, called on her New York colleague to detail her strategy after losing North Carolina and barely winning Indiana. Intimidating power has long been a staple of influential politicians, and the Clintons have been no exception. They have been the most dominant family in the Democratic Party since 1992, but their hold on the party took hits when Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) backed Obama and black voters overwhelmingly sided with the Illinois senator.
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