Could this be Hillary's anti-Scream, her anti-Macaca moment? Could this video clip save her faltering campaign?

If enough people watch this remarkable video clip, perhaps Senator Hillary Clinton can regain her footing and momentum as a campaigner, and vanquish Barack Obama.

In the clip, a fatigued Senator Clinton answers a voter's softball question about how she keeps it together on the campaign trail. As she gives her heartfelt response -- talking about the opportunities she has received from this country, and her desire to make a difference -- HRC appears to be on the verge of tears. She doesn't actually cry; she is a strong woman. But she comes quite close, perfectly close, and to powerful effect.

I'm reminded that Hillary Clinton is at her most effective politically when she's at her most personal. Remember how her political career was launched, after she was humanized as the wronged woman in L'Affaire Lewinsky?

Before I die, I'd like to see a feature film based on the successful campaign for the Oval Office of President Hillary Rodham Clinton. It would be like a sequel to Primary Colors, based on Bill Clinton's dramatic quest for the presidency.

After her loss in the Iowa caucuses, Hillary is on the ropes. It looks like all is lost. But then she has The Breakdown -- and turns everything around, immediately and miraculously. She wins the American people back from Barack Obama. She trounces him in New Hampshire, sweeps South Carolina and Nevada, and sews it all up on Super Tuesday.

And what about The Breakdown? We learn near the end of the film that the apparent choking-up and barely suppressed sobs were a mere ruse: a brilliant performance by a female politician more devious, calculating and Machiavellian than any man.

P.S. In the film, HRC should be played by one of the great screen actresses -- maybe Meryl Streep or Annette Bening. This actress goes on to win an Oscar for her portrayal of President Clinton. And when she shows up at the Academy Awards, they use the movie version of the video clip as her Oscar clip. Perfection.

Teary Hillary: 'Very Personal For Me' [ABC News]

Comments

[Blogonaut]

I actually started tearing up myself as I watched it.

Well, almost.

[Dennis]

We don't need a cry-baby president. First the "boys" were picking on her, then she "almost cries" because she finished 3rd in Iowa. It's easy being one of 100 Senators, always able to shift the blame (usually to Bush), but the Presidency is no place for the emotionally weak.

[ted]

I agree with Dennis. There's no crying in the White House!

The commentators made this out be much more memorable than it was. It was barely stirring.

And, turn this around: would any male candidate who showed wear and tear from the campaign trail, especially to the point of being drawn to tears by it, be looked upon favorably by anyone? It would be precisely the opposite, and would reflect disfavorably on their capacity to execute the office.

HRC didn't show anything special here, and it shouldn't be trumpeted as such.