Americans Away From Home

She's cried. She's sighed. She's even tried to be Obama, mocking him, as, if only the celestial ceiling would open for her moment of need.

She's attacked, she's backtracked. She's done Proud Mary, teetering soft and rough.

And she brought fear into it. Is being first to hawk a fear commercial really what we need?

After an 11-Primary losing streak, she sends out press scrub that would make Mitt Romney proud. Remember Mitt's refined take on not winning a primary? He never said, "We lost"; he said, "I wanted the Gold, but I got the Silver."

It's a numbers game now. So her staff's sitting around, figuring how much is the max she can not win by in Texas or Ohio to claim victory. Or the seesaw game: if she's down in one, but up in the other, can she purloin enough to claim her game's still on?

Oh, that's what George W. Bush did in 2000.

Here's what Hillary hasn't done: She hasn't figured out how to inspire. She doesn't catch our hearts.

Engage. Grab. Captivate. Motivate. Let dreams soar.

Hillary can try YouTube breakfasts with Bill, and Saturday Night Live drop-ins, but she just isn't inspiring.

You've got to reach them if you want them to vote for you.
You've got to bring them to you.
You've got to say, "Hey! I'm the one who can do it for you."

Americans are starved for hope. Hillary just doesn't have the filling for our eight-year-starving souls.

It's not just the campaign run not-so-smartly. It's not just the musical chairs staffers. It's not even the payback spouse. It's that quality of spirit that renews hope.

Hillary may have mettle, but she doesn't have jazz.

Carole