Historically, when Presidential candidates cry, it makes headlines. Occasionally, it destroys a candidate’s chances for victory.

In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate Edmund Muskie stood in front of the offices of the Manchester Union Leader to mount a counter-offensive against the paper which had harshly attacked he and his wife, at times in personal ways. An emotional Muskie appeared to cry as he attacked the paper in defense of his and the episode has been credited for his campaign’s collapse after New Hampshire – a state he won but badly underperformed his own expectations.

There is less chance that Clinton’s “moment” will have such an impact on her campaign and could even work in her favor. Hillary Clinton, unlike her husband, has had trouble connecting to voters on a positive, emotional level. But Muskie’s tears (he later said it was melting snowflakes on his cheeks) ran nearly ten days before the primary, giving it time to sink in. Today’s response by Clinton won’t go unnoticed by a long shot but also may not have a chance to marinate among voters.

What will Hillary Clinton’s tears foretell? In the YouTube era, her tears have gone viral. Speculation will abound.

The event as it unfolded in New Hampshire.



Parallels to the famous scene in “Gone with the Wind?”



Or should we just “Leave Hillary Alone!”