Clinton Plays Goldilocks

Hillary Clinton works hard to stay in the middle, presenting herself as the "just right" choice between extremes by modulating her language incredibly carefully and emphasizing that she is the only candidate with the experience to effect change. The Politico's Roger Simon looks at a barnstormer so consistent that the length of her stump speech varies by only seconds.

That speech mentions "change" 26 times as Clinton strives to claim it as her own: “Change is just a word without the strength and experience to make it happen,” she says. Simon sees that as a jab at Barack Obama and John Edwards, who can talk change but wouldn't be able to make it happen—at least according to Clinton. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)