--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at that 2008 Democratic…" description: "\"If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no more formidable, unstoppable candidate - other than an incumbent President - in modern times ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png" --- # If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no… ![“If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no more formidable, unstoppable candidate - other than an incumbent President - in modern times than Hillary Clinton.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png) > “If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no more formidable, unstoppable candidate - other than an incumbent President - in modern times than Hillary Clinton.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that Hillary Clinton was an exceptionally strong and difficult opponent, comparable only to an incumbent president. **In simple terms:** Clinton was a powerful opponent, like an incumbent. Key Takeaway Recognize strong competition and prepare accordingly. Themes politics election competition Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - primary campaign - media analysis - voter outreach - debate preparation Key Concepts incumbency electoral dynamics campaign strategy Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling a candidate as “unstoppable” affect campaign tactics? - What factors could diminish an incumbent’s advantage? A Different Perspective The assessment may overlook other candidates' strengths or changing political contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Primary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-primary-652827/) [Formidable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formidable/) [Formidable Unstoppable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formidable-unstoppable-2970419/) [Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hillary/) [Hillary clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hillary-clinton/) [Incumbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incumbent/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-times/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Primary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primary/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Unstoppable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unstoppable/) [Unstoppable Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unstoppable-candidate-2970418/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [A small number of people and groups control the Democratic primary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/a-small-number-of-people-and-groups-control-the-democratic-primary/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [Barack Obama is not going to beat Hillary Clinton in a single Democratic primary. I’ll predict that right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/barack-obama-is-not-going-to-beat-hillary-clinton-in-a-single/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [In fundamental ways, the 2016 Democratic primary has been a litigation of the Obama years, and of whether the president's 2008 campaign vow of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/in-fundamental-ways-the-2016-democratic-primary-has-been-a-litigation/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [In 2010, I ran for Congress in a Democratic primary against someone who had been there for 18 years. 'The Daily News' endorsed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/in-2010-i-ran-for-congress-in-a-democratic-primary-against-someone/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [Chaka Fattah already lost the seat in a Democratic primary. So, he's on his way out. And he formally resigned this week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/chaka-fattah-already-lost-the-seat-in-a-democratic-primary-so-he-s-on/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [In the Democratic primary in 2008, the Obama team devised a strategy to use the caucuses and a complicated system of awarding delegates in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/in-the-democratic-primary-in-2008-the-obama-team-devised-a-strategy/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [I think a lot of Democrats I know, who will vote in the Democratic primary and vote for the Democratic nominee and later general,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/i-think-a-lot-of-democrats-i-know-who-will-vote-in-the-democratic/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [The 2020 Democratic primary is a failure of politics. Too many candidates in concert with media, dedicated to serving the interests of all Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/the-2020-democratic-primary-is-a-failure-of-politics-too-many/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [ There is no doubt that if Donald \[Trump\] steamrolls through Super Tuesday, wins everywhere with big margins, that he may well be unstoppable. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/there-is-no-doubt-that-if-donald-trump-steamrolls-through-super/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [My first campaign was pretty ugly: the incumbent came after me hard with a lot of things that weren't true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-ribble/my-first-campaign-was-pretty-ugly-the-incumbent-came-after-me-hard/) [Reid Ribble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-ribble/) > [What I don't underestimate is everybody's deal is different and everybody's deal makes it difficult. And so it is incumbent upon employers to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/what-i-don-t-underestimate-is-everybody-s-deal-is-different-and/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [Romney has to convince the American public that they need to do something they're not usually inclined to do - replace a sitting president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/romney-has-to-convince-the-american-public-that-they-need-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I were running to be somebody, there are a lot of easier sombodies to be. After all, running against the incumbent governor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/if-i-were-running-to-be-somebody-there-are-a-lot-of-easier-sombodies/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Once you realize just the sort of glut of books that exists out there, it does become incumbent on you not to add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/once-you-realize-just-the-sort-of-glut-of-books-that-exists-out-there/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The President? Hmmm, I wonder who that might be? Could it be, perhaps, the sitting two-term incumbent of the same party holding its convention?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/the-president-hmmm-i-wonder-who-that-might-be-could-it-be-perhaps-the/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Candidate quotes > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [You should not be misled about the so-called single opposition candidate. There are so many of them now that you will lack the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/you-should-not-be-misled-about-the-so-called-single-opposition/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [I want to say that I cannot be intimidated or stopped. In order to put an end to various attempts to get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/i-want-to-say-that-i-cannot-be-intimidated-or-stopped-in-order-to-put/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I do think that sometimes, especially coming into this going straight from activism to being a candidate or to being a person who potentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-do-think-that-sometimes-especially-coming-into-this-going-straight/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Even though I don't agree with Donald Trump on everything, and I think there may be certain things or statements of his that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/even-though-i-don-t-agree-with-donald-trump-on-everything-and-i-think/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [I'm not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-quite-certain-how-you-can-force-a-candidate-to-stick-by-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I am not a fan of Mitt Romney, but I admit that he is, politically speaking, a good candidate for president. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-am-not-a-fan-of-mitt-romney-but-i-admit-that-he-is-politically/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I am aware of the responsibility I am taking on as the chancellor. Things have developed very quickly for me in recent years, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/i-am-aware-of-the-responsibility-i-am-taking-on-as-the-chancellor/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [For people to even think that I'd be considered or a good candidate for a supporting actress nomination is mind blowing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/for-people-to-even-think-that-i-d-be-considered-or-a-good-candidate/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [A candidate's faith is not the only consideration, but should be a major consideration in electing the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-candidate-s-faith-is-not-the-only-consideration-but-should-be-a/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) [Browse all 529 Candidate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no more formidable, unstoppable candidate - other than an incumbent President - in modern times than Hillary Clinton.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-primary-there-was-no-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candidate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-primary-there-was-no-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/ted-cruz-487_candidate_if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-prim_2733075.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you look at that 2008 Democratic primary, there was no more formidable, unstoppable candidate - other…” — Ted Cruz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ted Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you look at that 2008...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-primary-there-was-no-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-look-at-that-2008-democratic-primary-there-was-no-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```