Dem Strategist: Clinton Should Be In "Panic Mode" Over Enthusiasm Gap With Black Voters, "Nothing She Can Do," "It's Over"

Leslie Wimes, the president of the Democratic African-American women's caucus, joins MSNBC's Hallie Jackson to discuss the Clinton campaign being in "panic mode" about low voter enthusiasm in the black community. "We love President Obama," she said. "That doesn't transfer to Hillary Clinton by osmosis." "It's over now as far as the African-American community is concerned. She had time back then to get into the community and get people out to vote. Now, you know, the numbers are the numbers. There's nothing she can do now." She added: "What I said before is she didn't have the luxury of being Barack Obama. We are not as enthusiastic about seeing the first woman president as we were about seeing the first African-American." <blockquote>LESLIE WIMES: When I said that in September that the enthusiasm level for African-Americans as far as Hillary Clinton's campaign was not there, I was right. They were wrong. They didn't want anyone to know they were in panic mode. I want everyone to know I was right. If they don't want to admit they were in panic mode they should admit it now. I said then it wasn't too late. It is too late now. HALLIE JACKSON, MSNBC: There is nothing she can do? WIMES: Oh, no. It's over now as far as the African-American community is concerned. She had time back then to get into the community and get people out to vote. Now, you know, the numbers are the numbers. There's nothing she can do now. As far as bringing in all of the surrogates, I said then that wasn't going to get the African-American community to the polls. It didn't work. The numbers are the numbers. What she can do now is hope the Hispanic community can carry her over the top. To be honest with you I don't see it happening. With the African-American community, you could probably bet they were going to vote Democratic. That was pretty much a sure bet. With the Hispanic community it isn't as sure of a bet. They could go Republican. They could go Democrat. The Clinton campaign should have taken my advice and should have gotten into the community and did more to get out the vote. They didn't do it. JACKSON: You say it's over now. There are still seven days left. You don't think it's enough to do something to make a last ditch effort? She's down there today trying to get out the vote. WIMES: No. What I said before is she didn't have the luxury of being Barack Obama. We are not as enthusiastic about seeing the first woman president as we were about seeing the first African-American. So, no. I don't think in seven days she'll get out there and all of a sudden, magically we'll say, 'hey, Hillary Clinton!' It's not going to happen. She had an opportunity to get out there and do the things she needed to do and she didn't do it. JACKSON: You talk about President Obama. Forcefully making that appeal to get out and go vote for Hillary Clinton. We have heard him say it again and again. We'll hear it over the next week. Is that going to help? WIMES: I'm sorry. Say it again. JACKSON: Will it help that President Obama is making the appeal for the folks to get out and vote, for Democrats to vote now. Do you think it will help with the African-American community that backed him his last two races? WIMES: Well, Hallie, we love President Obama. That doesn't transfer to Hillary Clinton by osmosis. We are going to attend his rallies. We are going to be happy to see him. That doesn't mean we are going to go to the polls to support Hillary Clinton. The numbers show that's not happening. So, yes, we are going to attend his rallies. We are going to be happy to see him. That's not going to transfer to the polls. You see that. Like I said, bringing surrogates isn't going to get people to the polls. It was the engagement of the community. Like I said back in September, that's what she needed to do. That wasn't done. You needed to engage the community. It wasn't done. Having surrogates done. Having rallies, that wasn't what needed to be done. </BLOCKQUOTE>