Economic plan the first step in a Clinton strategy shift?

With a New Hampshire win under her belt, Hillary Clinton is embracing a strategy shift in her pursuit of the White House, notes Thomas B. Edsall of The Huffington Post.

The New York senator unveiled an economic plan to help low-income familes today as the first step in this shift, according to Edsell. The plan, which could top $110 billion, helps focus attention on the sagging economy and away from negatives, such as Clinton's 2002 vote for the Iraq invasion. Edsell writes:

"Clinton's economic policy announcement is a direct outgrowth of the January 8 New Hampshire primary. Clinton's strategists are convinced that the recent rise in unemployment and the manufacturing slowdown, which voters have been paying growing attention to over the winter, played to her strengths in the Granite State. Aides believe that, combined with a surge of support among women, Clinton's 'crying' incident, and the possible role of race in bringing white voters to the New York senator's side, they see the makings of a reconfigured strategy to carry the campaign forward."

Her timing couldn't be better: A CNN/Opinion poll released today shows the worsening economy as the top concern among voters.

While Barack Obama hasn't countered with a proposal or policy shift of his own, Edsall notes the string of high-to-medium profile endorsements the Illinois senator received this week -- Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry, South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, and Representative George Miller of California -- shows he's gaining allies.