Analysis: Bill Clinton role scrutinized
By TOM RAUM
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON --Having a former president on your side is a blessing that can cut both ways.
Bill Clinton is still wildly popular with Democrats. Yet his sharp comments about his wife's chief rival, Barack Obama, could alienate some voters, especially those as biting as calling the Illinois senator's life a "fairy tale."
His front-and-center role is coming under fresh scrutiny as Hillary Rodham Clinton regains her footing.
As he stumped for her Sunday night, the former president said, "We can't be a new story." He went on to suggest that he couldn't make his wife more like Obama. "I can't make her younger, taller, male. There's a lot I can't do."
The chemistry between the former first couple has seemed a little awkward of late as he stands behind her at rallies, sometimes looking out of place. Still, in her victory comments on Tuesday night, she called him and their daughter Chelsea the two most important people in her life.
Exit polls in New Hampshire on Tuesday night showed that Bill Clinton remains hugely popular among voters in the Democratic primary. Some 83 percent had a favorable opinion of him. Her approval level was 75 percent.
In fact, 56 percent of those who supported his wife said they would have voted for a third term for her husband - had that been constitutionally possible - compared with a quarter of Obama's supporters and a third of the supporters of John Edwards who said they would, according to exit polls for The Associated Press and the television networks.
The former president is expected to continue to play an active role in his wife's campaign as it moves toward contests in Nevada next week and South Carolina on Jan. 26, and on to "Super Tuesday" on Feb. 5 when 21 states vote.
With so many states in play at once, visits by candidate spouses "become more important than ever," said Democratic strategist Paul Begala, a longtime adviser to Bill Clinton.
As to the former president's stepped up attacks on Obama, "It's just part of the business. Barack's been pretty tough on President Clinton as well," Begala said. "Let's not make him out to be an attack dog. His best use is as a character witness for his wife. He is able to tell voters what the real Hillary is like, the Hillary I've known for 16 years but voters haven't."
Bill Clinton's role in South Carolina could be important in trying to take votes away from Obama among black Democrats, a group with which the former president has been particularly popular.
"I think the bottom line is he helps her," said Stephen J. Wayne, a presidential scholar at Georgetown University. The former president may remind voters of the past rather than the future, but "she herself reminds everyone of the past when she uses her 'experience' theme." Wayne said the New York senator would raise more eyebrows if the reverse were true - if he wasn't out campaigning for her.
Yet among some Democrats, his high-profile presence is troublesome. And some fear that if he becomes too critical of Obama it could backfire.
"One head needs to roll more than any other: Bill's," former Clinton consultant Dick Morris wrote in an opinion piece in Wednesday editions of The Hill newspaper. "His role in the campaign has been destructive from the moment he took the public stage on Hillary's behalf."
On Monday night, the former president went to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. - an area where Obama was surging - and accused Obama of misrepresenting himself on the Iraq war.
While Obama spoke out against the war in 2002 while he was an Illinois state senator, he suggested a year later that "there was no difference" between himself and Bush on the war, Clinton asserted. "Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I have ever seen," he said.
"Former President Clinton has continued to mischaracterize my record on this and we're going to have to call him on it," Obama responded on Wednesday. "I opposed this war from the start," he told National Public Radio.
Candidate Clinton also weighed in. "The facts are indisputable," she said. "Senator Obama made a speech in 2002 against the war in Iraq and he deserves credit for that. Then by 2004, he was publicly saying that he didn't know how he would have voted had he actually been in the Senate and actually agreed with George Bush on the conduct of the war.
"He said he would never vote to fund the war," she said Wednesday in an interview with CNN. "And then in 2005 and 2006 and 2007, he voted for $300 billion worth of funding."
Check out the income and education level between Iowa and NH. It might be very well a factor for the difference.
U-U 发表评论于
Hello!
Some of you know us, and some do not. However, we have one thing in common--we all are from Asia. Many of us are Asian Americans, and so are many of our children. For the sake of ourselves and particularly for the future of our children, please participate in Iowa Caucus if you are eligible to vote, and NOT to support Obama.
Why NOT Obama? Because he refuse to commit to the equal rights and equal opportunities for Asian Americans, according to the 80-20 Initiative, an Asian American organization with its mission to unite Asian Americans to fight for our equal rights and opportunities in the U.S. Many of you are aware of the 80-20 and its activities. For those who do not, please visit its web site for more information: http://www.80-20initiative.net/
Many of us may not have much interest in politics. However, we are all affected by the politics in Washington. It is far from enough to be only "model citizens" and advanced academically. We need to unite and defend our group interest politically. See the forwarded message below for information on how to Caucus. Remember, NOT to support Obama. If Obama wins, then all other democratic candidates who have committed to support our equal rights would lose, which means WE would lose.
Even if you are an Independent or Republican, you can still help by participate in Democrats' group this time.
United, We stand!
nonick 发表评论于
to ZTM:
曾经看过有篇文章说，女性是天生管理者，男性是天生创造者。看看近代女性当权的
国家／地区都不错，英国的沙切尔夫人就是一好列子。
laotexas 发表评论于
Agree with xinzhou. Well not many peopple voted for John Edward. I think he can beat republican.
Woman is a natural emotional creature no matter how strong she looks or pretends. History has provided a lot of evidence, only a few are exceptions. So the best place for her might be dealing with people and family, not with the highest power of politics.
