Posted on 12/10/2007 7:56:52 AM PST by fweingart
(Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton speaks at a town hall meeting flanked by daughter Chelsea, left, and mother Dorothy Rodham, right in Winterset, Iowa, Saturday)
.
WINTERSET, Iowa - Barack Obama had Oprah. Hillary Clinton had Mom - and Chelsea.
The Democratic front-runner, who's taken a beating in the polls lately and found herself overshadowed by the queen of daytime TV Saturday, turned to her 88-year-old mother, Dorothy Rodham, her daughter, Chelsea, and a phalanx of other notable women to beat back the Oprah assault on her female voter base.
"We're getting close to the caucuses," Clinton told 100 people gathered in a cold airplane hangar just four weeks before Iowans choose White House nominees on Jan. 3. "I always think it's better to go to the caucuses with a buddy. Today, I've got some buddies with me."
The low-key, family-focused event in rural, Republican Madison County seemed designed to contrast with the Oprah circus, and the decision to put the normally private relatives front and center showed how seriously the campaign takes the threat from the wildly influential Oprah.
However, Clinton said the mom-daughter tandem was just a coincidence of good timing between her elderly mother's and her daughter's schedules, not a counter to Oprah. "It worked out that it was going to be today, and I'm thrilled to have them with me."
The three-generation display is part of an effort that includes former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, and comes as polls have found Obama outperforming Clinton in this first-in-the-nation caucus state, including with women.
Clinton supporters and observers say it's part of a nuts-and-bolts strategy to mobilize caucusgoers that could be much more important than any endorsement.
"I don't think one-tenth of 1% of people will change their minds because of Oprah," said Clinton backer and ex-Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, before amending, "Well, maybe slightly more, but not much."
Campbell spent the morning organizing with AFSCME union boss Gerald McEntee and Mikulski. "You just get one person and one person and one person, and that's what makes the difference," she said.
University of Missouri political scientist Peverill Squire agreed the nitty-gritty matters in Iowa. "I don't think Oprah is terribly important to Clinton's efforts," he said. "Hillary will rise or fall on the basis of her own campaigning."
Campbell said not to worry about poll numbers: She's seen Iowans smitten with plenty of "outsider" candidates like Obama before, including Howard Dean in 2004. "Iowans always flirt with those people, but they don't date 'em, and they don't marry 'em," said Campbell. "This year that's Obama, and he's got his 30 seconds."
Just what politcal gain is there to be had in appearing with your mother and daughter?
Her mom sort of looks like Helen Thomas.
And just how many will change their minds because of Chelsea and Dotty? I didn't even know Hillary's mother was still alive till this weekend!
I thought Chelsea Clinton was working for some hedge fund? If so, I must say she has a very understanding boss.
Hillary probably didn't either
Imagine all those folks with $$$’s that Chelsea gets to interact with on this tour.
No doubt, it will pay off quite well for her boss.
You get to see three generations of ugly.
Snopes sure went a long way to spin that lie!
“Her mom sort of looks like Helen Thomas.”
Just think what Her Heinous will look like in 20 years!
))))))))))SHUDDER((((((((((
Huma is more than just family! She’s Hillary’s wife.
Hocus Poke-us II
Looks like chelsea merging to cankle.
Chelsea looks a little like Paula Jones in that pic.
Jimmie Kahtah had some ugly offspring, but Chelsee may win the prize.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.