Posted on 09/03/2004 9:50:23 AM PDT by conservative in nyc
ALBANY - With the national political conventions out of the way, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton starts a two-day swing today with her husband, the former president, that has the trappings of a personal campaign kickoff.
Sen. Clinton is gearing up for a 2006 re-election bid seen by many as a prelude to a run for president in 2008 should Sen. John F. Kerry fail in his bid for the White House this year.
The Clintons' trip will take them from the State Fair in Syracuse into far Northern New York, a traditional Republican stronghold where the former first lady ran surprisingly well in her 2000 election victory.
"Sen. Clinton did well upstate four years ago because she made the concerns of upstate New York a priority," said political adviser Howard Wolfson on Thursday. "She has continued that focus in the Senate and will cede no part of the state in the future."
During an interview with the Associated Press at the Democratic National Convention last month, Clinton boasted she would win re-election in 2006 and that Republicans should "spend their money elsewhere."
Despite such bravado, New York Republicans from Gov. George E. Pataki on down have maintained that defeating Clinton in 2006 remains one of their top priorities. Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani are among Republicans mentioned as potential challengers.
Republicans said Thursday the Clintons' joint trip was about getting her elected president.
"The Clintons have been campaigning for the White House nonstop for 13 years," said state GOP spokeswoman Karin Kennett. "It's no surprise that absentee-Senator Hillary Clinton has her husband in tow when she finally decides to spend more than two hours upstate."
After a visit this afternoon to the State Fair for her fourth annual luncheon there, the Clintons head north to Clayton on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands region that straddles the U.S.-Canadian border for an evening "Friends of Hillary" fund-raiser.
On Saturday, the Clintons visit Clarkson University in Potsdam to announce an expansion of the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative that links the economically struggling region to world markets with the help of eBay, the online auction giant. Later Saturday, they will be in nearby Massena, attending a fund-raiser for the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee.
Let's be realistic. This is another "listening tour", but it's for Her October announcement that She will become the DNC Candidate for 2004.
Buthin says lovin like going on the campaign trail while your husband goes under the knife.
Bubba got word of federal indictments on Hillary's 2000 campaign. He's got a free pass with bypass and Hillary is twisting in the wind.
She's probably on her way back from Syracuse. There's no way she'd let us think the New York State Fair is more important than her husband (nor is it).
It's about a 3 or 4 hour drive to NYC. But she probably can get a jet quicker.
Now that he's laid up in the hospital she conveniently gets out of having to appear upstate - where she is more and more hated due to her non-creation of the 350k jobs she promised during her campaign.
She will not be missed at the state fair. Witch.
My son went to Clarkson. My brother owns a farm a few miles away. The Clarkson U area won't change for the next hundred years and that's the way it is!!
GW will call and check on him before Hill does.
Could Bubba be having a fake coronary to spite Hill and interrupt her plans,,,she sure isn't letting his heart get in her way.
Is Bill still working for Hillary?
What benefit would Hillary gain by being with Bill while he is in the hospital?
This may show the real Clinton relationship.
Actually Hillary is probably nervous that Bill might expose some secrets. Well, secrets to the democrats anyway.
Can you imagine if the Clintonites find out that "it" was all true?? All those right wing conspiracy stories were really true?
Hillary is nervous.
I wish neither of them ill. I just wish they would GO AWAY!!!
Surely, the fact that her husband is about to undergo triple bypass surgery will cancel this trip! Maybe not-this is Hillary we are talking about after all.
The federal filing deadline is today and unless you believe she will have both Kerry and Edwards killed it cannot happen.
I feel he's been tipped on something big about to hit Hillary right between the eyes and he wants to avoid testimony or question for a few years.
Let's hope he gets to take his heart medication. Something denied Jim McDougal.
No one, not even a cartoon, starts a re-election campaign for a senate seat, more than 2 years in advance.
Nah. Hillary will simply announce that she talked to Bill and he said "Give the speech, give one more speech for the Bipper".
I have nothing bad to say about Hillary today. She, Bill and Chelsea are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope everything turns out well. Bill Clinton's far too young to die.
One cold calculating biatch she is.
Whatever the facts, I wish our ex president only the best, speedy recovery.
Chris Wallace on FoxNews said Bill was at home in Chappaqua (sp) when he started experiencing chest pains and was taken to a local hospital.
Yet, this posted news article says Bill and Hill are traveling together in upstate NY.
hmmmmm.....
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.