That may be true, but it is the undecided middle who wins elections. And they are often easily swayed.
They voted in the millions for President Bush.
It emphasizes that WJC is over and in the past. It denatures him in an odd way. HR's claim to bask in his light is thereby diminished to an appreciable extent. That may seem counter to punditry, but when are they ever right? Look up the administrations of President Gore and President Kerry.