CA: LA mayor makes rare campaign stop for Hillary Clinton (Villaraigosa's Iowa stealth visit)

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/3/07 | Michael R. Blood - ap

[NormsRevenge]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa slipped quietly out of the city last week to campaign in Iowa for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a rare public foray into presidential politics since his marital meltdown dominated front pages last summer.

Clinton made a splash in May when she snagged the Democratic mayor's endorsement, and even former President Bill Clinton was called in to help lock up Villaraigosa's support. The New York senator said at the time that Villaraigosa, one of the nation's most prominent Hispanic politicians, would be "reaching out to a broad range of voters across the country."

In other states prominent supporters are familiar faces on the campaign trail, like former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who regularly stumps for Clinton in his home state. But Villaraigosa's public appearances for the campaign have been few and far between, averaging less than one a month.

California's presidential primary is Feb. 5.

The mayor's image was badly wounded in July by disclosures that he had a long-running affair with a TV newscaster, who announced Villaraigosa's separation from his wife on the air. There was a cascade of unfavorable publicity about the illicit romance, which the mayor called a "mistake." His wife, Corina, filed for divorce in June.

The mayor's appearance in Iowa last weekend was just the second time he's been out of state stumping for his candidate since he was named national co-chair of the Clinton campaign in May.

Villaraigosa skipped the official opening of Clinton's Los Angeles headquarters in July. He attended a Clinton speech in Los Angeles in mid-September, and a gathering of supporters at her Los Angeles office to watch a debate earlier that month.

He was in Reno, Nev., one day in October, and took part in a campaign conference call last month in which reporters were allowed to listen, but not ask questions. Behind the scenes he's made phone calls to enlist supporters and held a private fundraiser for her last month.

The Iowa visit was not announced by his office or Clinton's California staff.

"We've been using him as much as his schedule allows," said Clinton campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino. "He's being helpful where it's most important - in key states, including California, Nevada and Iowa."

Aides said Villaraigosa would pick up the pace of his campaigning in coming weeks.

Bruce Cain, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, noted that Villaraigosa's pull with Hispanic voters would be of little use in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the voting population is overwhelmingly white. A surge of illegal immigration has alarmed many voters in Iowa, and the mayor has spoken sympathetically about the plight of illegal workers in the country.

But his scant public appearances for Clinton "might relate to the fact he's had these troubles and they are related to adultery," an issue Clinton would want to avoid in states like Iowa with a large population of social conservatives, Cain said.

Questions about the mayor's infidelity intruded when U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., endorsed Clinton in July. In a conference call with reporters Clinton was asked whether she was concerned about the scandal and Feinstein jumped in, "She doesn't need to get into this." Clinton said she continued to welcome his support.

Clinton has a long list of endorsements in California, ranging from Barbra Streisand to state Controller John Chiang. But Villaraigosa is not the only prominent supporter whose problems could limit his effectiveness on the campaign trail.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, another national co-chair who endorsed Clinton in August, admitted in February having a drinking problem and an affair with his campaign manager's wife. He was re-elected easily last month. Newsom, a Democrat best-known for opening City Hall to same-sex weddings six weeks into his first term, has held several private fundraisers for Clinton and appeared at a handful of public events on her behalf, a spokesman said. He plans to go to Iowa and New Hampshire to campaign for her this month.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, another Clinton co-chair, has faced scrutiny for lavish spending of campaign funds. Nunez was in Iowa campaigning for Clinton last weekend. His office said he had attended several public events with Clinton in the state, as well as hosted several fundraisers.

[NormsRevenge]

California DemocRatic Mayors.. there sure is something funny about them fellars.

[umgud]

H’e come to drum up the illegal immigrant vote for Hillary.

[blue-duncan]

This guy has extra marital affairs and so does Billy. She must be after the swinger votes.