Clinton Picks Campaigns Carefully
Friday October 25, 2002 8:00 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - When it comes to raising money for Democrats and getting them excited about voting, no one can do it like Bill Clinton.The former president is still a dominant presence in the Democratic Party, advising 2004 presidential hopefuls and 2002 candidates around the country. He helped coax Andrew Cuomo out of the New York governor's race to strengthen Carl McCall's uphill challenge of Republican George Pataki. He counseled Sen. Robert Torricelli as he considered dropping out of the New Jersey Senate race.
However, Clinton has carefully targeted where and how he campaigns to avoid stirring up Republican voters who dislike him as much as Democrats like him.
``In no way is he going to campaign openly in places where he would be a lightning rod for criticism,'' said political analyst Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. Still, Ornstein said, ``he makes enough public appearances so it's not like he's gone into the witness protection program.''
Clinton's staff estimates he'll have done 100 campaign events by Election Day and spent much more time offering advice, quietly raising money and recording radio spots and automated phone messages. Some candidates in GOP-leaning states want his help in a more private way.
``President Clinton believes strongly in the ideas and values of the Democratic Party, and has traveled the country to help candidates in many ways, from rallies to raising funds to talking with voters on the radio, on the phone or on the street,'' said spokesman Jim Kennedy.
On a trip to Michigan recently, Clinton campaigned for governor candidate Jennifer Granholm and for congressional candidates, holding fund-raisers and appearing at a rally in downtown Detroit.
``He's a huge draw, people will attend fund-raisers in order to talk to him and have their pictures taken with them, and they will flock to public events to hear him speak,'' said Mark Brewer, Michigan's Democratic chairman. Pollster Ed Sarpolus said Clinton's trip to Michigan was handled perfectly because he was able to rally Democratic voters and raise money without getting extensive news coverage.
Clinton recently traveled to Maryland to help Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who is in a close race for governor in the Democratic-leaning state.
``Bill Clinton is the best there is at getting out core Democrats,'' said Al From, founder and chief executive of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. Clinton was recently named to the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, an honor underscoring his standing with blacks, one of his most loyal constituencies.
``It is a natural thing for either party that has lost the presidency to continue to focus attention on the former president until we coalesce around a nominee,'' said Joe Lockhart, former press secretary in the Clinton White House.
Associates note that Clinton is involved in many efforts other than politics, such as his foundation that focuses on AIDS treatment, racial reconciliation and help for the poor. He spent a week visiting five countries in Africa a month ago to work on some of these issues.
The former president often focuses on the economy in his campaign appearances, criticizing Republican policies and arguing for a Democratic approach that he says served the country well during his administration in the booming 1990s.
``President Clinton's record on the U.S. economy for eight years is the living embodiment of the differences between the Democratic and the Republican stewardship of the economy,'' said Michael Meehan, a senior adviser at the Democratic National Committee.
Clinton seldom criticizes President Bush directly, though he aims his criticism at Republican policies. Republicans frequently have blamed the Clinton administration for the nation's current problems.
``To the extent that he's on national television, it helps Republicans,'' said Steve Schmidt, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. ``We just think they're smart enough to keep him out of competitive districts in states like Georgia and Alabama.''
For example, Clinton is campaigning for Democratic McCall in New York over the next couple of days. He plans to attend a rally with California Gov. Gray Davis and then travel to campaign stops in Hawaii and Oregon.
He's done political events at numerous states in the Northeast, some in the Midwest and on the West Coast and in his home state of Arkansas.
At a recent political rally in Arkansas, Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee criticized Democratic opponent Jimmie Lou Fisher for taking help from Clinton, the state's former governor.
``If you liked Bill Clinton for 12 years, then elect Jimmie Lou Fisher, because that's basically what you're going to have,'' Huckabee said. ``She's pretty much listened to him for political strategy, for philosophy, and he's raised her funds. I think he's had his turn.''
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EDITOR'S NOTE - Will Lester covers politics and polling for The Associated Press.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002
