Opinion: Dianne Feinstein, a big Hillary Clinton fan, wants to talk to her

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California was an early and stout supporter of Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid (see this campaign release from July).

Might Feinstein’s comments today be a harbinger of the feedback Clinton now can expect from many backers for whom politics is a full-time occupation?

The Times’ Janet Hook trolled Capitol Hill for assessments from various Democratic lawmakers on the state of their party’s presidential race and reports that Feinstein signaled that, at the least, Clinton needs to provide a renewed rationale for remaining a candidate.

‘I have great fondness and great respect for Sen. Clinton, and I’m very loyal to her,’ Feinstein said. ‘That said, I’d like to talk with her and get her view on the rest of the race and what the strategy is’ for proceeding.

The question, Feinstein continued, is whether Clinton ‘can get the delegates that she needs.’

She added, perhaps most ominously for Clinton: ‘I think the race is reaching the point now where there are negative dividends from it, in terms of strife within the party.’

Feinstein said she placed a call to Clinton the other day, and expects to talk to her soon about the campaign.

-- Don Frederick