Opinion: A political shocker!
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In a stunning move unprecedented this month, former president Bill Clinton tonight endorsed his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, for president. At a single bold stroke he erased all the doubts nobody had that he would like to return to the White House as the nation’s first First Gentleman.
Wearing a bright yellow sport shirt and standing before dozens of perfectly placed hay bales and a State Fairgrounds crowd in Des Moines estimated by organizers at 7,000, the multimillionaire public speaker noted a sign that said ‘Husbands for Hillary.’ He said he was one too. The former first couple arrived for the evening event an hour late, according to The Times’ Peter Nicholas.
They were appearing on the campaign trail together for the first time recently. B. Clinton said H. Clinton is the best qualified non-incumbent to choose for president since he began voting 40 years ago. He said that he would vote for her even if they weren’t married.
B. Clinton stood behind his wife with his hands on her shoulders as they were introduced, Nicholas writes in his news story. The article continues:
‘After his introductory speech he hugged her warmly, handed off the microphone, then sat in a chair and watched as the Democratic front-runner called for universal health care and an energy policy that eschews foreign oil. She also made plain that her husband, immensely popular among Democratic voters, would remain an influential advisor.’
H. Clinton is getting a real deal in B. Clinton’s company and speaking this week. According to recent financial reports, the ex-president earned an average $179,000 per speech last year.
The political risks of attaching herself so closely to her husband were detailed earlier today in a Top of the Ticket item. There is, however, a plus side to the Bill and Hillary Show. While H. Clinton’s unfavorable ratings range around 50%, B. Clinton remains popular among many party faithful.
And whenever ex-presidents appear at political events, more media tends to flock. It’s unlikely, for instance, that C-SPAN would have nationally broadcast such a pedestrian political program live in prime time without his presence. Nor would we be having so much fun writing this at this late hour.
Over the next two days and again in New Hampshire later this month B. Clinton will do everything he can to soften H. Clinton’s cold, calculating image. That’s part of what makes politics such a fascinating spectator sport in democracies. By the way, you can cast your own vote on whether you think the ex-president’s presence helps Sen. Clinton’s campaign by going here.
--Andrew Malcolm