Politics

Clintons balance his aura and her era

Bill brings star power to Hillary's campaign.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published July 3, 2007

Hillary Clinton is joined by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, during a campaign rally in Iowa.
	[AP photo]

DES MOINES, Iowa - Barack Obama has the fresh face and the record-smashing fundraising operation, but he doesn't have Bill.

As in Bill Clinton, the Michael Jordan of politics: champion money-raiser, Democratic icon, policy and strategy ace and now advocate-in-chief for former first lady Hillary Clinton.

The potency of the Bill Clinton factor was evident Monday night in Des Moines as the former president made his first major campaign appearance alongside his wife before a roaring crowd. In a crucial state where polls show her tied or lagging behind rivals John Edwards and Barack Obama, Sen. Clinton needs all the help she can get.

But equally evident was the tricky balancing act the Clinton campaign faces in taking full advantage of President Clinton's popularity, while avoiding getting overshadowed. She has nowhere near the natural charm of her husband, who Monday had a role that has never come naturally: shining the spotlight away from himself.

Kicking off their three-day Iowa tour, the former president served as his wife's introducer.

"In 2008 I will celebrate my 40th year as a voter, " President Clinton said. "In those 40 years, tumultuous, fascinating years for America, she is by a long stretch the best-qualified ... person I have ever had a chance to vote for for president."

Mrs. Clinton several times contrasted her husband's administration with the "mess" made by the current one.

Fireworks erupted after her closing line: "If you help me, if you will caucus for me, I promise you I will work my heart out for you. I will have some good help along the way, " she said of her husband. "And we will once again be proud to be Americans."

The competing campaigns acknowledge that having a superstar like Bill Clinton who can attract huge crowds and big money is a major advantage for the senator from New York. But it's not without risks.

"If you compare the two just on style and personality, what you like in Bill doesn't necessarily come out in Hillary, " said Tampa businessman Frank Sanchez, a former Clinton administration staffer now advising Obama.

"When you have the two of them too close together, people start comparing them and saying, 'Well, she's no Bill, ' " Sanchez said. "No. 2, there's a fair amount of Clinton fatigue out there, and the two of them together reminds people of that. I hear people say, 'Do we only elect presidents from two families - the Clintons and the Bushes?' "

Among the hundreds of Iowans who turned out to the state fairgrounds Monday night, though, it was hard to find anyone who saw a downside to Hillary Clinton giving her husband a starring role in the campaign - or presidency.

"They complement each other, " said retiree Barbara Royer of Ames. "It's nice to have people working together who also live together. He knows things she needs to know."

Sporting a "Bring Back Peace, Prosperity and the Clintons" button on her chest , Des Moines real estate agent Sharon Kimberlin scoffed at the idea people might be skeptical about another President Clinton.

"The only person that might possibly be smarter than Bill is Hillary, " Kimberlin said.

The Clintons, who to date have mostly participated together in private fundraisers, are scheduled to spend the next three days campaigning together in Iowa, including a July Fourth parade in Clear Lake, where they may cross paths with Republican Mitt Romney.

It's no accident the Clintons are making a big Iowa push over the Independence Day holiday. While she leads in national polls - and widely in Florida - she looks vulnerable in Iowa, which tentatively kicks off the nominating schedule Jan. 14. A big Iowa win by someone else could provide the momentum to overcome the New York senator's advantages.

Bill Clinton never competed in the Iowa caucuses because in 1992, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin was running, and in 1996, Clinton had no competition.

"I'm thrilled to finally find something in politics that my husband didn't do, " Sen. Clinton quipped Monday.

Her campaign's hopes to emerge early on as an unstoppable juggernaut have not panned out. On Sunday, the Obama campaign announced he had raised roughly $31-million in the last three months for the primary, compared with roughly $21-million by Clinton, $9-million by former North Carolina Sen. Edwards and $7-million by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

While Obama is appealing to voters as an outsider who can change politics in Washington, Clinton is touting her experience and her ability to change the country's direction. The theme of this week's Iowa tour: "Ready for Change! Ready to Lead!"

Obama questions whether first lady experience is as significant as Clinton implies.

"The only person who would probably be prepared to be president on day one would be Bill Clinton - not Hillary Clinton, " Obama said at a fundraiser in Chicago.

Adam C. Smith can be reached at asmith@sptimes.com or 727 893-8241.

[Last modified July 3, 2007, 01:35:12]