It’s hardly surprising that a president stands to play a commanding role in the fall campaign. But who would have guessed it might not be Barack Obama, but Bill Clinton? – Can Bill Clinton Save the Democrats?
It’s not a matter of fighting the Clinton versus Obama battle. It’s tactical electoral practicalities at this point. Josh Green, who’s written some scathing Bill Clinton fodder, weighs in:
Obama’s overall standing hovers around 45 percent and much lower in places like Arkansas and Missouri, where key Democrats are running in especially difficult races. That’s significant, because, as Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist at Emory University, has noted, ”When it comes to choosing candidates for Congress, it is opinions of the president’s performance that matter.” Today, many Democrats find themselves pondering a question that would have seemed unthinkable only a year ago: Does President Obama help them or hurt them?
Applied to President Clinton, that’s a much easier question to answer. He has emerged as the surrogate of choice for embattled Democrats. …
The demise of William Jefferson Clinton’s power has been greatly exaggerated. Not even race-baiting could kill Clinton, though I never believed it would. But former Pres. Clinton isn’t just endorsing anyone. Again, it’s about loyalty with the Clintons.
What all the candidates he has endorsed have in common is that they were early supporters of Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidential nomination. Clinton also seems to be quietly making a point about race. He stumped for Blanche Lincoln in the predominantly black regions of Arkansas, and endorsed Kendrick Meek, a rising African American star, in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, even though (or maybe especially because) both had been snubbed by Obama. It’s worth noting, too, that Clinton has not campaigned for candidates like Robin Carnahan in Missouri, who could use his support, but didn’t lend theirs to his wife.
On a side note, for all you Hillary supporters hoping or believing she’ll take another run at the presidency, regardless of her continual and emphatic denials, this is the kind of thing to which you should take note. Not the rantings of ratings whores and career Hillary haters like Chris Matthews who cannot be trusted, because in the end he’ll always turn on the Clintons. It doesn’t mean Hillary Rodham Clinton will run in 2016, but keeping your options open never hurts and sending a signal to Democrats that loyalty will be rewarded is as good a way as any to lay new ground. Because if Hillary learned anything it’s that there is no such thing as inevitable.
Pres. Obama is a very smart man, so I’m betting he could care less about the noise around former Pres. Bill Clinton. However, it does unmask many professional Obamphiles as people who really don’t have the experience or prowess of political perception to be in the business of analysis, even though they make money at it. They’ve simply been proven embarrassingly wrong about the Clintons, but also that it’s a mistake to ever bet against them.
All Pres. Obama cares about is keeping both houses of Congress so he can take that win as confirmation that the American people continue to stand by his leadership. He’ll then get ready to run on it for 2012. The irony this time around as it was in 2008 is that Barack Obama will need the Clintons by his side even more, because 2012 will be a lot more difficult than running against McCain-Palin. Though Hillary’s involvement will depend if she’s still secretary of state. She’s already said she won’t do a second term.
Again, for those of you writing me who won’t let the Hillary dream die, she could bow out at State before the 2012 battle begins so she can be available to get back into the partisan ring just in case she decides she wants to take another shot at the presidency in 2016. However unlikely, this is a more plausible scenario than Obama replacing Biden, which would cause undo drama, uncharacteristic of anything Obama, while overshadowing him, something that would be monumentally stupid. Plus, it’s an overexercised move that is simply not needed.
Hey, but don’t get me wrong. I’d love the fantasy drama of the big switcheroo lived out, Biden to State – Clinton to vice president, because it is the stuff of political history and would be stunningly exciting to cover. There’s a reason national political writers are already scribing the story, with the help of Democrats like former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, an African American clearly sending a message, a different one than when he concocted that Pres. Clinton’s “fairy tale” line was talking about Obama’s candidacy, instead of the fact he was talking about Iraq. The Biden – Clinton switch is the stuff of a “West Wing” script that would be delicious if lived in real time, no matter how wildly unlikely and implausible, and we all know Pres. Obama isn’t beneath throwing people under the bus. However, we are talking about “nobody messes with Joe” Biden. Never mind that it would give the Right far more anti Obama ammunition than it would help the Left.
In reality, even if Democrats do keep Congress, which is still the best bet, they will have escaped the electoral knife, but it won’t be because voters support Pres. Obama, regardless of the White House marketing that will inevitably flood the zone. Doubts are only growing about his leadership as the days pass by and the economy continues to weigh on his presidency, with enthusiasm on the Left diminishing daily. If Obama and the Democrats escape in November, it will be because the Republican Tea Party is just way too scary to trust, with the conservative brand still in shambles.
Oh, and because former Pres. Bill Clinton helped them do it. There’s simply no denying it. Clinton Democrats are back.
But not even the Clintons can help Pres. Obama with activist progressives and the Left, many of whom don’t like the Clintons anyway. But who won’t ever forget Obama has used them as a whipping post far more than Republicans and conservatives. Unless Obama repairs this relationship, 2012 is going to be a bitch.
The only thing that will save Democrats is if the Left embraces their inner battered voter syndrome and goes for another round.
You forget one thing–Joe Biden probably wanted to be SoS more than VP back then. He still might, even if he isn’t quite a “warm bucket of spit” as VP. He might still have a yen to do some travelling (and talking).
“Unless Obama repairs this relationship, 2012 is going to be a bitch.”-Taylor
Ain’t that the truth…lol
Obama problem is he too patronizing toward the Democrat base. He does not like to take the lead on anything conversational like Gay Marriage, race relations, women rights etc…The guy seems to enjoy avoiding confrontations at all cost. Even to the point of hurting his own party chances for 2010 and 2012. The republican goal at this point is to help further weaken Obama enough for a person like Palin could easily beat him in 2012…
If the economy does not improve soon…Dems can kiss any 2010 and 2012 prospects good bye.
obaam will need bill and hillary on the stump in 2012. they are team the clintons and he needs them in oh, pa, mi etc or he is toast im convinced. obama polls 35pct with white voters today. he will ose the wh with those low numbers. i only know the clintons can boost his share of the white vote. if u want to electrify the dem party in 12 put hillary on the ticket. all us dems who slaved to get hillary the nom would work like hell to get a obama-hillary win in 12. every dem i know tells me this. to break that glass ceiling would appeal to millions all over. hillary has a base. bill has a base. so put hillary as vp and have her out there pounding the gop and swinging those voters bc obama cant. glad to see more folks talking about this. i expect hillary in 12 talk to grow . the clinton name is gold in a bad economy. no one in the gop could match obama, bill and hillary out there daily in 12. no one. since hillary went silent on the domestic front as sec of s there has been a hole in our politics. i hope she returns in full force or i firmly believe we are screwed.
I have not always agreed with everything you write, but I sincerely agree with everything you wrote here today.
I am not a Clinton Democrat. I think that much may be clear to readers here. I have had some very harsh words for Clinton’s Presidency, Policies, and behavior, even though I love him as a person.
But talk about an unstoppable three-headed juggernaut. This Obot knows Obama needs Bill Clinton, just as a President Hillary would need Barack Obama.
For better or worse, the Clintons and the Obamas represent two different ends of the Democratic Party. We are a very big tent. It’s probably not possible for one person to represent the entire party. I don’t think it steals the spotlight from Obama.
It would set VP Clinton up beautifully for 2016.
The only caveat is, we have to predict how this would play in 2012. Today, the economy is sour, and people associate Clintons with better times. In 2012, the economy will likely be improved. Will it still have the same impact? Will Obama be in strong enough a position to make such a bold move? We have only 18 more months to go before it begins
Who are you kidding? Obama needs the Clintons a hell of a lot more than they need him.Who exactly does he still have influence with? Only narrow minded progressives who can’t admit they made a huge mistake and the AA community.
Interesting. Well, even though I like and voted for both Presidents, I’m to the left of both of them, at least in their governing. I’m also a realist. Democrats have had a difficult time winning presidential elections in the last 40 years by being perceived as too liberal. I personally like being liberal/progressive but apparently much of the electorate doesn’t – they like the words moderate, conservative, and independent. Maybe it’s possible to govern more to the left but then there’s the big monster of corporate personhood and influence, not to mention a lack of public financing of campaigns. So I can see how a Democratic president would govern from the center to a little center left, not that I like it, but I understand it.
I think this post holds some good analysis and who knows what the future holds? I just wonder why Mr. Wilder wrote that op-ed. It’s one thing for a gossip columnist like Sally Quinn to write about the same idea (which I would dismiss), but it is quite another for a former Democratic politician to go so public with it. Is it a trial balloon? I don’t know. I agree that it would be uncharacteristic of President Obama to do this. However, unlike when he was a candidate with very little record to run on, the President, for better or worse, now has a record to criticize (in a bad economy). Who better to help with that than Hillary? That would be one powerful ticket, more powerful than an Obama-Biden one, IMO, and I like Joe Biden. I think a lot depends on how the economy fares and Obama’s poll numbers as 2012 gets closer.
I agree. 18 months is still a long way to go. While a lot depends on public perception then and not now, I can see reasons for making the switch and not making the switch under both scenarios!
“In reality, even if Democrats do keep Congress, which is still the best bet, they will have escaped the electoral knife, but it won’t be because voters support Pres. Obama…” TM
In short, yes. Including the analysis that the “escape” will be because of the scariness from the right, and because of Clinton. The irony continues to grow …
I just wish that the Libertarians in the Democratic Party would join the Libertarian party.
I did not vote for Hillary because in my view she appears a Libertarian in that she supports social freedoms but in terms of social justice she appears a corporatist like Obama.
I will write the name of Tom Harkin for President in 2012.
I don’t think Hillary is libertarian in any way! You don’t sound like you know much about her. She is a staunch Methodist for one thing. Part of the Methodist teaching is social justice and service through activism and social morals.Social morals in the sense that it is immoral to CUT frigging FOOD STAMPS,have a large part of our population go without healthcare,leave jobless people with no hope.
As for being a corporatist,I think she and Bill decided a long long time ago that they wanted to win and that they would do what they had to to win. However, their relationship with wealthy,powerful people have never been in the subservient role. They may play with fire but their goal is the betterment of the american people.
That is the best you are going to get in the first part of the 21 century.
“As for being a corporatist,I think she and Bill decided a long long time ago that they wanted to win and that they would do what they had to to win. However, their relationship with wealthy,powerful people have never been in the subservient role. They may play with fire but their goal is the betterment of the american people.
That is the best you are going to get in the first part of the 21 century.”
How is that any different than Barack Obama:)?
“As for being a corporatist,I think she and Bill decided a long long time ago that they wanted to win and that they would do what they had to to win. However, their relationship with wealthy,powerful people have never been in the subservient role. They may play with fire but their goal is the betterment of the american people.
That is the best you are going to get in the first part of the 21 century.”
Um, and that description of the Clintons differs from Barack Obama how?
Tom Harkin? He is no Libertarian. Not blasting you, but what is it about Harkin that you like over the others?
Bill makes the point frequently that women in Hillary’s family live a long time.He points to how sharp her mother is in her late 80′s.
John Heilemann went on a rant yesterday on MJ about his firm belief that Hillary will run in 2016.He was really pushing the “switcheroo” scenerio.
Of course I would love that but I think the country needs her before then.I just don’t see how we can go on for 6 more years of smoke and mirrors. With Obama saying one thing and doing another,of compromise with the Devil.
The WH suggested cutting FOOD STAMPS for christ’s sake! Does anyone think Hillary would do that in a MILLION years?
For the upcoming midterms, I can’t understand why Obama and his machine isn’t doing a huge GOTV effort in the cities.
In MO anytime a Democrat wins it is because they get a big turn out in the cities and college towns. Why aren’t they working their butts off with these constituents??
I’m not sure Obama cares if the Rethugs take over one or more houses. I think he has no clue how bad the hunting will be with subpeona power.
Seriously, what has become of this site? The Clintons can do no wrong, and Obama can do nothing right. Let me find some things President Clinton didn’t do all so good while he was president:
-Lost control of the senate and house to republicans for the first time in 50 years in 1994
-Don’t ask, don’t tell
-Defense of Marriage act
-welfare to work (welfare cuts)
When people see Bill Clinton, they experience NOSTALGIA. When he was president, life was good. And honestly, I think it was more luck then skill. Since Sept 11th, our lives have been turned upside down, and haven’t been the same since, but I think with the closing of the Iraq war, and hopefully Afghanistan, we can get back to normal again.
Don’t forget NAFTA, the end to the era of big government, Sister Soulja, Glass-Steagal repeal, and so on…
I think identity politics can run amok. I am an Obot, but I probably have a _more favorable_ impression of Bill Clinton now than Barack Obama.
Why?
Barack Obama can p*** me off every day — Bill Clinton doesn’t have the ugly job of governing anymore.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton is a big help anytime. But the republicans are going to tie the democrats to president Obama and that could hurt the democrats. Yeah the tea party is crazy but in crazy times people will vote for crazy people. I don’t believe all the tea party people will win proberly some will. Hillary Clinton is busy being a good SOS so I am sure she will proberly not be able to go around the country like Bill Clinton can and help democrats.
As SoS, she can’t. I think it is an actual legal thing.
Hatch Act applies. If she’s still SoS during campaign season, something I doubt, she can campaign but not fundraise.
See link for dos and don’ts:
http://www.osc.gov/documents/hatchact/post_ha1.htm
May campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections
this conversation cannot be avoided adn will become a primary subject soon enough. obama needs the white vote- enough of it or he will lose in 12. everyone recognizes this. for better or worse obama and hillary must work together even more so on the trail in 2012. obama’s presidency and hillary’s legacy at state are at stake. too bad hillary isnt out there right now shoring up OH, PA, AR AND ky- ALL PLACES WHERE SHE WON THE VOTERS. Its killing the dems to not have 2 icons- the clintons out there right now.
There is NO WAY Hillary is going to take the VP position.
PLEASE. Obama is already under a constant firing squad, why would she join that knowing the VRWC would love to have two birds to hit instead of one? They love hating on her. VRWC would overload and explode.
My problem with Democrats is they are just a tad less fascist than Republicans. Democrats smile while screwing you. Only difference. Corporations/banks/insurance companies/pharmaceuticals/Big Oil have all gotten to write the so called vaunted legislation under Democrats. How is that any different than what Republicans have done?
In my opinion, had President Bill Clinton had the World Wide Net up against him during his 8 years, it wouldn’t have been just the VRWC trying to remove him. I am not “nostalgic” for Bill because Obama is the black version of him. This centrist and triangulation BS has to stop.
Dylan Ratigan about about a month ago, showed a graph of presidents and how they “leaned” the nation during their tenures. Carter was the last time this nation was even close to the center/left. Reagan pushed it to the far right. Daddy Bush came back to the center a few points. Clinton pushed it to the right. Dubya rammed it over to the right, over the cliff and guess what? Obama is just a sliver to the left of Dubya.
If you are not going to govern as a Progressive, then you don’t get my vote. Republicans as scary? Please, I think Democrats (who are supposed to be for We The People) governing as fascists are even scarier! To me, its the Democratic party that has become intolerant with their preening of the Hispanic vote. Hispanics are Catholic and against abortion and gay rights. Is it any wonder woman’s rights and gay rights are not heartily defended today by the DNC? You know, by virtue of those f*cking moral values. And where was Obama, the DNC chairman, Chuck Schumer and Anthony Weiner on defending that Muslim community center in NYC? They were silent. Again. INTOLERANCE. Bless Mayor Bloomberg for his kind speech, but I part ways with him on anything economic. He’s far to the right in that regard, but at least he showed tolerance, something lacking in DC Democrats today.
Can someone on this list please explain to me what is so wrong with being a liberal or Progressive? It should be the term conservative that is considered evil. Remember President Clinton’s acclamation that the era of Big Government is over? What a hoot! Government is three times larger today. And what is so wrong with big government, Mr. Clinton? Government works as long as you don’t let your cronies regulate it. No president has done that, including BC and BO. Bastards!!!
President Obama raised almost $300 million in individual donations. A real grassroots movement. All for naught. He scammed us. He’s a DLC corporatist and a major league asshole. I guess all Democratic politicians are today.
Please don’t kid yourselves, Hillary would have governed much the same way. She campaigned on the unconstitutional mandate that Obama promised he would not deliver and did. Why unconstitutional? A mandate cannot be forced upon Americans unless it gives them choice. Without the public option, no choice. USSC will slice and dice ObamaCare and I will cheer them on. You all would have been defending Hillary’s centrist, triangulating ways just as all the ObamaBots are doing for Obama. Don’t feel superior.
Why did I say the above? I am sick and tired of Clintonistas, Bushitas, Reaganmeisters and ObamaBots. They were ALL bad presidents and sold America out. Quit pretending your guy or gal would have been any different.
End of today’s rant.
It’s identity politics run amok. Just filter that part out.
I was talking with some elderly Democratic volunteers lately, and I asked them about what their thoughts were on the attacks of Obama from the left. They told me stories from their parents, how Democrats of the day blasted FDR for being (yes) a “corporate sell out” on social security and his dropping HCR.
Life goes on…
Yeah, but what democrats are Bill Clinton helping?
Plantation Blanche, the most vile corporatist of them all, and Mark Critz a/k/a Bart Stupak Jr. from PA-12. He’s helping the most conservative ‘D’s.
I believe this is no coincidence. Yes, Clinton Democrats are far more conservative as a whole. But with Barack Obama already in hot water with the idealogical left, Bill Clinton has the added benefit of preventing Obama from getting his hands dirty with these characters. These two are so smart, I wouldn’t put a strategy like this past them.