Bush allies warn of a new Clinton era.
Fundraising pitch raises the spectre of Hillary running
Peter Morton National Post
Friday, May 09, 2003
Senator Hillary Clinton has denied she plans to run against George W. Bush in 2004.
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WASHINGTON - Seeking to raise a record war chest to re-elect George W. Bush, the U.S. President, Republicans are tapping the one thing they believe will immediately drive supporters to write a cheque for the 2004 campaign -- a visceral hatred of Hillary Clinton.
"Are you ready for a new Clinton era in Washington?," asks the latest Republican Presidential Task Force letter, sent out this week. "It could happen. But only if you let it."
Senator Clinton, the Democrat from New York and wife of Bill Clinton, the former president, has repeatedly denied she is interested in running against Mr. Bush in 2004.
But the Republicans are taking no chances in their campaign to raise US$200 million -- double the amount raised for Mr. Bush's first campaign.
Although the letter does note Sen. Clinton's denials, it plays on worries that Clinton-like liberals will take over the presidency and the administration.
"If Republicans don't take immediate steps to counter her, Senator Hillary Clinton will continue to rise unimpeded to the very pinnacle of power in Washington and we will see the dawning of a new, more liberal Clinton era," it says.
Written by Senator George Allen of Virginia, chairman of the Republican Task Force, it points out that Sen. Clinton has become the Democratic Party's "top fundraiser, their top ideologue, their leading voice in opposition to President Bush."
The letter, coupled with this week's announcement that Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, will again be Mr. Bush's running mate, signals the President is ready to announce his re-election campaign.
Most are betting Mr. Bush will make the formal announcement by the U.S. Memorial Day holiday on May 26. His re-election plans were delayed because of the war in Iraq.
Mr. Bush is expected to name Marc Racicot, chairman of the Republican National Committee, as his campaign chairman, while Mercer Reynolds, who was ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein until March, is seen to be the finance chairman.
Democrats are accusing Mr. Bush of launching his campaign last week on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, where he flew to welcome returning sailors. They claim the President delayed the arrival of the aircraft carrier into San Diego for the sake of a photo opportunity and that his dramatic arrival via military jet could cost as much as US$1 million.
Sen. Allen, who is also chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said his task force plans to launch its own mission -- "to stop Hillary."
With a US$120 donation comes a platinum membership card, a lapel pin and an American flag. "Only with your support will we have the resources to battle the multimillions of dollars Hillary Clinton is raising from deep-pocketed liberals," the letter to donors says.
pmorton@nationalpost.com |
