For Ex-President, a Careful Return to Fray
Clinton Boosts Democratic Candidates With Appearances, Fundraising, Phone Messages
Former president Bill Clinton shakes hands with supporters during a fundraiser in Hallowell, Maine, on Oct. 10. (JOE PHELAN -- KENNEBEC JOURNAL VIA AP)
By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 18, 2002; Page A14
URL: washingtonpost.com
The political maestro is back on stage, though he's often hiding behind the curtain.
At fundraisers, pep rallies and phone messages soon to reach voters in several states, former president Bill Clinton is bounding back into politics -- albeit sometimes clandestinely -- to boost Democrats running for the House, Senate and governor.
From the farmlands near Des Moines to the docks of Baltimore, many Democrats seem much less spooked by the ghosts of Clinton's sex scandals than they did two years ago. Candidates including Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Maryland gubernatorial nominee Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, plus party leaders in Washington, have implored Clinton to raise money and rally support as no other Democrat can.
"He's turned down far more requests than he's been able to take," says his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
But the limits of the former president's appeal are outlined by his strategy of appearing mostly in Democratic strongholds -- such as Baltimore today -- and at events dominated by liberals, minorities and others who stuck with him through his impeachment peril. Elsewhere, he politicks quietly, in private phone calls with candidates, at unpublicized fundraisers at his New York home, in taped radio messages targeted to minorities and in face-to-face conversations with potential donors, Democratic officials say.
Whether he campaigns openly or discreetly, Clinton remains arguably his party's most influential figure. He suggests strategy to presidential hopefuls, gently encourages wounded candidates to step aside and, of course, raises millions of dollars.
In Baltimore today, Lt. Gov. Townsend will welcome the nation's 42nd president, hoping history will repeat itself. It was nearly four years ago to the day that Clinton fired up voters in central Baltimore, where his approval ratings topped 90 percent despite the Monica Lewinsky scandal, providing a much-needed boost to Gov. Parris N. Glendening's reelection effort among black voters.
Now Townsend hopes for a similar bump from Clinton -- and his wife, who headlined a fundraiser for her Wednesday -- to stave off the challenge from Rep. Robert Ehrlich (R-Md.). Clinton will lead a pep rally at Coppin State University before heading to the Inner Harbor for three fundraisers, including a $4,000-per-plate dinner. Organizers predict the events will generate $500,000 for Townsend and the state party. "It will energize many people who have great affection for President Clinton and it will help with fundraising," Townsend said yesterday.
Ehrlich spokesman Paul Schurick said of today's visit: "They need his help with the base Democrats. Clearly, that's the target with Mr. Clinton."
Clinton spokesman James Kennedy said the former president will have appeared at 100 events for 60 candidates by Election Day. And those are just the public appearances.
Consider Clinton's packed schedule over the past 10 days. On Oct. 8, he held a private fundraiser for Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) in Washington, then hosted an event for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at his home in the District. The next night, Clinton headlined the $4 million "Every Vote Counts" concert at the Warner Theatre with Janet Jackson, John Mellencamp and James Taylor. He was off to Boston the next morning, netting a quick $1 million for Massachusetts gubernatorial nominee Shannon P. O'Brien, and finished the night in front of 2,500 cheering Democrats in Maine, promoting Rep. John Baldacci's bid to become governor.
This week started with a swing through Enfield, Conn., for House candidate Joseph D. Courtney, followed by a party fundraiser in New York. Since Tuesday, Clinton has hosted fundraisers in the Big Apple for New Jersey Senate nominee Frank Lautenberg; the reelection bid of Rep. Tim Holden (Pa.); former energy secretary Bill Richardson, the gubernatorial nominee in New Mexico; and the DCCC again yesterday. Clinton today will host a fundraiser in New York for Bill McBride, the Democrat hoping to oust Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R).
Many of the money events are unpublicized, with good reason, Democratic strategists say. Two years after leaving office, Clinton remains one of the most polarizing figures in politics -- even among Democrats.
This year, in an election in which control of the House and Senate will be decided in the heartland -- places rich with socially conservative voters -- party leaders are loath to be seen as the "party of the Clintons," says a top strategist for House Democrats.
"We don't want this to be about the president or his interest. We want to make it about the candidates," says Steve Richetti, Clinton's former White House deputy chief of staff who now manages his political operation.
Some Democrats are running from Clinton. In his home state of Arkansas, Senate nominee Mark Pryor skipped an August rally featuring the state's former governor. Pryor hopes to oust Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R), who has suffered politically for divorcing his first wife and marrying a younger aide. Pryor's spokesman said Pryor isn't from "the Bill Clinton school of politics."
In Arizona, Democratic activists are circulating an ad via email accusing the GOP gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Matt Salmon, of lying. It says, "you have heard that before," and then shows a picture of Clinton testifying before a grand jury.
But these snubs are the exception, not the rule. Clinton, widely regarded as his party's brightest political mind, is carefully keeping a low profile, refusing to take reporters on trips and doing most of his work in secret. Still his influence is considerable, especially as the elections draw near, according to several Democrats familiar with his political operation.
Clinton helped broker the deal to get his former housing secretary, Andrew Cuomo, to drop out of the New York gubernatorial race, clearing the way for Democratic nominee H. Carl McCall and averting deeper party divisions. He counseled Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) in the hours leading to his withdrawal from the New Jersey Senate race. Democrats, with a new nominee, are favored to win that race. Clinton's friends, such as Hollywood producer Steve Bing, are contributing millions to the Democratic National Committee, which is run by another close friend, Terence R. McAuliffe.
It is Clinton's voice on recorded messages that the DNC soon will send to voters, especially in heavily minority districts. In fact, much of Clinton's political activity will be targeted to blacks in the weeks ahead, such as letters to black voters in North Carolina on behalf of his former chief of staff, Erskine Bowles, who is running for the Senate.
With his wife unlikely to run for president until 2008, if ever, Clinton is also advising a number of potential challengers to President Bush in 2004. Several Democrats said Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), a fellow self-described New Democrat from the South, appears to be the ex-president's early favorite. Clinton helped revise a speech Edward delivered to the centrist Democratic Leadership Counsel this summer.
Edward said he speaks to Clinton, sometimes several times a week. "He's a strong, smart leader, especially when it comes to discussing the direction the country is heading in," Edwards said. Meanwhile, several top Clinton aides, including John Podesta, Harold Ickes and Richetti, are trying to set up political organizations that can raise and spend soft money after a new law bans it for national parties beginning Nov. 6. If McAuliffe remains the DNC chairman, then "Team Clinton" might play "kingmaker" in 2004, a top party strategist says.
Staff writer Matthew Mosk contributed to this report
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