Rewriting History.
Hillary was recently back in her other "home state" of Arkansas for her book tour, where she visited her husband's $160 million, half-finished presidential library for the first time. She spent about 12 minutes walking the construction site for the first time since she participated in selecting the site six years ago. Her first word as she gazed upon the 150,000-square-foot museum structure? "Fabulous." When she was asked if she wants any of the names or subjects that plagued her husband's presidency left out of the museum exhibits, she responded: "No, of course not. This is part of history." She went on to comment that the library "will show that the Clinton Administration was very good for America, especially compared to now. We've seen a 180-degree turn away from fiscal responsibility." Yet Another Poll.
A new poll of likely voters by the Boston Herald showed, once again, that Hillary would automatically be the front-runner if she joined the 2004 presidential primary campaign. Hillary was favored by 27% of the voters, with Vermont Gov. Howard Dean behind at 23%. If Sen. Clinton joined the race for president, John Kerry could be one of the biggest losers, at least in the key state of New Hampshire. Sen. Kerry would drop from 25% to 16%. Gov. Dean, though, seems to be the only candidate unfazed by the threat of Hill's candidacy. The pollster who conducted the survey noted that Sen. Clinton "doesn't eat into Dean's lead at all. . . . As of today, Dean is the only one who could hold his own against her." Hillary on the Internet.
Despite the latest in a long line of poll numbers which show Hillary easily clinching the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, New York's junior senator has gone and set up a website for her 2006 re-election campaign. According to pundits, this is a clear sign that she will not run for President next year. The website, www.friendsofhillary.com, had so much traffic on its first day that it briefly crashed. "Friends" has policy positions, photos and ways to "help re-elect Hillary," including links to make donations. There also is a Spanish-language version of the site and a voter registration area. Visitors to the site are urged to join "Hill's Angels" by sending e-mails to 10 friends about Hillary, and in return they will receive a membership card with a giant winged "H" emblazoned on the front. "Friends" also offers donors rewards ranging from coffee mugs and pens to "silver toned" bookmarks and "personally inscribed" copies of her million-selling memoir Living History. A public policy expert at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion remarked that Sen. Clinton is playing a smart game of defensive politics, but that her early fund-raising is unlikely to dissuade a potential, big-name challenger, such as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, from opposing her in 2006. It will be remembered that a Marist survey of New York voters in June 2003 found that Giuliani would beat Hillary 56% to 39%. There are some things money can't buy. California Dreamin'.
With California Gov. Gray Davis facing a recall vote, his staff and Hillary's are reportedly discussing how the New York senator can help her fellow Democrat. Hillary visited California last October to help Gov. Davis get re-elected over Republican candidate Bill Simon. Back then, she led rallies and outdrew the governor. This time, though, she apparently is planning more low-key support. At a minimum, she will voice support for the embattled governor and reaffirm her opposition to the recall drive during appearances in California on Monday and Tuesday to promote her memoirs. Dick Morris Update.
Political strategist Dick Morris has, until recently, claimed that Hillary would not run for the presidency until 2008. However, Morris changed his mind recently on Fox News's "The O'Reilly Factor" and said that she may be eyeing a Bush challenge in 2004. With the lack of a clear Democratic frontrunner, and Bush starting to fade in the polls, Morris said the Clintons are weighing their options. "Hillary is watching these polls closely, as is Bill. And I know them well for 20 years. . . . There may be a little discussion at the breakfast table," Morris mused, "where Mr. Clinton says to Mrs. Clinton, 'Do you remember back in 1992 when everyone said Bush couldn't be beaten and Mario Cuomo stayed out of the race, [and he] could have had the nomination? And I ran'."
