Thanks to Hillary.
The Washington Post notes that the 2004 election proved that Sen. Clinton "has coattails-the ability to get down-ballot candidates elected." But, the candidate who rode her coattails to victory is a Republican. Patrick McHenry was elected to the House from North Carolina's 10th Congressional District, making him, at 29 years of age, the youngest member of Congress. Being so young, McHenry did not have much to put on his professional r???? ©sum???? ©, but there was one item on his campaign Website that apparently was a hit in his conservative district: "After college, Patrick worked as an executive with DCI/New Media Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based media firm known as a national and international leader in business and political Internet applications. He oversaw an Internet-based campaign opposing Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 campaign for U.S. Senate at DCI/New Media." There was no mention in the story whether he received any money from HillPAC.
HRC and Illegals.
There have been several media stories lately claiming that Hillary wants to end illegal immigration and control our border security. At the recent opening of the Clinton Library in Arkansas, she told a TV interviewer that the United States needs to toughen up its border security. "There's technology now available," she said. "There are some advanced radar systems. There are biometrics and other kinds of identification systems that we've been very slow to deploy and unwilling to spend money on." Last year she told a radio interviewer that she is "adamantly against illegal immigration." Some pundits are saying that Hillary is exploiting this conservative issue, much like her husband did with welfare reform and crime, in order to broaden her appeal. But when the Senate was drawing up legislation to codify the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, Hillary did not try to implement any illegal immigration or border control or secure identification provisions, even though the final 9/11 Commission Report explicitly called for such measures, and even though the House of Representatives' version of the bill contained these strong provisions. In fact, she cosponsored the bill. When Congress tackles this legislation in the 109th Congress, it will be very interesting to see how Sen. Clinton responds and to see if she is really serious about the problems of illegal immigration and protecting our borders.
Naval Base Visit.
Hillary recently visited the biggest naval base on the East Coast as part of her role advising Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on making the military more efficient. Her trip to the Norfolk Naval Station is widely viewed as another move by the former military-loathing Mrs. Clinton to boost her knowledge of the military and position herself as a solid centrist on defense issues. Hillary, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was joined on the tour by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and several military experts.
Soft and Fuzzy.
Recent polls have been showing that the public's image of Hillary is softening, gradually changing from the intensely controversial First Lady to a moderate, constituent-minded senator. Needless to say, this new view of Hillary comes at a perfect time for a potential White House run in 2008. "A majority feel positive toward her," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. "She's being seen as being more effective and sticking to her job. She's managed to shape her role in a way that's more acceptable. She's in a transition." A national survey of registered voters by the Marist Institute conducted directly after Election Day showed 54% of respondents view Mrs. Clinton favorably, with 43% viewing her unfavorably. However, Americans are still mixed on whether she should run for President in 2008, with 42% saying she should and 54% saying she shouldn't, the poll showed. Still, that's significantly up from 2001, when a Marist poll showed only 30% of respondents saying Clinton should run for President someday compared to 61% saying she shouldn't.
