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Hillary Clinton’s politics likely
to look toward White House bid
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NEW YORK – Sen. Hillary Clinton may be the
Democrats’ new presidential front-runner, but it’s a
run she better start by inching slowly toward the political middle,
experts say.
With President George W. Bush’s victory secured Wednesday,
the former First Lady immediately rocketed to the top of the list
of Democratic hopefuls for the White House in 2008, when Bush is
required to leave office.
While Clinton’s hold over the party’s loyal, liberal
base may be firm enough to win some early Democratic primaries,
many believe she has much work ahead if she hopes to woo moderate,
red-state voters to her side.
“She obviously has enormous political will and talent,”
said GOP consultant Roger Stone. “But I think she will have
to find some broad consensus issues that will move her to the
center, without alienating her base.”
The truth is that Clinton has never been as liberal as her critics
portray her. She voted to support the war in Iraq – including
the $87 billion spending bill that John Kerry voted against –
and like her husband is considered hawkish on deficits.
If she’s serious about the presidency, watch for Clinton to
start racking up other centrist stances, perhaps through her
position on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
As Stone quipped, “She’s going to have to find some
weapons systems that she likes.”
She’ll also likely make herself an early fixture in key
battleground states, raising money for the next round of
congressional hopefuls while laying out a philosophical framework
for any presidential challenge to come.
“She has the ability as a senator to move around, and she has
the rationale as heir to the Clinton wing of the Democratic Party
– which right now is all that’s left standing,”
said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
For her part, Clinton stayed out of the limelight this week,
releasing only a brief statement from her home in Chappaqua,
Westchester County, thanking Kerry for his hard work.
“I am disappointed by the results,” she said.
“But I am determined to work harder than ever in the Senate
for the causes important to our future, like improving access to
health care, strengthening the economy, protecting civil rights and
fighting for wiser security policies.”
David Saltonstall
New York Daily News
