Clinton’s Campaign Sees Value in Keeping Former President in Attack Mode

[Herman Munster]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/us/politics/25clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

ANDERSON, S.C. — Advisers to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton say they have concluded that Bill Clinton’s aggressive politicking against Senator Barack Obama is resonating with voters, and they intend to keep him on the campaign trail in a major role after the South Carolina primary.

The benefits of having Mr. Clinton challenge Mr. Obama so forcefully, over Iraq and Mr. Obama’s record and statements, they say, are worth the trade-offs of potentially overshadowing Mrs. Clinton at times, undermining his reputation as a statesman and raising the question among voters about whether they are putting him in the White House as much as her.

After three weeks of nearly nonstop campaigning, set off by Mrs. Clinton’s third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Clinton has shown as much ability as his wife — or even more — to stir public and news media skepticism about Mr. Obama’s position on Iraq and his message of nonpartisan leadership, Clinton advisers say.

Mr. Clinton is deliberately trying to play bad cop against Mr. Obama, campaign officials say, and is keenly aware that a flash of anger or annoyance will draw even more media and public attention to his arguments. He will continue campaigning full-time for Mrs. Clinton after South Carolina in states with primaries on Feb. 5 where he is especially popular, like Arkansas, California and New York, they say.

They also see benefits in Mr. Clinton’s drawing the ire of the Obama camp, predicting that there will be a voter backlash against Mr. Obama if the former president looks like a victim in the cut-and-thrust of the race.

“He’s the most popular Democrat in the country; he is the most successful president in recent memory, and attacks on him by Senator Obama and his surrogates will be rejected by voters,” said Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman.

[MagsDem]

1. What they don't say is.....

Obama looks like a wuss when he whines about how unfair it all is, and turns off potential voters because he looks weak and like a cry baby.

[LittleClarkie]

2. What does Bill look like when he says Obama's campaign is kneecapping them.

Will that turn off voters as well?

[Andromeda]

8. I doubt it.

.

[Herman Munster]

3. funny you mention wuss - James Carville used the exact term in the article for Obama

James Carville, Mr. Clinton’s political strategist in 1992, said that the jousting between the two camps had hardly turned toxic, and that the stakes of this election were too high to have a milquetoast campaign.

“This is not Williams College students electing a commencement speaker. This is a huge deal,” Mr. Carville said. “Does the president risk going overboard? Sure. But Obama runs a risk of being wussified.”

[FrenchieCat]

4. Better to look like so called "wuss" than to look like a fucking drunk

[emilyg]

5. Ugly post.

[Andromeda]

9. From an ugly poster.

:thumbsdown:

[cali]

13. The whiner in chief is billy boy

he's the one that's accused Obama of doing a "hit job" on him and "kneecapping" him.

Incredible what a baby he is.

[AX10]

6. K/R

Bill is very valuable. There are many people who realize this and want him out of the campaign.
Just like in 2000 with Gore. Bill should keep on going, he is an asset.

[David Zephyr]

7. It certainly keeps the focus off of the war in Iraq and Hillary's vote to authorize the war.

Yep. It's helpful to Hillary's "campaign".

[Andromeda]

10. Aren't you lost?

.

[Mojorabbit]

11. I think it is a big mistake personally

There is a WP article further up the page that says he has upset a lot of african americans and I think it damages his legacy. It may work and that would be good for Hillary. It may backfire and damage both of them. I would like to see all the players run a more positive campaign for the party's sake.

[mahina]

12. Is there any reason to believe one word they say?

They've proven they will do or say anything to win.

Gross.