Former President and would-be First Gent Bill Clinton seems to have been overtaken in the political skills department by daughter Chelsea Clinton, observes Politico:
In Philadelphia Monday night for a final rally before the must-win Pennsylvania primary, Chelsea Clinton told a packed crowd that she and her father are having an "implicit competition about who is my mother's better surrogate on any given day."
She may have been joking. She may also be winning.
Bill Clinton is a master of retail politicking, widely acknowledged to have few peers as a campaigner. But after the latest in a series of dust-ups involving the former president - the most recent occurring on the eve of Tuesday's high-stakes Democratic contest - there's a case to be made that his 28-year-old daughter is the more valuable advocate for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
This also just in: Scientists are confirming this hour that bears exhibit a clear preference for wooded areas when excreting bodily waste.
For the unconvinced, here's a quick study in contrast. First, Bill, then after the jump, some Chelsea.
Now, here's Chelsea on the grill in Madison, Wi, earlier in the campaign. Let's see how she does.
The Politico article does attempt to balance out the Chelsea love:
But so far, it is Chelsea who has handled delicate situations with aplomb, and it is Chelsea who has emerged unscratched from public events where her family's most sensitive issues - such as the Monica Lewinsky scandal - were suddenly and unexpectedly thrust upon her by questioners.
Only once has she drawn unfavorable public notice - and that for an absurdly disciplined approach that led her to refuse an interview request from a 9-year-old student journalist.
Sure, but they're not telling you that the kid is a stringer for The New Republic.
One of the great differences that I see in Chelsea's approach to campaigning for Hillary versus Bill's is that Chelsea keeps the focus on her Mom, whereas Bill has a tendency to make it all about himself. This means that even when Bill is on message, he's not really helping that much, as it's a reminder of Hillary's policy differences with the former president on issues like trade and LGBTQ issues.
To be fair, there is a world of difference between riffing with voters on campus and the proverbial squared circle of a press conference. Even so, despite her press blackout, Chelsea has enjoyed almost universally positive coverage. I get the feeling that, given the chance, our newshounds would have a hard time asking anything more challenging than something like this:
"Chelsea, two quick questions. First, it has been widely reported that you are awesome. Could you give us some detail as to how you became so awesome, sort of flesh that out for us? And secondly, would you rule out the possibility that you could be more awesome?"
Even if it didn't go that way, so much the better. Reporters attacking Chelsea only makes her look better. In fact, if I were to advise the Clinton campaign on this, I would recommend that they set up Chelsea's media "coming out" on Fox News, with Dick Morris as the guest. Go ahead, Dick. Swing away!
As for Bill Clinton, I say we agree not to ask where he is, and the campaign agrees not to tell us.
Yes, Chelsea is very poised and she's soft-spoken and articulates thoughtfully. Bill is more emotional, but that's also why a lot of people liked him a great deal.
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Katherine
9:31AM Apr 26th 2008
Yes, Chelsea is very poised and she's soft-spoken and articulates thoughtfully. Bill is more emotional, but that's also why a lot of people like/ liked him a great deal.
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Wish Belkin
9:50AM Apr 26th 2008
Chelsea visited Erie twice befor the Pennsylvania primary. Terrific poise in front of a crowd and very articulate. Shame she doesn't work for Ron Paul.
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mrbline
9:54AM Apr 26th 2008
Mr. Christopher,
Ahhhhh your love for Chelsea shows . . .
I'll admit, she has a certain flair about her, a "girl next door" appeal. She is probably the most positive thing about the Clinton campaign I can see.
I would bet if Hill and Bill stayed home, and Chelsea stumped alone, we'd have a Clinton in the White House.
So . . . when are you going to ask her out?
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MichelleG
10:01AM Apr 26th 2008
I think they're both great campaigners for Hillary. I saw Bill at the Solutions for Amarica rally in J-town PA and I thought He spoke for her, the issues and her plans very clearly and well. Mind you, he did go off course onto himself now and again, but when he did that it was usually to poke fun at himself or a situation. And that only added to the draw. I'm sure it was planned as it tended to bring the connection between him and the crowd more down to earth. As I watch Chelsea on news clips, I think she is also a very excellent promoter of her mother. I see her as a young lady that got the best of what's good from her political mother and father and I can't help but wonder where she will go with her life, although I sure it will be exceptional. And I'm sure that I'm getting a bit cheesy here, but I have to say that by all appearences they have raised a beautiful, intelligent young woman that carries herself with poise and strength. That in itself speaks well of Hillary. As far as Chelsea's coming out to the press, I don't think the press deserves it. They really don't. When the press becomes what the press was meant to be, maybe then. But right now, the press acts like a bunch of Entertainment Tonight clowns with credentials. The press needs to learn that their job is to deliver the facts, just the facts, without sensationalizing or downplaying the news. I believe the press/media is largely responsible for the mess the democratic party is in right now with the primaries. If they would have simply did their job, the way it's meant to be done, the voters would have known all the facts from the get go and would have been able to make a well informed vote, from the very 1st primary (instead of halfway though) Just imagine where we might be today if we had all the info at the beginning.
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Tommy Christopher
10:02AM Apr 26th 2008
Mr B, did you not see the pictures of the Secret Service agents I took in Philly? They don't look like they'd be a lot of fun on a date.
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Tommy Christopher
10:05AM Apr 26th 2008
Wish, RPFP, first of all. Second, I read an interesting tidbit in the WSJ about your guy's granddaughter in a liplock with Jesse Benton, his communications director. For shame! And if I ever get the chance, I will tell you the story of my own run-in with Mr. Benton. No smoches were involved, I assure you.
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MichelleG
10:09AM Apr 26th 2008
By the way, I added a G to Michelle, because I noticed more Michelles adding comments and one of them has entirely different views than me. So Tommy, I don't want you or anyone else thinking I've gone sChIzO! I'm the Michelle that thinks your cute as a speckled pup :) (I see Diane agrees!)
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Wish Belkin
10:11AM Apr 26th 2008
Tommy Christopher10:05AMApr 26th 2008 No smoches were involved, I assure you.
You're ever the gentleman Tommy. I have nothing but respect for that.
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Kjd
10:15AM Apr 26th 2008
Chelsea Clinton is a proud American, raised by proud Americans.
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Diana
10:52AM Apr 26th 2008
Hey, MichelleG, my ears were ringing....and I'm Diana, not sagadiana or Diane, which I'd also like to clarify. LOL. There are MANY adjectives I could use to describe our cutie, but speckled pup wouldn't not have been one of them. Very charming description; it reminds me oof my time living down South. You don't know the half of it. ;-) LOL.
MG, I agree with you 100% and have nothing to add except to say that I also agree with Bill's assessment of the race card having been played on him (or of his being "mugged" in SC), but NOW is not the time to spout off about it, no matter how cajoled or pressed on it. Perhaps after we have selected our nominee. I differ slightly with Tommy in that I have a more favorable view of Bill and his Presidency (and policy positions). Keep up the great work, Chelsea!
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Tommy Christopher
11:12AM Apr 26th 2008
MG, I agree with Diana. Speckled pup is a really charming phrase. Did you coin it just for me, or am I just one in a long string of speckled pups that you've known?
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JimM
11:14AM Apr 26th 2008
Chelse is a cutie.
But this a a mother / daughter thing, I'll bet. Bill was probably too busy doing other things while Chelsea was growing up.
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mrbline
11:26AM Apr 26th 2008
Mr. Christopher,
But I suspect she may be worth them tagging along, at least for you, and you'd never have to worry about having to defend her virtue.
lol.
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VictoryZone
11:36AM Apr 26th 2008
TWO DAYS AGO... James Carvelle - on Larry King - said that he OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE RE-VOTE in Michigan and Florida but the OBAMA camp refused - Obama was off on a vacation in the Virgin Islands, and he didnt want Michigan and Florida votes counted because he would lose !!!
We have 4 months left until 23 August, for a re-vote. We can do it, and make sure Michigan and Florida Votes are counted, and all delegates seated at the DNC convention in Denver, on August 23, 2008.
Obama would like to rip 2 stars off our flag, but this is the United States of America of 50 states not 48 states.
COUNT THE VOTES AND SEAT THE DELEGATES. You can not "split" the votes. The votes must remain as they have been cast BY THE PEOPLE. If you don't, it will surely come back and bite you in November.
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TJ
11:51AM Apr 26th 2008
I AGREE WITH POLITICO FOR ONCE. THAT CHELSEA GIRL HAS GROWN TO BE ONE CLASSY LADY. WHETHER WE LIKE ADMIT IT OR NOT, CREDIT MUST GO TO HER PARENTS. MAYBE, SOME DAY, SHE'LL OUTCLASS ALL 3. WHO KNOWS? I GUESS THAT'S WHY I THINK TOMMY XTOPHER HAS THIS CRUSH ON CHELSEA. I MUST ADMIT I HAVE ONE ON HER MOMMY TOO .. A FIGHTER AND A CHAMP!! BUT I MUST CONFESS, IM REALLY SCARED OF BUBBAH. I'M A BIG GUY BUT I HEAR BUBBAH IS PRETTY BIG. OH, WELL JUST MAKING SURE MY WIFE ISN'T IN THE ROOM...HEY HEY WELL, YOU GUYS ENJOY YOUR SATURDAY!!!!
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TJ
11:53AM Apr 26th 2008
NO MORE FREE RIDE FOR OBAMA--
DO AS I JUST DID, PLEASE HILLARY NEEDS MONEY. contribute to someone who can win!! http://hillaryclinton.com
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JimM
11:58AM Apr 26th 2008
April 24th, 2008 5:07 pm ET Date and time of post to WWW.cnn.com/caffertyfile
The time and date above is a comment I sent to Jack Cafferty of CNN at his blog,
Essentially the question that JACK asked was: Is Hillary deluding herself if she thinks she can win the democratic nomination.
Below is the comment I posted. And the reason why, is that if you read the comments on his blog 90+% are pro-Obama or ones bashing Hillary Clinton. If you post an anti-Obama remark--it is gone.
After numerous attempts in trying to do so, I posted the following comment. My comment remained on the Blog as the last comment -- #160 for 2 days. And this even after comments were closed for this article. Now it is gone. I guess Jack thinks someone would not keep checking. He has made a mistake.
So now I am posting this comment for the world to see. Maybe now many of you will now know for sure why your comment does not get posted. Do yourselves a favor, please all go there to this blog and post. You will soon find out that "CNN is not the most trusted name in the news."
MY POST TO JACK CAFFERTY BELOW ============================================================================ No, she is not.
But you are Jack. If you think that you can continue to delete, remove posts, or not allow certain people to post comments that are anti-Obama from your blog, you are mistaken
So here's the deal. If this message is not seen on your blog, I am going to post all over the Internet the substance of this post. It gets so frustrating that someone that is supposed to be in a position of trust would do something like this.
You would make a good dictator. My way is the only way. My opinion is the only opinion. All other opinions do not matter.
In a sense this a betrayal of one of the most important American values–freedom of expression
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RURAL AMERICAN
12:29PM Apr 26th 2008
Chelsea seems to be a very nice young lady. Her parents have to be proud.
I used to be proud of our government officials, but, lately, it appears they want to destroy our country. We have 50 states --- not 48! All Americans should be counted.
The truth of the matter is that in "Florida", where both Clinton & Obama were BOTH on the ballot, she beat him by 288,167 or 55-33%. Obama did campaign! Count Florida's votes!
In Michigan, four candidates left their name on the ballot.(Dennis Kuchinich, Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel and Hillary). OBAMA PLANNED THE SCENARIO TO REMOVE HIS NAME BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WOULD LOSE. NOW HE WANTS TO COMPLAIN.
In "Michigan" Hillary received 328,151 votes and uncommitted received 216,043. WHY NOT SPLIT THE UNCOMMITTED BETWEEN THE OTHER 5 CANDIDATES INCLUDING EDWARDS, OBAMA, KUCHINICH, CHRIS DODD, AND MIKE GRAVEL AND CALL IT LIKE IT WAS VOTED!
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Florence
12:56PM Apr 26th 2008
Bill is out of control, has always been, always will be. Then again, so is Hillary, always was, always will be. Chelsea has become the parent for them both.