03-29-2015, 10:53 AM
Is Bill an asset or a liability to Hillary's campaign?
![[Image: 29billclinton-JP-master675.jpg]](http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/03/29/us/29billclinton-JP/29billclinton-JP-master675.jpg)
^Mr. Clinton at a Clinton Foundation charity event. The charity is Bill's primary area of focus and recently faced criticism fire for its international fundraising practices.
Some political strategists in and outside of the Clinton camp feel that he was overall a liability for Hillary in her 2008 run against Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination; that seems to be the general consensus.
He was biased and protective of his wife when doing political commentating. He's was unpredictable with public comments that could work against his wife. He's a sociable and warm man, which sometimes resulted in him stealing the spotlight under which Hillary was supposed to be the focal point...
So, what to do about the Bill-factor during the 2016 campaign?
- Assign him a handler who goes everywhere with him
- Send him to Africa for Foundation work during the campaign
- Limit his public appearances with Hillary, she'll be Bill-free a lot more this time out
- Intertwine their staffs so Bill and Hillary don't seemingly contradict each other
- Train him to resist comment, etc...
It's a unique challenge and opportunity for her campaign, a critical one, if you really think about it. Will Bill be the country's first First Gentleman?
Related story: http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/03/2...ter675.jpg
^Mr. Clinton at a Clinton Foundation charity event. The charity is Bill's primary area of focus and recently faced criticism fire for its international fundraising practices.
Some political strategists in and outside of the Clinton camp feel that he was overall a liability for Hillary in her 2008 run against Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination; that seems to be the general consensus.
He was biased and protective of his wife when doing political commentating. He's was unpredictable with public comments that could work against his wife. He's a sociable and warm man, which sometimes resulted in him stealing the spotlight under which Hillary was supposed to be the focal point...
So, what to do about the Bill-factor during the 2016 campaign?
- Assign him a handler who goes everywhere with him
- Send him to Africa for Foundation work during the campaign
- Limit his public appearances with Hillary, she'll be Bill-free a lot more this time out
- Intertwine their staffs so Bill and Hillary don't seemingly contradict each other
- Train him to resist comment, etc...
It's a unique challenge and opportunity for her campaign, a critical one, if you really think about it. Will Bill be the country's first First Gentleman?
Related story: http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/03/2...ter675.jpg