The Daily Background

The Hotline has a really interesting piece comparing the way that former President Clinton and current President Bush spent their final day of campaigning. It’s a stark comparison.

Bush, in Florida, doing a campaign event for Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, who refused to show up, (apparently sparking Karl Rove’s ire):

… the President of the United States was relegated to touting a candidate in absentia while standing on stage with his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush (R), and Sen. Mel Martinez (R), neither of whom are on the ballot tomorrow.

Clinton, in Virginia, doing a campaign event for Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb:

Pres Bill Clinton took to a stage in this city, just across the river from the nation’s capital. With him was not just the candidate on top of VA’s ticket, SEN nominee James Webb (D), but VA’s current and immediate past governor, the local congressman, two other candidates for area cong. seats, and almost every local Democratic office-holder. And if that wasn’t enough, ex-Sen. Bob Kerrey (D), Sen Min Leader Harry Reid (D) and DSCC chair Charles Schumer (D) also found their way to the top of the riser — and to the front row.

I would also like to note the actual races that Bush and Clinton chose to show up at were extremely different. One was a gubernatorial race where the Republican is expected to win with a visible margin, to replace an outgoing Republican Governor. A role of defense. The other was in state with a Republican incumbent where President Clinton could actually make a difference. A role of offense.

In fact, Hotline apparently feels much the same way:

So while the WH couldn’t get one statewide candidate to even show at their event — and wouldn’t let another grace the same stage with the president — in a red region of a red state, Democrats couldn’t keep people away from their rally in another red state.

Interesting comparisons. It all comes down to tomorrow.

Filed under: oh six midterm Elections, Z-TDB Blog