TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Clinton Cancels Appearance

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: September 18, 2008

NEW YORK - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is avoiding a public face-off with Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the new female star of the campaign, while still raising money and votes for the Democrat who wrested the presidential nomination from her.

Barack Obama's advisers and Clinton aides say she will resist pressure to speak out against Palin, believing it would diminish the former first lady's stature while creating a sideshow that would only distract from the top-of-the-ticket contest. Any mention Clinton makes of Palin will only be in the context of her partnership with GOP nominee John McCain, aides said.

The New York senator abruptly canceled an appearance at a rally protesting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after learning that Palin had also been invited to the event scheduled next week outside the United Nations. One prominent Clinton backer and fundraiser, Lynn Forester de Rothschild, announced her support for McCain on Wednesday. The former Democratic Party platform committee member has said Obama is arrogant and has a problem connecting with average people.

Indeed, an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll conducted Sept. 5 through Monday found that 26 percent of voters who supported Clinton are now backing McCain and Palin, who was brought on in part to woo women voters.

"You know," Clinton said this week, "I think the point is not the vice presidential candidate on the other side, with all due respect. It is the presidential candidate."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT