Centerfield

I may be wrong, but realistically I don't think there's any chance whatsoever that any of the reflexive Clinton haters would vote for Kerry. Clinton was a well-liked scoundrel that got elected and re-elected because people liked his charm and pragmatic governing. I think he could help Kerry, but I don't think he's going to...

I think kerry would do well to float a list of all-star teammates for his cabinet, but then, who says guys like, say, Clinton and Lieberman would serve in the cabinet?

I don't think Clinton helps or hurt Kerry unless he decides to make an issue out of Clinton like Gore did by obviously running away from the former President. Run away or toward Clinton, John Kerry has to find a message on his own.

Clinton definitely helps Kerry. The Clinton-haters would never vote Kerry anyway, and they probably drive moderates to Kerry the same way Bush-haters drive moderates to Bush.

Has anyone done a popularity poll on Clinton these days?

While Clinton's still widely admired in many circles, the record indicates that he doesn't have much in the way of coat tails. Of the candidates that Clinton has stumped for since leaving office, roughly ninety percent lost their elections.

I think the Bush team is rooting for Clinton to push hard for Kerry, on the theory that it helps them rally their base, without providing significant added voter support for Kerry.

I think Gore avoided Clinton because it was just after the Lewinsky scandal and Gore had to make a decision on what would work best for him.

My question is this: if Kerry does get elected this year, will he make significant changes in the White House or will it be just a pschological euphoria that will last a short time? The Middle East seems like such and intrangient(sp) problem and I feel that what he expects to do as president versus what his voters expect him to do as president will come to a head.

answering my own question -- from emergitydemocraticmajority.com today:

"Doesn't the public approve of anything? Sure: Bill Clinton. His approval rating is up 7 points in the last year to a healthy 62 percent rating today."

Oberon,

There's also this contradictory poll by Ipsos-Public Affairs reported by the AP:

"A majority of 53 percent said they have an unfavorable view of Clinton while 41 percent rated him favorably. In January, people were about evenly divided in their view of Clinton as a person. "
(http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20040621/ap_on_el_pr/presidents_ap_poll_1&printer=1)

I personally think Clinton is as sharp as they come when it comes to political campaigning and I think he could help the Kerry campaign, especially in a couple key states such as Arkansas and California.

My take on it, which could be proven wrong, is that swing voters don't generally place responsibility for the growth of terrorism on Clinton, and in comparison to the last few years, I think people look back favorably to the 1990's.

It will be really interesting to see who the speakers will be in Boston at the DNC. I'd have Clinton speak, but I'd keep Gore and Dean in a padded cell somewhere at an undisclosed location. I think the ticket for Kerry is his pro-war New Democrat stance, and I don't think they'll want anyone to be off message.

I think Kerry should probably embrace Clinton for the sake of party unity, but I don't really think it will make that much difference. Today, people don't vote based on reference to authority figures. I doubt Clinton would cost Kerry any votes other than those he is not going to get anyway, but I don't see him really swinging a lot either. This election is largely a referenda on Bush. Kerry has to establish that he is a viable alternative but I don't think having Clinton or not will make much difference.

I think Gore avoided Clinton because it was just after the Lewinsky scandal and Gore had to make a decision on what would work best for him.

Which, in my opinion, turned out to be a fatal mistake for Gore.

just testing plz dont mind

just testing plz dont mind