Slick Willy on the Campaign Trail Again

Former President Bill Clinton has been glad-handing locals this entire week promoting his new book, My Life. He was signing books at the Ferry Building on Monday and at Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley yesterday. Apparently, judging from the San Francisco Chronicle article (link here), the Berkeley event was a mass love-in, complete with the Cal Band. Not surprising given Berkeley's solidly liberal base. Bill's a clever politician. The book release and book signing tour were timed smack dab in the middle of an election year. And Kerry was just in town last week to raise additional funds for his Presidential campaign. Mere coincidence? I think not. Bill's buying political currency with both the Democratic Party and the Kerry camp, if not for his own sake than for the political future of his wife the Senator (can you say Presidential Candidate Hillary?) or even much further down the road, for, God help us, Congresswoman Chelsea. The timing was just right. Bush is down for the count from the Iraq debacle (polls now show that a majority think the war was a mistake). Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 is gaining steam. The economic recovery has been stalling due partly to high energy costs and now rising interest rates. And this is typically the time in an election year when the two parties galvanize their base by reaching into the old grab bag of polarizing issues. Think abortion, gay and lesbian rights, gun control, race relations, immigration policies, universal health care, etc. No coincidence that the fight to renew the assault weapons ban is currently an issue in the newspaper headlines. This all plays right into Clinton's hands as he tries to steer public and historical perception of his Presidency away from the smear of Lewinsky and the impeachment towards his record on "real" issues. Last week, Gallup released a new poll showing Clinton's retrospective approval rating rising to 62%, higher than at any time during his Presidency. Oye.