Richardson's campaign motto: "Elect me to govern New Mexico so that I can pillage Los Alamos once again"...
Posted on 09/18/2002 10:14:36 AM PDT by Liz
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bill Clinton's political offspring are taking a beating at the ballot box this year, with Janet Reno in Florida and Robert Reich in Massachusetts the latest high-profile losers in bids for elected office.
Reno, the former attorney general, conceded defeat to political newcomer Bill McBride in the race for Florida's Democratic gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday, just hours before Reich, the former labor secretary, finished behind state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien in the Democratic primary for governor in Massachusetts.
The two joined former Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, who pulled out of the New York governor's race before anyone even voted, as Clinton administration Cabinet secretaries whose one-time power failed to translate into electoral victories.
More successful was former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, favored in his race for governor of New Mexico although his lead is narrowing, and former senior White House adviser Rahm Emanuel, a sure bet to win a House of Representatives seat in an overwhelmingly Democratic district on Chicago's north side.
They were among more than a dozen members of the former president's administration to seek elective office this year, a political class analysts said was unprecedented in its size.
The jury is still out on the political fates of a few other Clinton alumni. Former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles won the Democratic Senate nomination in North Carolina, but is an underdog in his November race against Elizabeth Dole, a former Cabinet secretary under two Republican presidents.
Former Clinton adviser Bill Curry won the Democratic nomination for governor in Connecticut, but trails Republican Gov. John Rowland in the polls.
CLINTON NOT A FACTOR
The one similarity in most of the races is that Clinton, who remains a popular Democratic campaign fund-raiser, was not really a factor, analysts said.
"At the end of the day, these candidates rise and fall on their records, what they've done, and on their strengths and weaknesses as candidates," said Paul Petterson, a political scientist at Central Connecticut State. "I don't see voters being turned one way or another by the Clinton connection."
Some candidates in more conservative states, like Bowles in North Carolina, have taken pains to distance themselves from Clinton's controversial political legacy. Others said they found their time in the administration a net plus, even if it was not always enough for a victory.
"The reaction by voters was always positive that I had that experience and was part of the Clinton administration," said Ira Shapiro, a former trade negotiator who lost a House bid last week in a high-powered Democratic primary field in the Maryland suburbs of Washington.
"The Clinton economic team, which I was part of, was remembered very positively," Shapiro said. "Our polls showed voters were much more inclined to view high government service as a plus."
Some candidates found their actions in Washington had a direct bearing on their campaigns. The liberal Reich was publicly critical of Clinton's activities during the scandal over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton, in turn, raised money for one of Reich's opponents, Steve Grossman, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who withdrew from the race.
Reno, a former federal prosecutor, had an extensive record as attorney general that haunted her at times, including her role in sending young shipwreck victim Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba, a decision that made her a villain in Miami's politically active Cuban-American community.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Reich finish third?
BTW, Hillary! did not line up with McCall until it was obvious to all that ANDREW was going down in flames, and that his only hope was to start throwing mud-bombs. Hillary! realized that this would have hurt her with the black community, and that ANDREW was a goner anyway. It was then, and only then, that she started to back McCall.
The Clintons want to be seen as winners. More and more it is becoming obvious to all that they are a net negative to anyone associated with them.
Hillary!ism is dead!
Richardson's campaign motto: "Elect me to govern New Mexico so that I can pillage Los Alamos once again"...
I hope we don't get stuck with Richardson as gov. here in NM. He is setting himself up to take Domenici's place when he retires. Richardson is probably the most sorry lackey in X42's administration.
For now - look for all out assault here - already seeing it - by scare the elders ads.
Elizabeth Dole must be ready to counter - even if she can't afford to run ad after ad.
Their plan is to BLITZ the STATE with these ads while working to challenge her residency claim.
I hope the Repubs are ready for the fight.
And "the Repubs" means - US!
Shouldn't it have said Clinton ADMIN RETARDS??
Gets a little unnerving having to contemplate the conniving Clintons.
Even ten dollar words do not suffice.
However I still maintain my "retreads" comment is a great put-down of these creeps.
June 1, 1999
Washington, DC
The US Secretary of Energy Mr. Bill Richardson denied that any Indian scientist was expelled from Los Alamos on account of espionage. "Newsweek" in its latest issue had alleged that "....last year Los Alamos expelled an Indian scientist when it was discovered he had ties to India's nuclear-bomb program".
Clarifying the situation on NBC's "Meet the Press" on May 30, US Secretary of Energy Mr. Richardson stated as follows:
"It doesn’t have anything to do with espionage, but I can’t confirm that, Tim. When India detonated their nuclear weapon, sanctions from U.S. legislation were triggered, and the United States was forced to expel scientists. This scientist was doing unclassified work at Los Alamos. He had a connection with a nuclear institute in India that causes concern, so the lab, under Deputy Secretary Betsy Moeller, determined that he should be expelled. One or two others were also expelled from some of our science labs, but it was not because of espionage. It was because India took that negative step in detonating that weapon last year."
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