First Lady Hillary Clinton is getting into the nitty-gritty of New York politics in a special election in Rockland County, fueling speculation she wants to run for U.S. senator, local Democrats say.
Mrs. Clinton has pledged to tape radio ads and do phone calls for a May 25 state Senate election, and she has said she may come in to campaign within a week or so, said Rockland Democratic Chairman Paul Adler.
“It looks very optimistic that she’ll come in – I think she’s seeking a leadership role in the New York state Democratic party … She’s also helping recruit candidates to defeat Republicans in Congress,” he said.
The First Lady’s press secretary, Marsha Berry, said the Rockland stop isn’t on her schedule yet but she’ll be back in New York next Friday and Saturday. Events scheduled so far are in Buffalo and on Ellis Island.
The news comes at a time when the will-she/won’t-she debate rages over Mrs. Clinton’s possible candidacy for the seat being vacated by Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan.
Many Democrats say they think she wants to run but is afraid she’ll lose because there are signs that the perception of carpetbagging is turning out to be more damaging than expected.
But her involvement in a pivotal state Senate election suggests a degree of involvement in local politics that’s extraordinary for a First Lady. The Democratic chairman in Westchester County says he hopes she’ll come to his county dinner on June 24.
At issue in the May 25 vote is the seat being vacated by Republican Joe Holland in a Rockland County district that’s 2-1 Democratic.
Democrats are making a big push for the seat as a step toward possibly taking control of the state Senate in 2000, which would have a major impact on which party gets favored in congressional redistricting.
By helping Democrats in local races, Mrs. Clinton and her allies could argue that her potential candidacy boosted her party in New York even if she doesn’t run.