Thursday, September 20, 2007

Clinton supporter cracks on Rotten Rudy's marital woes

Clinton Supporter Attacks Giuliani’s Marital Woes By Katharine Q. Seelye Watch the mild-mannered Tom Vilsack steamroll over Rudy Giuliani in this video from New York 1, the cable news channel. Most New Yorkers won’t recognize Mr. Vilsack. He’s the former governor of Iowa and a Democrat; he’s also a major supporter of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, and some say, would like to be considered a vice presidential running mate. Mr. Vilsack shows here what he can do in the attack-dog department. Watch how this unfolds. “There’s a lot that the rest of the country is going to get to know about Mayor Giuliani that the folks in New York City know,” Mr. Vilsack told the New York news channel in an interview last night. “Such as?” asked his interviewer. “I can’t even get into the number of marriages and the fact that his children _ the relationship he has with his children _ and what kind of circumstance New York was in before September the 11th and whether or not he could have even been re-elected as mayor prior to September the 11th,” Mr. Vilsack said. “There are lots of issues involving Mayor Giuliani and I’m sure if he becomes the nominee we’ll be able to see those.” Did the Clinton machine authorize this attack on Mr. Giuliani’s marital life or was Mr. Vilsack freelancing? On the one hand, why bother? Mr. Giuliani’s Republican opponents have been doing a fine job on that score already. And, raising Mr. Giuliani’s personal life could make Mrs. Clinton’s marriage fair game. On the other hand, her marital problems — unlike Mr. Giuliani’s — tend to evoke sympathy from voters. No comment yet from the Clinton camp. Meanwhile, the Giuliani camp says: “It’s not surprising the Clinton campaign is going negative and personal so early. The fact is the rest of the country is getting to know what New Yorkers already do _ Rudy Giuliani tackled the impossible and turned around the ‘ungovernable’ city, cutting taxes, reducing crime and moving people off welfare and into work.” Update: Radio Iowa is reporting that Senator Clinton was just asked about Mr. Vilsack’s comments during a conference call, and more or less declined to discuss the matter. Here’s the word from O. Kay Henderson, the station’s news director: Ms. Henderson asks: “Senator Clinton, I just saw your interview on CNN, in which you said you’re trying to focus on a positive agenda. Have you told Governor Vilsack privately that you don’t appreciate his negative comments that were made in New York on that television station yesterday in regards to Mr. Giuliani?” Mrs. Clinton replies: “I think he’s more than capable of speaking for himself.” Mrs. Clinton will get the chance to elaborate, if she wants to, this Sunday, when she is scheduled to appear on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

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