October 17, 2004
READING THE WRITING ON THE WALL (via Robert Schwartz):
Clinton Expected to Be At Fewer Kerry Events: Recuperation From Surgery Is Taking Time (John F. Harris and Al Kamen, October 17, 2004, Washington Post)
Former president Bill Clinton, whose recuperation from heart surgery last month has been slower than he anticipated, will not make more than a few cameo appearances on behalf of Democratic nominee John F. Kerry, and even an abbreviated schedule is far from certain, friends and Democratic officials said.Clinton has been recuperating from his Sept. 6 quadruple bypass surgery at his home in Chappaqua, N.Y., with a recovery regimen that has included mile-long walks. He has completed the walks but finds himself exhausted after each jaunt, friends said, and he remains in considerable pain from the chest incision.
His continued fatigue, combined with recommendations of caution from his physicians, means that a frenetic sprint of last-minute campaigning -- the kind of barnstorming that was the 58-year-old Clinton's signature during his own campaigns -- is out of the question, friends said. Kerry officials had hoped that Clinton might spend some of the closing weeks of the campaign on the Democratic nominee's plane, appearing arm in arm at rallies in swing states.
Uh-huh. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 17, 2004 7:25 PM
I have a friend who underwent heart surgery, cynicism aside, it's unbelievably grueling. She's 22 and a year later is still not recovered fully, Clinton's what? Pushing 60? I can certainly see him not being able ot campaign.
Posted by: Amos at October 17, 2004 8:42 PMHere's a good example of a conservative's view of Bill Clinton: I could easily believe that he had the surgery to avoid campaining with Kerry.
Posted by: David Cohen at October 17, 2004 8:59 PMGiven Kerry's ghost-like record in the Senate, he and Kerry may have spoken only a few times, or even not at all. Why should Bill do anything for him now?
Posted by: jim hamlen at October 17, 2004 10:35 PMI have to go with David Cohen. I must admit that when I first heard Bill C. needed to undergo heart surgery I said, hmmmmm, how convenient. I wonder if they're just saying that so he can hide out and skip pushing for Kerry. Of course the rational mind knows better (I think...), but those thoughts do jump to the forefront of my mind.
Posted by: DL Meadows at October 17, 2004 10:46 PMBill is obviously being fed internal poll results, and knows that Kerry is in dire trouble. He is going to let Kerry go down in flames, while he -- Bill enjoys the fall weather in old Arkansas. When the dust settles. He will be able to control the remnants of the party for what it is worth, which will be a few bucks at least.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 17, 2004 10:54 PMFrom the article:
Clinton plans to leave Chappaqua for Arkansas soon, to continue his recuperation and work on final plans for the library opening. This will allow limited campaign events in Arkansas, though polls have Bush, who won the state comfortably in 2000, with a solid lead there.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 18, 2004 12:56 AMIf he intends his wife to run for president in 2008, why on earth would Mr. Clinton campaign for John Kerry now?
Posted by: John J. Coupal at October 18, 2004 1:32 AMFrom the moment I heard that Clinton was going to have to have surgery, I was always skeptical that he would be able to get back to 100% in time to participate in the fall campaign. This just confirms it. (Not to mention, to take the cynical view, that it marches well with the long-term aims of the Clintonistas).
Posted by: Joe at October 18, 2004 5:22 AMClinton doesn't want to be tethered to a loser again in 2004 as he was in 2000. He has ceased fishing and cut bait, as it were. He will do the minimum necessary to maintain his party leadership and grease the wheels for his Rottweiler, excuse me, wife, to run in 2008.
Posted by: Bart at October 18, 2004 12:43 PM