WERE THEY EXPECTING HER TO IMITATE CABANA BOY?:

Clinton emulates Bush campaign tactics (Elizabeth Wilner, Aug 10, 2007, Politico)

Barack Obama obviously meant it as an insult when he accused New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of sounding a lot like the president during their recent dust-up over foreign policy.

The clash with the Illinois senator did indeed reveal some striking similarities between Clinton and George W. Bush. But that is arguably a compliment -- at least for many Democrats who loathe Bush but envy his success in winning the presidency and wielding power.

Clinton advisers privately acknowledge the Clinton-Bush comparisons and don’t particularly mind them. The similarities are a growing list of specific tactics and, more broadly, a zeal for political combat that has marked the presidential campaigns of both politicians.

W's campaign in '00 was unusual in that he ran the whole time as if he were going to be president and that how he ran mattered. This was most conspicuous in his choice of Dick Cheney as VP, a guy ready to be president in his stead who brought nothing to the ticket politically.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 10, 2007 7:49 PM