Hillary Clinton's Downfall May Well Be Bill Clinton

He is without a doubt the most popular living President, and he may well be one of the top ten in popularity of all time. He is even at age 61 a striking figure of a man, tall, fit, handsome, gregarious, and always in possession of that million dollar smile.

Since leaving the Whitehouse he has gained even more in popularity as he travels the country and the world as a benign, respected representative of our nation. Since throwing off the stress and ever constant pressure placed on occupants of the White House he has become the Bill of old....the two hand shaking, back patting, bear huggng, good ole boy that earned the monicker of "Bubba Clinton".

As his successor in the White House continues to plummet in opinion polls and in acceptance by the American people the former President gains by comparison and is almost revered by the American public. Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica, Ken Starr and impeachment all pale in the memory of the American public when Bill Clinton appears in public today.

As one political rival reluctantly admitted, "you can't help but like the guy!".

Even the father of the current President George H.W. Bush, who was defeated by Clinton 1992, has developed a close and friendly relationship with his one time bitter political rival. The two have teamed up to do remarkable work around the world in leading America's response to natural diasters such as the 2004 tsunami and hurricane Katrina. The two satesmen have grown fond of each other leading Barbara Bush to label them "the odd couple".

Incapable of equaling Bill Clinton's popularity and appeal to a broad scope of the American public it makes a great deal of political sense for Hillary Clinton to utilize her husbands unparalelled political skills as she campaigns across the nation....and she has.

Intially, Bill Clinton has been has provided invaluable support to his wife's campaign. He has won huge crowds and addressed supporters in every politically important state. Potential voters uncertain of Hillary, but totally devoted to Bill flocked in huge numbers to rallies for Clinton hoping to see and hear Bill, giving Hillary a chance to convey her message and warm up to the voters.

He has always been and is today a very successful fund raiser and is the primary reason Hillary Clinton has the largest dollar war chest of any candidate.

While Hillary has stopped just short of suggesting that her election would give the American two presidents for the price of one, she has benefited from in effect being able to be in two places at once as she campaigns in one state as Bill campaigns in the next state on the campaign trail.

The combination seemed to be a powerful almost overwhelming combination.

Until Iowa.

With the shocking and totally unexpected defeat of Senator Clinton in Iowa the Clinton team appeared to panic and, unfortunately in the opinion of most political pundants, began bitter attcks on Senator Obama. In leading this attack the American public witnessed the return of the old, stressful and even mean spirited Bill Clinton. As Reuter's News Agency reported it, "flashes of the old bare-knuckle campaigner erupted during early contests in New Hampshire and Nevada, especially after Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, an African American, won the first contest in Iowa and threatened to thwart Hillary's ambitions"

When Clinton referred to Obama's candiacy as a "Fairy Tale" many Obama supporters were incensed at the suggestion by the former President.

When reporters suggested that he (Bill Clinton) was injecting racism into the campaign Clinton, red faced, and pointing fingers, said that the reporters were being fed questions by the Obama campaign, ...."So they just spin you up on this, and you happily go along. The people don't care about this. They never ask about it. And you are determined to take this election away from them," he said, waving his finger at the reporter. [Source]

As the public sees more of the old, defensive, street fighter Clinton....red faced and waving his finger in an agressive posture in denial fthey are reminded of a similar defense when on television he furiously denied accusations -- later proved true -- of his having had sex with White House intern Monica Lewinsky when he was president. [Source]

As it becomes obvious that the old Bill Clinton down and dirty tactics are turning off potential voters many high profile Democrats are asking the former president to cease and desist the mud slinging. Several party leaders including Ted Kennedy and John Kerry have suggested that the Clinton tactics are hurting not only the Clinton campaign, but the Democratic party.

The Dalas Morning News felt obligated to criticize the former president in an editorial which included the following:

"There's something disconcerting, even diminishing, about watching a former president get down and dirty on the campaign trail."

It remains to be seen what impact the combative Clinton will have on his wife's campaign for the Presidency. It is obvious there is concern and that she (the candidate) has had discussions with Bill on the subject. Appearing on CBS' Good Morning America candidate Clinton said: "He said several times yesterday that maybe he got a little bit carried away,"

Hopefully this is the beginning of a new campaign in which issues will lead.

We will see.