Hillarysworld

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/10/1673929/bill-clinton-another-comeback.html

The former two-term president may have finally found a role in Obama world after struggling to fit in after the caustic Democratic presidential campaign that sullied his reputation.

Clinton is heading up special projects for Haiti and outreach to North Korea for the White House. He was the closer in rural Pennsylvania last month, helping Democratic Rep. Mark Critz win a special election. His campaigning was a factor in Sen. Blanche Lincoln's narrow victory in Tuesday's Democratic runoff in Arkansas.

Now, he's hoping to rally voters for vulnerable Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the swing state of Nevada. Clinton was the headliner at a rally Thursday night.

Democratic candidates up and down the ballot are requesting his help, seeking his backslapping politicking and high-dollar fundraising prowess. And there's little doubt that this political creature is basking in the attention, if not coveting the opportunity to campaign for Democrats where President Barack Obama may not be as welcome.

Heeheeheehee...

Clinton's image took a hit during the 2008 race after a series of campaign-trail outbursts. He called Obama's opposition to the Iraq war a "fairy tale" and questioned whether the first-term Illinois senator had the experience to lead the country. Clinton fumed that Obama's campaign "played the race card on me" after Clinton had compared Obama's success in South Carolina to that of Jesse Jackson, a parallel that black leaders suggested was dismissive.

Clinton later delivered a full-throated endorsement of Obama at the Democratic convention and then campaigned for the nominee. Obama tapped Hillary Clinton for secretary of state.

Since Obama took office, Clinton has focused on his foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, though he's gradually returned to politics.

Clinton accepted Obama's request to lead private sector fundraising efforts for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, along with former President George W. Bush. And he visited North Korea to press for - and ultimately win - the release of two jailed Americans.

He was less successful when he served as a White House intermediary to dangle a part-time government position in front of Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter's primary challenger in hopes he would drop his candidacy. Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak refused and won last month's primary.

With increasing frequency, officials say Clinton has made himself available for more political activity - aides say he gets more requests than he can fill - and party leaders have called on him for help in specific races. They are mindful that Clinton, like Vice President Joe Biden, appeals to certain voters in places where Obama may not be as warmly received.

In Arkansas, Clinton backed Democrat Chad Causey for the nomination in the Arkansas primary race to succeed his former boss, the retiring Rep. Marion Berry - a former Clinton administration official. Causey had only a quarter of the ballot share before Clinton's endorsement.

The ex-president helped Lincoln defeat Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. He campaigned for Lincoln and filmed an ad that laid out her central argument - that outside groups and labor unions angry at the centrist senator were trying to buy Arkansans' votes.

Snyder said it was natural for Clinton, instead of Obama, to play such a large role for Lincoln. Clinton is a former governor who counts Lincoln as a longtime friend. Obama, conversely, bypassed the state during the primary and general election and doesn't have much of a base there.

"Bill Clinton is clearly more effective than Barack Obama right now," Snyder said - though he quickly added that his comment was specific to Arkansas.

Uh, I don't think it's specific to Arkansas, but whatever...