Could a Vote for Hillary Be a Two-For-One Deal?
April 23, 2007 — -- It's something none of the other presidential contenders has to think about: If Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., wins, she's the only candidate who would have a first gentleman -- Bill Clinton -- available to take on duties.
And of course he's not just any guy; he's a former president.
Campaigning in Iowa this weekend, Clinton said she couldn't think of "a better cheerleader for America" than her husband and wants him to help rebuild international friendships.
The senator has been careful not to suggest that a vote for her is a two-for-one deal the way her husband did in 1992.
But she has made it very clear that she will, as she says, put her high wattage husband to work as a sort of wandering ambassador of good will.
"I love her very much and I think she would be a great president," Clinton said last week about his wife. "And all presidents need help. They need all the help they can get."
It makes sense. When he was president, he loved to travel. With the development of his foundation, his globe-trotting has only intensified.
"What makes Bill Clinton special is he wouldn't just [be] viewed as the the spouse of a president, he would be viewed as a…former world leader in his own right," said Wall Street Journal writer John Fund.
Hillary Clinton is not talking about a formal post for the ex-president; family members are not allowed to be members of the Cabinet. But even an informal role could be tricky.
"Bill Clinton has so much prominence and such charisma, he's in danger of overshadowing everyone around him," Fund said.
Some wonder if there would be conflicts of interest. Since he left the White House, Clinton has raked in roughly $40 million for speaking engagements in 36 countries, including China, Colombia, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Last year, top officials in Dubai called him for advice on how to proceed with a deal to control U.S. ports, just as his wife was fighting against the very same deal.
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