Suppose I told you that Bill and Hillary Clinton avidly supported a Democrat vying for a congressional nomination for a strongly Democratic district in the northeast – and that the candidate\’s tie to the Clintons was unique: her son is married to the Clintons\’ daughter, Chelsea.
That would be a lock-nomination, right?
Uh….no.
Margorie Margolies (formerly congressperson Margorie Margolies-Mezvinsky), a solidly left wing activist, was beaten handily in yesterday\’s primary by someone named Brendan Boyle – a pro-life (that is not a typo) Democrat. Boyle wound up with 41% to Margolies\’ 27%.
The key takeaway here is not that a pro-lifer won the primary (Boyle benefitted by three other Democrats splitting the vote). It is that a former congressperson who combined impeccably leftward credentials with the endorsement of Bill and Hillary Clinton, managed only 27% of the total.
Did this happen because her ex-husband Edward Mezvinsky – himself a former congressperson among other political positions – pled guilty to 31 fraud felonies and served 5 years in a federal prison (he still owes almost $10 million in restitution: lots of luck to the creditors waiting for their checks)?
I doubt it, because Ms. Margolies divorced him in 2007.
But even if Mezvinsky\’s criminal activity were a major issue, the fact remains that Bill and Hillary Clinton\’s enthusiastic endorsement did not get Margorie Margolies anywhere. Not even close to anywhere.
Does this mean, media\’s endless fawning over Bill and Hill notwithstanding, they do not have coattails; they don\’t bring other Democrat candidates along for the ride?
That seems far more likely – especially since, after two years as President, Bill Clinton could not prevent a Republican takeover of both houses of congress (which ended 40 consecutive years of a Democrat majority in the house).
I wonder if these results will give a few – maybe more than a few – Democrats pause when they consider who to support for the presidency in 2016.
Self-interest is a very powerful element of persuasion. Self-preservation is even more powerful.
