Clinton brings star power

By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, listens as Sen. Patty Murray talks about homeland security and port issues yesterday at Terminal 18 at the Port of Seattle.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

The visit, which raised about $400,000 for Murray's re-election campaign, also served as a warm up for former President Clinton, who arrives today to promote his best-selling autobiography "My Life."

Sen. Clinton, D-New York, is wildly popular among Democrats and talked about as a potential presidential candidate herself. She came to Seattle after a similar fund-raising stop in San Francisco this week. For Murray, Clinton has proved a reliable draw, raising $375,000 at an event for the Washington Democrat last year in addition to yesterday's haul.

The visit came as a counterpunch of sorts to the parade of influential Republicans — including President Bush — who have come to Washington state to promote Murray's leading opponent, Rep. George Nethercutt. The Spokane Republican raised $750,000 at a fund-raiser headlined by the president this month.

Clinton told the crowd of 700 supporters at a noon fund-raiser that the Bush administration would do everything in its power to unseat Murray.

"The other side knows she's a real threat because of her effectiveness, and they want her out of the United States Senate," said Clinton, speaking in a Washington State Convention and Trade Center ballroom. "They are really anxious to get rid of Patty."

Clinton described Bush administration policies in uniformly ominous terms, saying the president was eager to roll back the clock on environmental protections and abortion rights.

Bill Clinton here today The former president will be signing his autobiography Issaquah Costco, 1-2:30 p.m., 1801 10th Ave. N.W., Issaquah. For Costco members only; they can buy or bring the book with a receipt. One signature per membership. No signing of memorabilia. (425-313-0965). Elliott Bay Book Co., 8 p.m., 101 S. Main St., Seattle. Customers must buy the book there to get a free ticket for an autograph. The 1,500 tickets are expected to go quickly. One signature per customer. No signing of memorabilia. (206-624-6600).

Citing the possible retirement of two or three members of the U.S. Supreme Court, Clinton said, "I can barely stand to think about what will happen" if Bush appoints new justices.

And Clinton said the Bush administration's sole economic policy was to aid the wealthiest of Americans with tax cuts at the expense of the middle class.

That brought her — in a roundabout way — to the only reference of the day to her husband's book, a smash best seller for which he was paid a $10 million advance.

"Now my husband is working and selling his book. I can say this — we actually are in that category of people who are favored by the Bush administration. Can you beat that? Who would have ever thought George Bush would care so much about my family's financial security?" Clinton said, drawing big laughs from the crowd.

Clinton's words were manna to the enthusiastic crowd of Democrats, mostly women, who paid at least $250 to see her. About 150 of them paid $1,000 to get photos taken with both senators.

"I am a complete fan of the Clintons," said Debbie Ramsing, 55, of Seattle.

Ramsing said she'd been dismayed by years of GOP attacks on the Clintons and said she largely agreed with Sen. Clinton's famous description of a "vast right-wing conspiracy" that was out to destroy them.

State GOP Chairman Chris Vance said he was "thrilled" by Clinton's visit, because it would remind voters "how liberal Murray is." He added the visit only proves that Nethercutt's campaign has momentum.

Murray and Clinton also toured a Port of Seattle cargo terminal and called on the Bush administration to provide more funding for port security.

Murray has criticized the administration for refusing to fund "Operation Safe Commerce," a pilot program she championed that funneled federal money to private contractors to develop new technologies to track container cargo through three ports, two of which are Seattle and New York.

Murray, who is seeking a third term, had a substantial fund-raising edge through March, raising nearly $8 million to Nethercutt's $2.2 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More local news headlines...