Posted: 4:39 am
September 5, 2008
ST. PAUL - Hillary Clinton and her roommate, the former president, make a pit stop next month in Penn sylvania. An important state for a candidate to win, this was Hillary territory. She took Scranton like Grant took Richmond. Hillary heads there again the second week of October for the Methodist equivalent of a christening. The baby is Simon Rodham. The daddy, her brother Tony Rodham. The Clintons will houseguest with friends. Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Brazil. Former president of her brother's company, Jamie has a big smile, big house, big wristwatch, beautiful blond wife with big jewelry and biiiig wallet.
Also a big Democratic outreach. His current occupation is political consultant.
I learned this from Jamie himself. And where were we when he told me all this? Deep in McCain McCountry listening to Sarah Palin. Sandwiched together in one of McCain's VIP skyboxes. The one next to us belonged to the senator's campaign manager Rick Davis. Ours belonged to the candidate's adviser Carly Fiorina. Jamie and I were a Coke bottle away from Henry Kissinger. We're talking folks who've been Republican since their first trimester.
So what's a Dem operative doing there?
"We're going to take Pennsylvania for McCain," Jamie said. "We'll win by 3 percent. We'll get Hillary supporters. The undecideds. From the coal region. Blue dog areas like Lackawanna, where it's 2-1 Democratic. We'll break into that."
I suddenly realized this McCain skybox was filled with Democratic types. Like closeted gays, one whispered: "Don't mention our names. We're not 'out' yet."
Now, for Sarah Palin. Hark back to Friday. First time McCain unveiled his VP pick to planet Earth. Until that night maybe two whalers and a polar bear knew her. About to face TV's millions, hardly what her usual press conferences off a glacier attracted, was she nervous? Uh-uh. She was backstage changing her baby's diaper. Came phrases like, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the governor of Alaska, the future vice president of the United States of America - Sarah Palin." She simply handed the infant off to whomever and - very coolly - stepped into history.
During Wednesday's acceptance speech her "guy," as she referred to the snowmobiler husband of two decades and five kids, sat alongside Cindy McCain. Between the applause, laughs and properly inserted hoorays, no conversation was exchanged. I know. I watched.
