Posted by Josh Gerstein
Tue, 18 Dec 2007 at 1:42 PM
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Senator Clinton is putting up a new television ad in New Hampshire that manages to convey--in the matter of 30 seconds--bipartisanship, gratefulness to the military, her commitment to health care issues and her ability to get things done.
It's no accident that the spot, which touts her cooperation with Senator Graham of South Carolina to get health insurance coverage for National Guard members, is running in New Hampshire and not Iowa.
In the ad, Mrs. Clinton declares that she "reached across the aisle" to address the lack of coverage for some returning soldiers. In case it was not clear which aisle, she proudly notes that Mr. Graham is "a Republican."
That kind of bipartisanship has always played well in New Hampshire, particularly among independent voters who often choose to vote in one of the party primaries. How it would play in Iowa is less clear. Caucusgoers from both parties tend to be party activists with more polarized views and less appreciation for those who cross the aisle.
