Rubin to Back Clinton

[Herman Munster]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/rubin-to-back-clinton/

Aside from Al Gore, the biggest presidential endorsement prize that is still up for grabs from the Clinton administration is Robert E. Rubin, the former Treasury Secretary and deficit hawk who remains one of the most admired economic stewards in Democratic politics.
Mr. Rubin is now ready to go public: Despite some early misgivings about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s candidacy, he is scheduled to headline a major fundraiser for her on Dec. 13 in New York City, according to a memo describing the event. Democrats close to the Clinton campaign said today that he may appear at additional events, with her or former President Bill Clinton, before the primaries begin in January.

Democrats close to Mr. Rubin said today that last winter, as Mrs. Clinton moved toward announcing her bid for the presidency, he expressed concerns to friends about whether she would be the strongest Democratic nominee — and, among other things, whether her political baggage from the 1990s and her unpopularity with many Republicans and some swing voters would lead to defeat for the Democrats in 2008. A son, James Rubin, has also been a major fundraiser for a Clinton rival, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.

But these Democrats say he has been steadily impressed with her performance on the campaign trail and in the debates this year (though his opinion about her delivery in the last, contentious debate is not known by these Democrats). He has also generally favored her economic and domestic policy platforms, which have been partially shaped by two of his colleagues during the Clinton era, Gene Sperling and Roger Altman. And he overcame an initial reticence about picking a side in a multi-candidate primary race.

[papau]

1. A major switch - he was in Obama's corner - interesting - but I do not like his trade ideas

[wyldwolf]

2. Major endorsement.

[Alamom]

3. Thank you. nm