Page Turns for Democratic Party, But Bill Clinton Still Has Role

For nearly 20 years, Bill Clinton has been the star of the Democratic Party, cementing his rock-star status when he became the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win two terms in the White House. High-profile Democrats say his standing in the party will never fade but even the former president acknowledged Tuesday that his role isn’t what it used to be. Speaking to a panel of ex-world leaders at an event held less than a mile from the site of Democratic convention, Clinton joked about his status within the party. “I still love politics. I’m quite excited to be here,” he said. “I thank you for giving me one more excuse to show up at my party’s convention.” The audience broke into laughter. While, Clinton was kidding, cracks in his brand began to show earlier this year. First, he was unable to give his wife the boost she needed to secure the nomination against Barack Obama. Second, his image took a beating during the primaries when critical ... (link)