The far left: How vital to Clinton's campaign?

Even if activists don't fully embrace Sen. Clinton, polls show her gaining among liberals and women.

from the June 21, 2007 edition

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Another element feeding into the overall calculus is that, on the whole, the Democratic field has moved to the left in recent months. While Clinton has refused to apologize for her vote to authorize the Iraq war, she took the liberal position – along with Obama – recently in her vote not to approve continued funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On other issues, Clinton has positioned herself further to the left than she was a year ago. She now talks of universal health coverage, not just coverage for children. She voted against a free-trade agreement with South Korea, putting her to the left of her husband, the ex-president, who was a big advocate of free trade.

Still, says Dick Bennett, an independent pollster based in New Hampshire, "the real liberals are not with her."

Clinton's biggest strength is with women voters, who back her by a wide margin over other Democratic candidates. The bonus, says Mr. Bennett, is that she is attracting women supporters who are not normally as involved in politics as the left-wing activists in the Democratic Party.

"They're fed up with men running the country, so she can let the left wing boo her, because she's got the women," says Bennett. "My only question is, can she keep them involved and interested."

Clinton has also garnered attention this week for a campaign video that mimics the final episode of "The Sopranos." Its purpose is to announce the winner of a contest to pick the theme song of her campaign ("You and I," sung by Celine Dion). The aim of the video – showing Clinton and husband Bill in a diner in Westchester, N.Y. – is to show that she has a sense of humor, her campaign says.

But it remains to be seen if Clinton can shake off the high negatives in polls (in the mid to high 40s among all voters) that have dogged her since she began her own political career in 2000. Most Americans have a firm view of her, positive or negative, and the fame that has helped her to a lead spot in the Democratic polls may make it hard for her to rise much higher.

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