Power outage for Hill and Chuck

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By VINCENT MORRIS

November 7, 2002 -- WASHINGTON - Republican control of the House and Senate means only bad news for New York's Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer.

It presents an uphill battle for Clinton and Schumer as they seek federal money for everything from New York roads and subways to schools and police grants.

Neither senator enjoys warm relations with anyone in the Republican leadership, most of whom are conservative and suspicious of liberal Democrats generally and New Yorkers specifically.

Moreover, in less than two years, Clinton has become one of the top weapons in the Democrats' arsenal.

Because of that, Republicans will be gunning for her leading up to the 2004 presidential election and may be less likely to assist Clinton with any goal that might elevate her image.

In the near term, the first Clinton casualty may be her effort to get $100 million for health tracking for Ground Zero workers and an extension of unemployment benefits, which now both look like losing efforts.

President Bush opposed her on both counts, and she's less likely now to even get the Senate leadership to allow a vote on her ideas.

For Schumer, who has battled Bush over his picks for federal judgeships across the country, his role will be reduced as Democrats return to the minority role on the volatile Senate Judiciary Committee.

Gone also are any Clinton or Schumer hopes that they might gain control of a subcommittee, which brings broader influence and increased ability to get things done.

The bitter losses for Democrats also pose serious problems for both Clinton and Schumer - and to a lesser extent many of the House Democrats - closer to home.

The state Democratic Party is in disarray and many party loyalists may encourage Clinton to spend more time repairing damage there before she extends her national fund-raising profile any further.

Meanwhile, Marc Racicot, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he wasn't sure how effective she was on the campaign trail, though he acknowledged she was good at getting people to vote.

Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, gushed Clinton "was tremendous."

Besides former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Clinton was among the most prominent surrogate campaigners, lending her name to candidates nationally.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2002


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