There are a lot of Democrats who arent quite ready for Hillary Clinton.
Two stories in Thursdays Journal illustrate hurdles Mrs. Clinton faces within her own party despite the institutional support her presumed candidacy enjoys.
Elizabeth Williamson delivers a Page One profile of former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who is working to position himself as the anti-Clinton. He boasts of annoying President Barack Obama by touting Canadas single-payer health care system to Mr. Obamas face. (Mr. Obamas aide Jim Messina denied that Mr. Obama scolded Mr. Schweitzer.)
Mr. Schweitzer openly mulls his presidential odds.
Could I make a difference? Could I get elected? I suppose yes, he said.
He also borrows liberally from Mr. Obamas 2008 change-Washington mantra one that the president touts when he goes fishing for grassroots support but has otherwise gone dormant.
I think Ive got ideas and drive, Mr. Schweitzer said. But how do you tell the lobbyists and corporations, You dont rule Washington, D.C., when they do? Once the pigs start squealing, nobody can hear.
In another story, Peter Nicholas writes about the liberal interest groups that are getting antsy that the presumed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee remains a blank slate on a range of issues.
Despite overseeing the Keystone XL pipeline approval process while she was secretary of state, Mrs. Clinton has been silent on the issue. She hasnt weighed in on the Obama administrations deportation policy aside from offering vague support for comprehensive immigration reform. And she will face increasing pressure from the Elizabeth Warren wing of the party that wants tougher rules on big banks many of which would make up part of her financial base in a presidential campaign.
All this comes as Mrs. Clinton prepares to go on tour promoting her forthcoming book, Hard Choices. On Tuesday, ABC announced it scored the first interviews with Mrs. Clinton, which are due to air June 9 and 10.
Excerpt from:
Not So Fast: Todays Hillary Clinton Backlash