Clintons Will Stay Neutral In Mayoral Race - At Least Publicly

From Politico:

Bill and Hillary Clinton are making clear they are staying out of the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, just as the race is about to be roiled by the candidacy of their close aide Huma Abedin’s husband, Anthony Weiner.

The pair of stay-on-the-sidelines statements came as Weiner is set to declare his candidacy by video this week, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday. But the statements seem aimed at avoiding the appearance of taking sides in a race that includes the potential first female (and first openly gay) Democratic nominee, a potential second black New York mayor, and Hillary Clinton’s own former Senate campaign manager.

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A great deal of attention has been paid to Weiner’s relationship with the Clintons, who have employed Abedin for over 15 years, and who numerous reports pegged as unhappy with the scandal surrounding his resignation.

Hillary Clinton has not spoken out in a political race since leaving the State Department (although there are relatively few this year), and the New York race is taking place a few dozen miles from the couple’s Chappaqua home. Bill Clinton has weighed in on some primaries in recent years, depending on how well he knows the person.

But Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign manager, Bill de Blasio, is one of the candidates. And the Clintons have little interest in appearing to block either Christine Quinn, the New York City Council Speaker, or Bill Thompson, the former city comptroller and 2009 Democratic mayoral nominee who is vying to be the city’s second black mayor.

They may be staying out of it in public, but you can bet behind the scenes they are looking to cut off Weiner from any new fundraising opportunities and make sure any unaffiliated political campaign staff sat unaffiliated.

Like most New Yorkers, Bill and Hillary want Weiner to go away as soon as possible - though for different reasons.

 

Weiner's scandal is too close for Clinton comfort.

As one commenter at Politico put it:

Confused, why can't a sexual pervert endorse another sexual pervert?

 

Good point.