During the campaign for presidency, the spouse of the candidate is always tasked with several duties. While it seems as though their involvement is not influential, their presence is critical to the campaign. Their role is it to soften the candidates image and convey a sense of wonder and awe for their spouse.
Bill Clinton had those same boxes to tick off when speaking to the Democratic National Convention crowd, however, his position was a little more unique. Due to his former presidency, he had a few lines to toe.
He had to create a narrative where Hillary Clinton was the center of their life and he was simply in awe of her political ability. He had to focus on simply being the spouse of a candidate rather than highlight his own presidential achievements.
He spoke of her incredible political experience and never made mention of his own. He said:
“She flew all night long from Cambodia to the Middle East to get a ceasefire that would avoid a full-out shooting war between Hamas and Gaza, to protect the peace of the region. She backed President Obama’s decision to go after Osama Bin Laden. She launched a team — and this is really important today — she launched a team to fight back against terrorists online and built a new global counterterrorism effort. We have got to win this battle. In the mind field.”
It was important to shift the light from speaking as a former president to speaking as the husband of a president hopeful. Bill Clinton needed to make clear that he was not looking to undermine his wife’s success by bringing in his own. In addition, he needed to highlight the softer side of Hillary Clinton.
Therefore, he spoke at length of their love story, and how he pursued Hillary Clinton.
At the DNC, Bill said:
“In the spring of 1971, I met a girl. The first time I saw her, we were, appropriately enough, in a class on political and civil rights. She had thick blond hair, big glasses. Wore no makeup. And she exuded this strength of self-possession I found magnetic.”
Bill Clinton’s speech did exactly what it was supposed to do. Consequently, it put Hillary Clinton in the driver seat, and left Bill Clinton happily in the passengers seat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFWfNcWji8k
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
