Bill's rally big LI show

Former president stumps for local Dems in try to put party back in power, but Clinton never mentions Mejias

BY J. JIONI PALMER | Newsday Washington Bureau

October 27, 2006

Former President Bill Clinton greets democratic supporters as he leaves a campaign rally at Long Island Jet Center in Farmingdale. (Newsday / Michael E. Ach)

With Democrats eager to rack up a string of wins, former President Bill Clinton told a crowd of more than 1,000 at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale yesterday that his party could take back the reins of Congress and the statehouse, but only with a strong turnout on Election Day.

In a subdued tone, a svelte-looking Clinton said that under GOP control, the national mood has turned dour, but that electing Democrats to office next month would be the remedy.

"That's why I want Hillary to win big," he said, "because I want to send the statement that Democrats, Republicans and independents together want a new beginning."

Clinton's East Farmingdale appearance was his third campaign stop of the day on a swing through the state that was ostensibly on behalf of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is running for re-election.

Before arriving on Long Island, Clinton was in Albany and Syracuse - two areas where Democrats are optimistic they can knock off GOP incumbents. While stumping in Albany, the ex-president specially endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democratic lawyer running against four-term Rep. John Sweeney (R-Speigletown) in a contest that is one of the state's hottest.

While the race between veteran Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) and Nassau Legis. Dave Mejias (D-North Massapequa) is Long Island's marquee congressional battle, Clinton never mentioned Mejias, who was at the event.

The closest Clinton came to extending his support to Mejias was a generic endorsement for all Democratic "state and local candidates to win big."

But there was good news for Mejias: Yesterday, national Democrats added him to the list of top 50 Democratic challengers, a ranking that gives him greater access to campaign funds.

King, in Washington yesterday, responded to a question about Clinton's Long Island visit as if it was irrelevant to his campaign.

"I'm fine. It has nothing to do with Mejias," King said, adding, "I have an excellent personal relationship with Sen. Clinton and President Clinton."

While King, who was one of a handful of Republicans to vote against some of the articles of impeachment against the former president, was spared a verbal lashing, Clinton said Republican dominance in Washington has been bad for the nation. In an address that was folksy and conversational, Clinton said that as he has traveled the nation to stump for Democratic candidates, he has encountered crowds that while hungry for change are nonetheless downbeat.

"The sound of this silence means that people know that something is not right in our national discourse with the way our political system is going," he said.

He faulted politicians more interested in concentrating power and wealth among the already privileged than in creating progressive policies aimed at working families.

"Most of what you hear about politics out of Washington is about the politicians themselves," he said. "But politics is not about those of us who run. It's about those of you who live and pay the bills."