AP Blog

Clinton Campaigns Under Shadow
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9

NEW YORK — With Sen. Joe Lieberman's defeat at the hands of an anti-war challenger clearly weighing on her mind, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a busy day of public campaign appearances Wednesday after months of doing virtually none.

Clinton faces her own anti-Iraq war primary opponent, Jonathan Tasini.

Her first event, in a room full of 6-year-olds attending a Harlem YMCA summer program, seemed an incongruous place to look for votes but did provide a colorful background for the television cameras. The children serenaded the senator with "The Alligator Song" and she helped them color and paste noodles onto construction paper.

She was heading later to senior centers in Brooklyn and Queens.

Coincidentally, her two little-known prospective GOP challengers, KT McFarland and John Spencer, face off tonight in their only debate before the Sept. 12 primary.

Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Hanley said the former first lady likely wouldn't be watching, since she'll be at Rep. Charlie Rangel's 76th birthday bash when the debate airs.

But, Hanley said, "We'll probably TiVo it."

-Beth Fouhy