- previous
- 1
- 2
- | single page
E-mail
Print
Villaraigosa's compelling personal story -- he was raised by a single mother, grew up on the city's Eastside and dropped out of high school only to ascend to the pinnacle of power in Los Angeles -- stood as a tale of redemption.
But strategists widely agree that campaigning with Villaraigosa, at least for the time being, might pose political peril for Clinton, whose own husband was infamous for his indiscretions.
"The Clintons clearly have their own baggage to deal with in the marital infidelity department without having to defend the personal behavior of a prominent campaign supporter," said Garry South, a Democratic strategist who ran former Gov. Gray Davis' 1998 and 2002 campaigns.
A Clinton campaign spokesman said Friday that "there's no change in terms of the mayor's role with the campaign."
Villaraigosa is thought to be an almost certain candidate in the 2010 gubernatorial race, with some considering him a strong contender.
Some experts say it is inevitable that others will now consider entering that contest simply because Villaraigosa will be seen as vulnerable in areas of the state where he is less well-known and is more likely to be remembered as the guy who had the affair.
Villaraigosa's personal life also has obscured his two-year anniversary in office -- a juncture that the mayor's aides had hoped to use to tout his accomplishments. Villaraigosa's office had printed a 37-page, glossy booklet detailing his record in anticipation of the anniversary. It boasts of everything from the 300 officers added to the Los Angeles Police Department to his playing host to American Indian heritage month.
The media have largely ignored the midterm story, however, and focused on Villaraigosa's personal travails.
Even his biggest accomplishment of late -- successfully backing three candidates for the Los Angeles Board of Education -- has been overshadowed.
Within minutes of new school board members being sworn in Tuesday, he had to face reporters eager for answers about his affair with Salinas. The first question, which he labeled "outrageous": Was Salinas pregnant, as some rumors had suggested? His answer: an angry "No."
"It is going to have some long-term impact and it's going to turn off some voters from him," said Shaun Bowler, a professor of political science at UC Riverside. "But generally speaking, if you look at Rudy Giuliani and the Clintons and Newt Gingrich, sex scandals aren't what they used to be. It's not like we're French, but we're becoming French-flavored."
The same thing could happen to Villaraigosa if he makes a sincere public confession, avoids another affair and recommits to his work. "If he achieves a breakthrough on any one of a number of issues -- whether it's L.A. Unified or mass transit or greening L.A. -- people will remember that more than he had an affair," said Tim Hodson, a political scientist and director of the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State.
As for the inevitable jokes that Villaraigosa's escapades will inspire, they simply have to be endured, said Leo Braudy, an English professor at USC and expert on mass media.
"I think it all depends on how he handles it," Braudy said. "Look at [Bill] Clinton. He still managed to do things. The exposure works in a variety of ways -- it doesn't always undermine. It could expand his reach in some ways, such as the old joke is 'just as long as you spell my name right.' "
Perhaps the best solution, he said, is "don't get caught again, put your shoulders to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, your eye to the ground and all that stuff and get to work."
steve.hymon@latimes.com
duke.helfand@latimes.com
But strategists widely agree that campaigning with Villaraigosa, at least for the time being, might pose political peril for Clinton, whose own husband was infamous for his indiscretions.
"The Clintons clearly have their own baggage to deal with in the marital infidelity department without having to defend the personal behavior of a prominent campaign supporter," said Garry South, a Democratic strategist who ran former Gov. Gray Davis' 1998 and 2002 campaigns.
A Clinton campaign spokesman said Friday that "there's no change in terms of the mayor's role with the campaign."
Villaraigosa is thought to be an almost certain candidate in the 2010 gubernatorial race, with some considering him a strong contender.
Some experts say it is inevitable that others will now consider entering that contest simply because Villaraigosa will be seen as vulnerable in areas of the state where he is less well-known and is more likely to be remembered as the guy who had the affair.
Villaraigosa's personal life also has obscured his two-year anniversary in office -- a juncture that the mayor's aides had hoped to use to tout his accomplishments. Villaraigosa's office had printed a 37-page, glossy booklet detailing his record in anticipation of the anniversary. It boasts of everything from the 300 officers added to the Los Angeles Police Department to his playing host to American Indian heritage month.
The media have largely ignored the midterm story, however, and focused on Villaraigosa's personal travails.
Even his biggest accomplishment of late -- successfully backing three candidates for the Los Angeles Board of Education -- has been overshadowed.
Within minutes of new school board members being sworn in Tuesday, he had to face reporters eager for answers about his affair with Salinas. The first question, which he labeled "outrageous": Was Salinas pregnant, as some rumors had suggested? His answer: an angry "No."
"It is going to have some long-term impact and it's going to turn off some voters from him," said Shaun Bowler, a professor of political science at UC Riverside. "But generally speaking, if you look at Rudy Giuliani and the Clintons and Newt Gingrich, sex scandals aren't what they used to be. It's not like we're French, but we're becoming French-flavored."
The same thing could happen to Villaraigosa if he makes a sincere public confession, avoids another affair and recommits to his work. "If he achieves a breakthrough on any one of a number of issues -- whether it's L.A. Unified or mass transit or greening L.A. -- people will remember that more than he had an affair," said Tim Hodson, a political scientist and director of the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State.
As for the inevitable jokes that Villaraigosa's escapades will inspire, they simply have to be endured, said Leo Braudy, an English professor at USC and expert on mass media.
"I think it all depends on how he handles it," Braudy said. "Look at [Bill] Clinton. He still managed to do things. The exposure works in a variety of ways -- it doesn't always undermine. It could expand his reach in some ways, such as the old joke is 'just as long as you spell my name right.' "
Perhaps the best solution, he said, is "don't get caught again, put your shoulders to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, your eye to the ground and all that stuff and get to work."
steve.hymon@latimes.com
duke.helfand@latimes.com
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Save more than