Opinion: Once Obama’s mentor, Alice Palmer now campaigns for Clinton
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One bonus for Barack Obama as he campaigns in Indiana is that so many friends from his home state can just drive across the state line to help him out.
Then again, it’s also a short trip for the occasional hometown pol who has been doublecrossed by Obama, such as one featured guest doing the Hoosier tour today for Obama’s opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Joining Chelsea Clinton and other women to campaign for Hillary Clinton today is Alice Palmer. She’s the former state senator who picked Obama to be her successor back in the mid-90s.
When she tried to reclaim her spot, Obama got her booted from the ballot.
The day of campaigning culminates tonight with a ‘Women for Hillary’ rally in New Albany. The women plan to talk about Clinton’s plans for the economy, job creation and the middle class.
Palmer’s story is more familiar in Chicago than it is in Indiana, even in the northwest section of Hoosierland that consumes so much of the Chicago news media. Still, the national press has shown an interest in the early account of Obama playing hardball, and Palmer’s presence may remind some of them of the story.
We’ll likely hear more about her -- and them.
-- Christi Parsons
Christi Parsons writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune’s Washington bureau.