Getting Behind Hillary

IRISH American Democrats will be out in force this weekend to support the fundraiser hosted by Senator Hillary Clinton for New Hampshire Governor John Lynch which is being held in Manhattan.

Irish American Democrats leader Stella O’Leary says this is the beginning of a major push by the organization to get behind Clinton in coming months.

“We think there has been a lot of nonsense talked about how Hillary cannot be elected president,” she told this column. “We are abs-olutely convinced that she can be and that she would be a great candidate.

“We believe that Hillary has a record second to none with the Irish but that unfortunately, too few of the Irish know about it. On the peace process, immigration and everything else she has always stood with us,” O’Leary said.

Irish American Democrats are a formidable PAC when they get going and have played key roles in supporting dozens of Irish American candidates. In the process O’Leary has become an important powerbroker and fundraiser for the party.

Of course, it is no coincidence that Clinton’s fundraiser is for the man who will be absolutely key to her chances in the Granite State come the 2008 primaries. Lynch is a popular Democrat in a mostly Republican state, and he can certainly smooth Hillary’s path through the tough early test.

Of course, the senator’s war chest by that stage is expected to be massive. Her most recent filing stated that she had raised over $22 million for her non-existent New York Senate race which she will win in a canter. It certainly means she will have a massive war chest come the beginning of the primary season a little over a year from now.

Bloomberg’s Irish Trip

THOSE who believe New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has White House ambitions may find some evidence of that in the fact that he is visiting Ireland at the end of the month.

It is traditional of course, that presidential candidate wannabees pay homage to the three I’s Ireland, Israel, Italy and Bloomberg, who is Jewish, has certainly no problems relating to the Jewish state.

The trip to Ireland, to remote Co. Sligo, no less, is an interesting step by the mayor who, it is hinted, might want to spend up to $500 million of his fortune on a presidential run as a third party candidate.

He has certainly cultivated very good relations with the Irish community through his Irish representative Adrian Flann-elly, and the trip to Ireland to commemorate the Fight-ing 69th Regi-ment and Civil War hero Brig-adier General Michael Cor-coran will certainly add to his luster with the Irish Amer-ican community.

Four New Yorkers In the Frame

IF Bloomberg does decide to run he would be the fourth New Yorker aiming at the big prize in 2008, an unprecedented number. Already it is obvious that Governor George Pataki, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator Hilary Clinton will have their hats in the ring when the race starts next year.

All four would fancy their chances, though arguably, Pataki, who is leaving office in very poor shape in the polls, will have the most difficult task.

Pataki has made no friends in the Irish American community in recent months with his refusal to take a stance on the immigration issue, and by insisting that the driver’s licenses of those undocumented be suspended unless they can show a valid Social Security number.

Given his advocacy on Irish issues during most of this three terms it is a disappointing end note for Pataki. He created the Irish Famine monument in Manhattan which is an extraordinary gift to the Irish in America.

Whether he can be a contender for the White House, however, remains to be seen, though initial reports are that he is going over well in Iowa where he has concentrated much of his effort.

Giuliani, on the other hand, is still playing coy, though there is hardly a soul who knows him who doubts for a second that he will be running.

Giuliani is polling well at the moment, but when his three marriages, pro-gay and pro-abortion stances are thrown at him that may well be a different story.

Giuliani, however, is probably the most formidable of the New York contenders next to Clinton. He has achieved rare superstar status because of his extraordinary handling of the 9/11 crisis, and he can trade on that for a considerable amount of support.

McCain and the Wall Street Irish

OF course, Senator John McCain remains the firm favorite for the White House nomination on the Republican side. His status was certainly boosted by the Massachusetts poll which showed him neck and neck with Senator Clinton in that state, the most liberal in the nation.

On Monday, McCain will be special guest at the Irish America magazine Wall Street 50 event being held in Manhattan, yet another Irish event that the presidential front runner will be showing up at in recent times. The event is co hosted by Financial Dynamics.

The Wall Street crowd is a certain winner for McCain as he is very popular on the Street and it will certainly give him access to a highly motivated and friendly crowd.

Next up for McCain may well be a trip to Ireland to cement his efforts to reach out to Irish America.