Bubba cashes in legacy for failed campaign

The ultimate big loser, perhaps of his own doing, in the failed Hillary Clinton presidential bid is her dear husband Bubba.

Already controversial for the fundraising on his presidential library in Little Rock, the $25 million he harvested off Los Angeles developer and supermarket king Ron Burkle on the eve of the campaign, tainted donations to his good works foundation and the quintessential rumors of extramarital consorts--former presidenti William Jefferson Clinton proved to be a negative force in his wife's destrucition.

Rumors are his personality was changed by his heart bypass surgery, but whatever happened, Clinton lost the touch that rose him to the presidency from humble Arkansas roots. He proved hyper-sensitive to the slightist dig on the campaign trail, touching off his famous temper, getting him in trouble with blacks, the liberal mass media that used to be his oyster, and sinking his wife in controversy.

Early in the campaign, the Clinton team seemed to have the correct vision of keeping Bill in the background, as a behind-the-scenes fundraiser and stealth weapon in very tightly controlled circumstances. But after Hillary lost Iowa big to Obama, Bill took greater charge in her organization and went out on the trail non-stop, losing the respected mantle of statesman and bon vivant.

The worse his wife did, the more he got the blame. He was behind the canning of her campaign manager, Patty Solis Doyle and the failure to can her pollster and strategist, Mark Penn. Bubba seemed not to have updated his strategy and tactics to the realities of the 21st century. Hillary was positioned wrong from the get-go as the inevitable nominee and a Washington pro, when in reality she had really high negative ratings and a resume as thin as Obama's. The public didn't buy it.

When it turned out after Super Tuesday, Feb. 5 that Hillary was broke and had lavished millions on staff perks and bureaucracy, the fundraising strategy of hitting up all Bill's rich friends failed, as they were maxed out under the law. Obama's strategy of thousands of small donors over the internet meant he could go back to them time and time again, raising record amounts. Hillary had to put in some $11 million of she and Bubba's exchequer, and still couldn't keep up with Obama media spending in crucial states.

Bill and Hillary are relataively young--in their early 60s. But Bill, in particular, seems to have burned his candle. He'll need a new strategy to recover. At least Hillary still has a Senate seat.