President Discovers Newfound Support Within His Party

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 29) -- If President Bill Clinton's name was anathema to Democratic congressional hopefuls in 1994, it's music to those seeking election in 1996.

A dramatic shift in loyalty within his own party has led Clinton to take a lead role in fund-raising and campaigning that he could not have done two years ago. With a recent survey showing his job approval rating at 55 percent -- nearly the highest it's ever been -- Democrats no longer shy away from their president.

In fact, they are lining up for him. Clinton's presence last week at Democratic National Committee event in Philadelphia contributed to the fund-raiser's $1.3 million sucess.

When the President visited Connecticut during the 1994 campaign to deliver an attack on the Republican "Contract with America," Rep. Sam Gejdenson did not attend the event. This May, Clinton will give a commencement speech at the Coast Guard Academy in the state and Gjedenson's aides have been trying to arrange a joint appearance with the president since first hearing about the event.

"The president has made remarkable strides since 1994," a top Gejdenson aide told the Associated Press. "We certainly view him as an asset."

Clinton is also playing a larger role in forming congressional campaign strategy, attending Democratic retreats. In the past, opponents in the past would use those retreats as an opportunity to bash him.

Having already raised $3.5 million for House Democrats alone, Clinton is scheduled to attend more DNC fund-raisers next month and continue to support individual Democrats' bids for election.

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