Politics

Anti-War Activist Could Be Thorn In Senator Clinton's Side
June 06, 2006

NY1

Senator Hillary Clinton is expected to easily win a second term this year, but a little known Democrat is trying to make it a bit harder for her, and Tuesday he got some high-profile help. NY1’s Rita Nissan filed this report.

Meet the thorn in Hillary Clinton's side: labor activist Jonathan Tasini.

“This is about getting onto the ballot,” he says.

The little known Democrat kicked off his petition drive in Union Square to mount a primary challenge. Tasini's signature issue is the war in Iraq and Clinton's support for it. He's trying to strike a cord with liberals, the base of the Democratic Party.

“How can it be that we have a Democratic senator who voted for the war, who's position is like Bush? Democratic primary voters don't want that kind of senator,” he says.

Neither does Cindy Sheehan. She can't vote in New York, but she's trying to influence the election.

Sheehan gained attention after her son was killed in Iraq. She spent weeks protesting outside the president's ranch in Texas. Now, she's protesting against Clinton.

“I think Jonathan has a really good chance of beating her,” she says. “But if he doesn't beat her, I think he has a really good chance of crippling her to show the world that she is not a progressive.”

Clinton has taken a beating from some liberals. But among moderate Democrats, she's widely popular.

Clinton's campaign is doing its best to ignore Tasini. Her spokesperson wouldn't comment for this story.

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf says Tasini doesn't stand a chance, but he may be able to do some damage.

“He wants to highlight one issue. One-issue candidates don't generally win, but they make a lot of noise,” he says. “The question is, can he hurt the senator? He can make the left a little angrier at her, and she is going to have to cure that problem.”

It's a problem that could follow her to 2008, if she decides to run for president.

- Rita Nissan