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First lady to visit Israel in June; trip may have dual purposeBy Wolf Blitzer/CNN
May 19, 1999 JERUSALEM (May 19) -- Sources close to Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak say his new government will roll out the red carpet for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton when she arrives in Israel next month. The sources say the first lady's advance team will be in Israel next week to prepare for the visit -- during which, the sources say, Barak and his government will make clear they regard Mrs. Clinton as a strong supporter of Israel despite her controversial statement supporting an independent Palestinian state. That is seen as potentially important to reassuring the large and politically-active Jewish vote in New York. Several sources close to the first lady tell CNN she's planning to form an exploratory committee within a month to prepare for a possible run for the New York Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. That would be the surest sign to date that she's made up her mind to run though she would still theoretically retain some wiggle room to change her mind. She's coming under intense pressure from lawyers to go ahead with the exploratory committee to help pay for her trips to New York, her phone calls to Democratic party activists and any internal polls that her supporters will commission. The sources say her supporters have already informally sounded out several political consultants about working in her campaign though no final decisions have been made about who will be involved. What is clear, the sources say, is that former White House deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes will be in charge of the campaign at least at the start. |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, May 19, 1999
• Bush remains ambivalent on key issues • First lady to visit Israel in June; trip may have dual purpose • Election 2000 briefs: News about Alexander, Quayle, Forbes • Charges reinstated against Buddhist temple political fund-raiser • President Clinton releases education plan • House OKs $15 billion for Kosovo, storm victims, farmers • Hastert favors raising legal age for handgun ownership • Paula Jones' psychic future murky • Few OK tax money for campaigns • Helms praised on nominations • Panel OKs Republican spending cuts plan • Hillary Rodham Clinton dedicates National Gallery of Art sculpture garden • Conservative Republicans eye third party • President promotes funding to build new Penn Station in New York • Gore's satellite proposal sparks political battle in House • Government provides free Web search, for now • Worker says Trie wanted her to get rid of papers • Top senator foresees fall budget clash with Clinton • Dismal ticket sales cancel Ferraro benefit with Clinton • Former City Council president wins Philadelphia mayoral primary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
