Clinton's common ground
Don't expect Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to move too far to the left anytime soon. For that matter, don't look for her to lean too far to the right. And as for the center, well, it is a political place the New York Democrat intends to keep visiting.Clinton told a largely non-political audience last night a willingness by people to find "common ground ... is where America works best," and it is her duty as an elected official to seek out solutions to problems.

"As a senator from New York, I think it's my job to try and work with people to try and find that common ground that makes for ideas based on efforts at solving problems," she told more than 220 people who attended the "American Conversation" speaker's series sponsored by the National Archives.

Clinton, who is considered the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination should she seek it in 2008, acknowledged that this political position "may not satisfy ideologues or the extremists or the people who have a commercial or partisan stake," but she added, "I think that is the best place to be, it is the most comfortable place for me."

It is statements such as this one by Clinton that cause blood boiling in liberal activists who argue she should not be the next Democratic presidential nominee. But other Democrats suggest Clinton must walk this center line if she is to have a chance in the general election. Last night, though, it was not about a future presidential bid. Or was it? U.S. Archivist Allen Weinstein never asked Clinton directly if she planned to run for the White House, but he did give her an opportunity to "make news."

"Well what do you have in mind," a laughing Clinton quickly responded. There was no doubt what Weinstein had in mind or for that matter what was on the minds of the 200-plus people sitting in the audience. Clinton -- in what has become a common routine -- deftly sidestepped the question.

But Weinstein did get Clinton to talk about her long-term vision for the nation that included strengthening the economy, making the country energy self-sufficient, providing affordable healthcare for everyone, fighting the global war on terror and to reestablish the U.S. standing with the international community. If one thought twice about Clinton's goals, it may have sounded like the makings of a campaign stump speech. But this wasn't about running for president. Or was it?

She even had nice things to say about President Bush, thanking him for the help he provided to New York following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. She described him as "someone who has a lot of charm and charisma." Another comment that is sure to make some on the left grit their teeth.But again, this wasn't about a 2008 White House run. Or was it? After spending 15 minutes signing autographs and snapping pictures with the audience members, Clinton introduced Weinstein to a half dozen reporters who stopped by to see the speech as "my base." She then quickly corrected herself.

"That is John McCain's line," a smiling Clinton said of the Arizona Republican Senator, who is also eyeing a 2008 presidential bid. But this wasn't about 2008. Or was it?While most of the recent news concerning the midterm elections predicts disastrous results for the GOP, the party has scored an early "hat trick" by recruiting three prominent black Republicans to run for statewide offices. In the blue state of Pennsylvania, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann is running for governor and in the Democratic stronghold of Maryland, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is running for Senate. In the red state of Ohio, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell won the GOP gubernatorial nomination last week. (Swann is expected to secure the Republican nomination next week, while Steele is the favorite to get the official GOP nod in September.)

"This is a banner year," Alvin Williams, co-founder of Black America's Political Action Committee, told the Grind in an interview last week. "This is probably the best slate of candidates I have seen."Tara Wall, a Republican National Committee official, said the successful recruitment of these high-profile candidates is a demonstration of RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman's commitment to reach out to minority communities.

"Our aggressive efforts and our chairman's efforts are really starting to pay off," Wall said in an interview with the Grind last week. "Obviously, we have a long way to go, but we are making great strides."Democrats dismissed Republican claims that these black candidates have broad appeal, and instead suggested their conservative views would not resonate with either African American or white voters.

"We will run against these candidates like we would any others," said Jon Summers, spokesman for the Democratic Governors Association.

Another black Republican, Rev. Keith Butler, is seeking the GOP Senate nomination in Michigan but he is not expected to win the primary.

Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report, described Blackwell, Steele and Swann as "underdogs" to win in November. But he noted their statewide candidacies are an important step for Republicans as they try to draw minorities into their tent."These are serious African American candidates," said Rothenberg, who also writes a column for the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. "Having these three candidates running in these three states starts to shatter the image that the Republican Party is a white guy's party."Even Williams, whose non-partisan PAC gives exclusively to conservative candidates, acknowledges winning all three contests would be difficult.

"Having each of these guys win would just be supersonic," he said. "If we have one win, I think it would be historic."

Bush wraps up his trip to Florida today with a 9:30 a.m. ET "Conversation on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit" at the Asociación Borinqueña de Florida Central, Inc. in Orlando. In the neighborhood of 300 people are expected to attend. Prior to this event, Bush met with a select group of Florida-based reporters. He returns to the White House in time for a 1:40 p.m. ET event with "Victims of Identity Theft."

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, House Democrats hold a 10 a.m. ET briefing in the Cannon Rotunda to urge Bush to extend the deadline to sign up for the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Later, House leaders join Senate Democrats at a 1:30 p.m. ET news conference in the Russell Caucus Room to echo their call for a deadline extension. House Republicans will talk about their "Commitment to Protecting Our Homeland & Supporting Our Troops" at 10 a.m. briefing in the Capitol. At 2 p.m., Republicans join Treasury Secretary John Snow on the West Front Steps of the Capitol for a "Tax Rally."

This afternoon, four former House Members will be awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Vice President Cheney, former Central Intelligence Director Porter Goss, former Ambassador Lindy Claiborne Boggs and Father Robert Drinan will be bestowed this honor by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) at a 2:30 p.m. ET ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

And former Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina), who is also eyeing a run for the White House, joins SEIU President Dennis Rivera outside New York City Hall for a 10 a.m. ET rally to urge for an increase in benefits and salary for home healthcare workers.