Rick Lazio in Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton

On Budget & Economy: 2000: Upstate "turning the corner" viewed as out-of-touch

Our first debate was I Buffalo on September 13 and was moderated by a Buffalo native, Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press. After a series of questions about health care, the upstate economy and education, the questions also covered school vouchers, the environment and other local issues, and that's when Lazio made a critical mistake. He said that the upstate economy had "turned the corner." But to anyone who lived upstate or who had spent time there, Lazio sounded out of touch. By then I had visited the region frequently and had held extensive discussions with residents about the problems of job loss and young people leaving the area. I had also developed an economic plan for the region that voters were taking seriously. Source: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, p.519-520 Nov 1, 2003

On Principles & Values: 2000: Pushed Hillary on "NY Freedom From Soft Money Pact"

Near the end of the Oct. 2000 debate, from behind hid podium, Lazio began hectoring me about soft money and challenging me to ban large Democratic Party contributions in my campaign. I could barely get a word in when he marched over to me, waving a piece of paper--called the "New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact"--and demanding my signature. I declined. He pressed in closer, shouting, "Right here, sign it right now!"

I offered to shake hands, but he kept badgering me. I only had time to utter one sentence in response before Russert ended the debate. I don't know whether Lazio and his advisers thought they could fluster me or provoke me into anger.

The debate was another turning point in the race that helped push some voters into my corner, although I didn't realize it right away.

Lazio had come across as a bully rather than the nice guy he was trying to project. Public opinion polls & focus groups soon made it clear that a lot of voters, especially women, were offended by Lazio's tactics

Source: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, p.520-521 Nov 1, 2003

The above quotations are from Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Rick Lazio. Click here for Rick Lazio on all issues.
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