CLINTON WALKS ALONE – AT 5:45 A.M. ET:  Bill Clinton stunned the political world yesterday by endorsing the underdog in the Colorado Democratic primary for U.S. senator, rather than the incumbent, who has White House support.  There is major tongue wagging, and tea leaves are being read.   From The Politico:

Bill Clinton's stunning endorsement of an underdog insurgent running against the White House's handpicked candidate in the Colorado senatorial primary should be proof that whatever the public perception may be of a united front between President Barack Obama and the former president, Clinton remains very much his own man - and his own political force.

The email Clinton sent out urging support for Andrew Romanoff went a long way toward undoing the impression that Clinton - whose rescue mission to Arkansas on behalf of Sen. Blanche Lincoln earlier this month was thought mistakenly to be at the request of the White House - has become a reliable Obama ally willing to do the heavy lifting in support of the president’s favorite candidates.

Sen. Michael Bennet, appointed last year to the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, is a particular White House project, and Romanoff a particular irritant. Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina wound up in hot water after Romanoff released emails documenting what many took as an attempt to lure Romanoff away from a primary challenge with a government job.

But Clinton's endorsement, in an email Tuesday, was unstinting, suggesting that Romanoff - who supported Hillary Clinton in her losing 2008 presidential race — had both the strongest record and the best electoral prospects.

COMMENT:  Oh my, oh my.  Is there a deeper story here other than some kind of personal loyalty?  Clearly, many in the political profession are waiting for lady-in-waiting Hillary Clinton to make her move.  She exudes loyalty to Obama, but exuding is one of the easiest skills to pick up.  Everyone who's ever had a boss learns to exude. 

In the last year we've learned that John Edwards isn't a husband, Al Gore isn't a virgin, and Barack Obama isn't a president.  Could the Clintons be separating themselves from Obama, the better to be positioned for 2012 should The One retire to write another autobiography, or be forced out of the race by mathematical reality?

I'd watch every move the Clintons make, and I'd especially look for any daylight between Hillary Clinton and Obama in foreign policy.

June 30,  2010