Is Vilsack a Stalking Horse for Hillary?

[Herman Munster]

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/?p=794

If you’re the DLC and you’ve got a great shot at another Clinton White House, why muck things up with a 1000-to-1 longshot bid like Vilsack. It makes little sense, unless Vilsack is a stalking horse for Hillary.

J Pod, over at the National Review, sees Vilsack’s run as a boon to New York’s Jr. Senator. He believes it takes Iowa and it’s peculiar, corn-y retail politics off the table… much (as Kevin Drum notes) like Tom Harkin’s bid in ‘92 did for Bill Clinton:

The decision by Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. This decision is a huge gift to the campaign of Hillary Clinton. With Vilsack in the race, all other Democratic candidates can declare the Iowa caucuses his territory and bail out of there. The quirky state won’t play a big role, and that only benefits the 800 lb. Gorilla.

And this New York Times piece handicapping Hilary’s inevitable bid suggests a degree of coordination with the Vilsack campaign:

Tom Vilsack of Iowa even called her this week to give her a heads-up that he was planning to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, advisers to both of them said. Mr. Vilsack is a longtime admirer of Mrs. Clinton, his advisers said, and he is well aware that she has the standing and money to mount a formidable campaign.