Politics on the Hudson

NEW YORK – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered her final pitch to voters on the eve of Super Tuesday in two Manhattan television studios Monday night by taping “The Late Show With David Letterman’’ and then heading to the studio used by the daytime Tyra Banks Show for a late evening town hall with audiences in more than 20 cities.

But the bully pulpit at Clinton’s first stop seemed to be more in the hands of the CBS talk show host than the candidate as he made a pitch for public financing of elections to level the playing field among candidates. According to reports by pool reporters who attended the taping, Letterman suggested using the money that’s been raised to help the poor, uninsured and hungry.

Letterman also pushed Clinton to talk about the controversial role of her husband in the campaign.

“Lets assume we all agree there was a problem. Who has that talk with Bill?” he asked, according to the pool report.

Without disputing Letterman’s characterization, Clinton said, “It was more like, you know, I think that we need to get back on the positive here, because this campaign really has to be about the future and it has to be about what I’m going to do as president.”

Indeed, the night Clinton lost in South Carolina, her state campaign chairman, Don Fowler, said staying on message would be the goal going forward.

Clinton did just that later in the evening at her live town hall by taking question prescreened by her campaign.

Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea played supportive roles in the program Web-cast on Clinton’s campaign Internet site and the cable television’s Hallmark channel.

The former president made a surprise appearance in San Francisco, where the audience emcee was supposed to be San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Instead, it was Bill who introduced a veteran from San Mateo who asked a question about mandatory funding for veterans mental health and health services.

“I will sign such legislation,’’ Clinton responded, repeating a policy she often mentions in her stump speech. “I will invite such legislation.’’

When she finished, Clinton turned and screeched, “Oh there’s Chelsea!’’

“Hi mom,’’ Chelsea responded, before introducing a questioner from Hartford, Conn.

The questions – which came from cities such as Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; St. Paul, Minn; and Tulsa, Okla.—came in quick-fire succession on topics ranging from immigration, to gay rights, education and infrastructure investment. there also was a trip down memory lane with a question from an audience in Clinton’s high school in Park Ridge, Ill. and another from Little Rock, Ark. where she served as first lady to the governor.

Political handicappers are predicting neither Clinton nor Sen. Barack Obama will win enough delegates Tuesday to lock up the Democratic presidential nomination.

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