 An amazing coincidence today on the campaign trail in Iowa with Hillary Clinton. The New York senator was in Donnellson, Iowa continuing a broad statewide tour by herself, her husband, Magic Johnson and relatives and friends who've spread out to all 99 crucial counties to tell stories about her to soften and help personalize the Democratic candidate's calculating image in what's become a very tight caucus race.
According to the Associated Press, at a campaign forum in the fire station, which will be a caucus site come Jan. 3, Clinton happened to be asked about her religious faith.
| Just happened to be asked, mind you. Outta the blue, as it were. |
Practicing Methodist, she responded, adding, "I'm often asked if I'm a praying person and I am a praying person."
| "I pray Gawd will allow me to destroy my enemies." |
"My father prayed at his bedside every night."
| "Please, Gawd! Let her find a husband and move the hell out!" |
"And we prayed at the table over dinner."
| "Lord, please help me make it through the tuna casserole without slapping her!" |
Then, the most incredible thing happened.
| Really. Incredible. Who'da ever expected it? |
Someone pointed out that Clinton's childhood Sunday school teacher, Rosalie Bentzinger, from her Park Ridge, Ill. days happened to be right there in the very same Iowa fire station at that same moment.
| She'd just popped by to have her extinguisher recharged. |
What are the odds?
| Ummm... Divide by 13... Carry the 8... Square root of 11... Vanishingly small, I'd say. How about you?... |
The Sunday school teacher stood up. Clinton rushed over to hug her. It was a warm moment.
"Mrs. Bentzinger!"
"Mrs. Rodham-Clinton!" |
The 84-year-old Bentzinger gave Clinton a photograph she happened to have with her.
| It was taped to her fire extinguisher. |
And Clinton announced, "She has a picture of my confirmation class -- March 27, 1959."
| Wow! Wotta coincidence! Kept it all these years, did she? Taped to her fire extinguisher? |
Last month, some folks may recall, Clinton was forced to admit planting questions in a similar forum audience in Newton after a student revealed a Clinton campaign staffer had handed her a question on global warming to ask. Clinton denied this was a regular practice and vowed it wouldn't happen again.
| "Nope. Nope. I ain't never gonna do it again! I promise!" |
Today, Clinton aides said they were unaware the Sunday school teacher was in the crowd.
| "Really. We wuz floored!" |
Still, the incident happened to make a warm story to help personalize the candidate. |