Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California struggled to name one of Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments in the Senate, instructing one of her aides to Google the Democratic presidential front-runner’s track record during an interview Tuesday.
The San Francisco Chronicle called it a “straight-up question,” but Ms. Feinstein, who endorsed Mrs. Clinton for the presidency, apparently wasn’t prepared.
“As someone who worked with Hillary Clinton for nearly a decade in the Senate, what in your view was her signature accomplishment as a senator?” The paper’s editorial board asked.
The senator reportedly “paused for a few seconds to ponder the career of Clinton.”
“Golly, I forget what bills she’s been part of or authored. I didn’t really come prepared to discuss this,” said Mr. Feinstein, who had planned to pitch her new California water plan.
“But she’s been a good senator. There are things outside of bills that you can do, and I know that she’s done them for her state.”
She later directed an aide to “get on Google” so she could keep a list of Mrs. Clinton’s senate successes.
Mrs. Clinton represented New York in the Senate from 2001 to 2009 before she left to serve as secretary of state under President Obama. Ms. Feinstein, who was elected in 1992, said Mrs. Clinton didn’t work in the Senate long enough “to achieve the degree of seniority that affords her the ability to do more,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Ms. Feinstein did argue that Mrs. Clinton helped New York City secure $20 billion to rebuild after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. She also mentioned that Mrs. Clinton helped start a health insurance program for children during her tenure as first lady.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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