Attention-starved Hill Dems eager for Hillary embrace For the most part, Clinton will be talking to allies.

Hillary Clinton’s Capitol Hill charm offensive is in full swing.

The front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president will blanket Congress with members-only meetings on Tuesday that will give lawmakers a chance to personally question Clinton about their priorities — and give her a chance to sell her candidacy to any lingering skeptics.


For the most part, Clinton will be talking to allies. Nearly half of elected Democrats in Congress have already endorsed the former secretary of state, including a number of high-profile senators like Barbara Boxer of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Tim Kaine of Virginia. In the House, close to six dozen of her colleagues have backed her bid — making her 9 a.m. visit to the House Democratic Caucus largely a friendly one.

She’s expected to build on the economic message she laid out in a Monday speech in New York that called for a “growth and fairness economy” — a bold nod to progressives who have been wary of her more moderate leanings — while emphasizing that she’s planning a campaign that will help elect Democrats further down on the ticket.

Still, there could be tough questions on some contentious issues. Democrats just emerged from a bruising battle over free trade. And a looming Iran nuclear deal will likely divide Hill Democrats.

Clinton has yet to weigh in decisively on either issue.

Tuesday starts with an early-morning meeting with House Democrats. Clinton then will hold separate meetings with the Hispanic, black and Asian caucuses before going to the weekly Senate Democratic lunch. Clinton will also meet with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Minority lawmakers said they will use their meetings with Clinton to push her on policies like immigration, poverty and education.

“The black caucus has a myriad of issues it cares about, so we’re going to use every minute that we can to have a conversation with her about our agenda,” said North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Persistent poverty is an example and we want to make sure she recognizes and embraces the question of persistent poverty. That’s going to be the lead item we talk about.”

Butterfield has yet to endorse Clinton.

California Rep. Linda Sanchez, chairwoman of the Hispanic Caucus, said Latino members, many of whom are members of the progressive wing of the party, are looking for progress on child care and in addressing wage and income gaps.

“My understanding is that she’ll come to listen to members and hear our concerns and the priorities that we think are on the front burner for the community and the country,” Sanchez said. “We hope to get a sense of how she would prioritize some of the issues.”

The trip comes as Clinton’s chief competitor, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is enjoying growing support among populist Democrats in New Hampshire and Iowa — two key early voting states. The two presidential hopefuls will come face to face Tuesday when Clinton keynotes the weekly Senate Democratic Caucus lunch Tuesday afternoon.

Sanders has drawn support from more progressive base voters, but his surging poll numbers haven’t translated into support among his congressional colleagues. Dozens of progressive caucus members — a group that Sanders founded when he was in the House — have voiced support for Clinton.

While many Democrats have already backed Clinton, there are notable holdouts. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has not yet formally committed to backing her candidacy, though he hinted on Monday that he would soon endorse his former Senate colleague.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also has not formally endorsed Clinton, although the California Democrat has praised the former secretary of state and said Clinton is one of the most qualified politicians running for the presidency. Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn — who famously clashed with President Bill Clinton in 2008 over the South Carolina primary challenge between Clinton and Barack Obama — also has not endorsed Clinton.

Clyburn will get a chance to question Clinton during the CBC meeting, and Pelosi is holding a private meeting with Clinton Tuesday morning.

Clinton’s outreach strategy is simple. Often criticized for taking her position as front-runner for granted in 2008, Clinton wants to show Democratic power players that she will compete hard for their support this time around. She’s scheduled meetings with four of the largest caucuses on the Hill and will spend time taking questions at weekly caucus meetings in both chambers.

Moreover, House Democrats have complained that they’ve languished without attention for years during Obama’s presidency. Chris Lehane, a former official in President Bill Clinton’s White House and on the campaign trail, said it’s important for Clinton to engage early with congressional Democrats who want to feel courted.

The meetings will be part of a continued effort from Clinton to help Democratic lawmakers feel like they have a stake in her presidential bid.

“If she doesn’t do such outreach, people would ask the equivalent of the Tip O’Neill story — she never asked for my vote,” said Lehane, who is now raising money for Clinton in California. “That will most assuredly not happen with this campaign, which is staying very focused on the blocking and tackling fundamentals.”

He added, “Part of her overall candidate brand is that she gets stuff done — showing that she is prepared and capable of working with the caucus informs the concept that she is a doer — in a time when voters want an antidote to paralysis.”