The way David Axelrod sees it, former President Bill Clinton’s role in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s inauguration on Wednesday may have served two purposes.
After riding a “tale of two cities” message to a resounding victory in last year’s mayoral race, de Blasio’s arrival at City Hall has been met with eager anticipation from progressives in New York and across the country. The reaction from conservatives and budget-obsessed centrists has been less enthusiastic.
According to Axelrod, Clinton’s leading role at de Blasio’s inauguration could help the new mayor placate the two constituencies whose priorities are often diametrically opposed.
Axelrod, the former top adviser to President Obama, suggested on Twitter that Clinton’s participation in the inauguration ceremony may provide reassurances to the left ahead of the 2016 presidential race and “signal to elite” that de Blasio’s “agenda is not ‘radical.'”
Clinton role in @BilldeBlasio Inaug may reassure Left re ’16. But doesn’t it also signal to elite that new Mayor’s agenda is not “radical?”
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) January 1, 2014
It was a former Axelrod protege, John Del Cecato, who was behind the now-famous campaign ad featuring de Blasio’s biracial, teenage son Dante.
Clinton formally swore in de Blasio during a New Year’s Day ceremony at City Hall. De Blasio was an official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in former President Clinton’s administration and served as campaign manager for Hillary Clinton’s successful U.S. Senate bid in 2000.
This post has been updated.