These are the good ‘ole days?

Chuck Todd Chief White House correspondent and political director • Profile

WASHINGTON - Could Carly Simon be right? These are the good old days? As a society, we are programmed to believe yesterday was better than today.  Whether about sports, technology or politics, we love to wax nostalgic about yesteryear.

Spend 10 minutes with anyone over 30, let alone someone in their 60s, and you’re likely to hear them say “in my day” or “I remember when” to frame a conversation about homerun hitters, computers, or honest politicians.

On the campaign trail, no one is benefiting more from nostalgia than Hillary Clinton. Many folks, including me, thought the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton fatigue was real and a problem with voters across the board.

But there's growing evidence that the fatigue theory is just not true, at least with Democrats.

What Clinton appears to be benefiting from is the low opinion partisan Democrats have of President Bush. These are the most likely primary voters. And that loathing is benefiting Clinton because of the "good old days" feeling Democrats now have of Bill Clinton.

Rival campaigns are admitting the Clinton negatives are popping up less in focus groups and research on likely Democratic voters than we in the media might think.

Frankly, it's why the Clinton camp is so nervous about the Norman Hsu fundraising controversy. It's a negative reminder of the Clinton years which Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats have blocked out. One negative reminder of the 90s is not fatal for Clinton. He campaign only has to worry about other, um, shoes (or Hsus) dropping.

Barack Obama, of course is also hoping to benefit from nostalgia. Initially, he did so from the aging elitist boomer liberals who still pine for what-might-have-been with Bobby Kennedy. The problem for Obama is aging liberal baby boomers aren't rank-n-file primary voters.

Obama, actually, has (or is it now had?) been banking on a lack of nostalgia to build his base for victory.

Politics Click here to share your thoughts on political matters, including the economic crisis and what you think Congress and president can do about the problems.

One of the most telling moments of   Barack Obama's interview with Brian Williams earlier this week was the acknowledgement by the political newcomer that Bill Clinton was still very popular with Democrats. Said Obama: “Senator Clinton is the default candidate for a lot of Democrats. People have fond memories of Bill Clinton and his administration.”

To some, that might seem like a "duh" statement akin to finding out the Yankees are still enormously popular with New Yorkers.

But for Obama, who had been trying to fine-tune his media-friendly message of "turn the page," this reality is becoming a major stumbling block for him.

Some Obama admirers have been grumbling to those who would listen that with this "turn the page" message not working he needs a new message. Because without a new message, he'll simply be hoping for more Hsus so that "turn the page" has teeth again.

Here's an odd irony. Would Obama's "turn the page" be working better if Bush weren't so loathed by Democrats?

Picking the president — the candidates Click a name below to visit that candidate’s MSNBC page • Joe Biden                 • Sam Brownback     • Hillary Clinton          • Chris Dodd • John Edwards         • Rudy Giuliani           • Mike Gravel              • Duncan Hunter • Mike Huckabee        • Dennis Kucinich     • John McCain           • Barack Obama • Ron Paul                    • Bill Richardson      • Mitt Romney            • Tom Tancredo • Fred Thompson To subscribe to a candidate page RSS feed, click here.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Senate clears last hurdle before final health vote No pity parties for senators working overtime   Gates proposes $2 billion for unstable countries Did Obama campaign on the public option? Guantanamo prison may stay open until 2011 AIG bonus return pledge goes mostly unfulfilled Abortion looms as possible health bill deal killer Obama rejects criticism on health legislation Fighting breast cancer, Teresa Heinz urges tests   Ex-President Carter offers apology to Jews Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: