DES MOINES — Hillary Rodham Clinton has no hard feelings toward Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York for declining to endorse her presidential bid — at least according to Tom Harkin, the former Democratic senator from Iowa.
Mr. Harkin told reporters here Thursday that he hosted a small dinner for Mrs. Clinton at his home on Wednesday night, the final evening of her first visit to Iowa as a declared candidate.
Mr. de Blasio’s decision, Mr. Harkin said, did not come up, but Mrs. Clinton had only positive words for the mayor.
“She was very high on Bill,” Mr. Harkin recounted. “She said, ‘Oh, I love Bill de Blasio. Ran my campaign for the senate, great guy, great mayor.'”
It should be noted that Mr. Harkin was standing beside Mr. de Blasio when he made his remarks. The mayor delivered a speech on Thursday morning at Drake University, where he denounced Washington’s failure to address income inequality.
Mr. Harkin, who had invited Mr. de Blasio along, called him “a great progressive leader in America.” But Mr. Harkin also had warm words for Mrs. Clinton and her initial campaign strategy in the state that holds the first nomination contest.
“What she’s doing is absolutely correct,” he said. “This is not going to be any high-altitude bombing run. This is going to be on the ground, and it’s going to be up close and personal.”
“She is so good at that,” Mr. Harkin added. “I think a lot of her talents and ability in that area was maybe wasted in ’08, because the campaign didn’t run that way. It’s going to be different this time, and I think people will see a real genuine person here in Hillary Clinton.”
But pressed on whether he hoped Mr. de Blasio would eventually endorse Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Harkin demurred.
“Well, now, listen, ease off, O.K.?” he said, laughing. “There’s a time and a place for everything.”
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