Chelsea Clinton: Private Person, Public Campaign
Keeping distance from press, former first daughter edges back into spotlight.
Jan. 18, 2008 — -- Chelsea Clinton is arguably the most recognizable political offspring since John F. Kennedy Jr. The only daughter of the nation's last Democratic president, now her mother is interviewing for Dad's old job.
For weeks, the 27-year-old hedge fund manager in New York, comfortably distanced from the White House and spotlight that accompanied her adolescence, was seen but not heard on the campaign trail.
But as the race between Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and her chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., heats up, the former first daughter is coming out of her shell, stepping cautiously back into the bubble.
At first, she stood silent on stages, smiling broadly and greeting voters. But rarely did she offer more than a brief, "I hope you'll support my mom." And she never, ever, spoke to the press.
But she is beginning to allow a glimpse of her life on the road.
ABC News' cameras were allowed to follow Clinton as she campaigned in Nevada, joined in a nondescript minivan by Amber Tamblyn, star of "Joan of Arcadia," and America Ferrera, better known as the title character in ABC's "Ugly Betty."
The famous trio's hectic day began with a rally, and her father, former President Clinton, and retired NBA basketball Magic Johnson, were along for the ride. Then came a walk through the packed hallways of Caesar's Palace to meet everyone from blackjack dealers to kitchen workers.
By late afternoon, Clinton was greeting volunteers at her mother's Las Vegas headquarters. "I'll sleep on Feb. 6," she shouted as she left.
Next stop: the student union at the University of Las Vegas. Ferrera called it a "sneak attack" on the students of UNLV.
For weeks now, Clinton has been doing these kind of stealth campaign stops with no advance warning and no cameras supporting her mother's campaign.
"Do you have any questions about my mom's campaign?" she asks. The crowd asks a host of questions on everything from student loans to gay marriage and variety of detailed answers follow.
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