Hillary's Secret Weapons

June 28, 2007 — -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., may be the star of the show, but she owes her success to 10 women behind the scenes.

They call themselves Hillaryland: a network of women hired by Clinton who have been by her side for 10 to 16 years. Though the group's name began as a joke, Hillaryland's mission is serious. They're fiercely loyal to the New York senator and know her better than almost anyone does.

Though none of them thought Clinton would run for president when they first met her, they told ABC's Kate Snow that they're now doing everything they can to get her elected. That includes sharing with the public a side of the senator few people ever see.

"She's got her own life and her own career, and one of the things that Hillary is so good at is being a mother who loves her daughter to have her own life," said Mandy Grunwald, Clinton's director of advertising.

Ann Lewis, Hillaryland's senior adviser, said that when they're not in the public eye, Hillary and former President Bill Clinton are as loving a couple as any.

"We see them informally, we see them when the cameras are not there, and when they're sitting around the table talking either about their day or about something they're about to do," she said. "These are two people who love each other."

Friend, Mentor and Boss

Clinton is so close with her inner circle that she's been present at some of their children's births. Lissa Muscatine, Hillaryland's communication director, was pregnant with twins when Clinton hired her, and said Clinton made balancing work and family a priority for her staff.

"She said, 'If we can't make this work in the White House for women and small children, how can we expect ... this to work for women in other work places?'" Muscatine said.

Clinton's campaign manager Patty Solis Doyle said that after the birth of her first child, Clinton told her to bring the baby to work. According to Cheryl Mills, Hillaryland's legal counsel, Clinton provided a much needed model of how to be a good parent while juggling work.

"I think there weren't often a lot of models where you could see women at the height of what they were doing and balancing their family," Mills said. "And being able to see her with Chelsea, see what their relationship was like, see when she took the time, all those things helped you be thoughtful about how to be an effective parent yourself."

Hillaryland has stood by Clinton through the highs of political life as well as the lows. Mills was involved in the legal struggles of Bill Clinton's administration. Though those were tough times, she said she'd do it all over again.

"I think that one of the greatest experiences I've had is the chance to be able to participate in changing the country in ways that I believe," she said. "Bill Clinton facilitated that and Hillary Clinton facilitated that. And so the chance to help people who really would like to make a difference, I'm in."