By the time Bill Clinton won the 1992 Democratic nomination, his campaign song “Don’t Stop” was already 15 years old. Back then, baby boomers were still coming of age politically, so quoting Fleetwood Mac in the Nirvana era didn’t seem so dated.
If Hillary Clinton is elected president, the album on which “Don’t Stop” appeared — Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors” — will turn 40 the year she is sworn in.
Since John F. Kennedy, Democrats have generally enjoyed a “freshness” advantage over Republicans. Democrats tend to nominate relatively unknown presidential candidates, as well as White House aspirants who appeal to the young. The Clintons cut their teeth on George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign.
Bill Clinton won the presidency by defeating George H.W. Bush, an incumbent 22 years his senior. He then won re-election in 1996 by beating Bob Dole, who was 23 years older. Both his Republican opponents had served in World War II at a time when the Vietnam generation was starting to take power.
The 2008 presidential race featured an even bigger age gap: Barack Obama was 25 years younger than John McCain. Bush and Dole were each on their third run for the White House when they faced Clinton. McCain was on his second when he ran against Obama.
Whatever advantages Hillary Clinton will enjoy in 2016 — her potential to be the first woman president, the growth of demographic groups who favor Democrats, the memory of peace and prosperity while her husband was in office — freshness, youth and a lack of familiarity will not be among them.
Not only will Clinton, now 67, turn 70 in what would be her first year in the White House. She has been a familiar figure nationally since the early 1990s, a household name in Arkansas and neighboring states since the 1970s. She is as much of a figure of a bygone era as Bob Dole in 1996, John McCain in 2008.
For people who remember the Internet boom and the budget surplus, that might not be an entirely bad thing. And of course, anyone who admires Ronald Reagan understands older presidents can still be conduits for new ideas.
That said, Hillary Clinton and her entourage come across as a nostalgia act, like a “Friends” and “Seinfeld” marathon. Unless the Republicans choose Jeb Bush for president, in keeping with the party’s tradition of handing out its nomination like a gold watch at a retirement party, the GOP standard-bearer will be the fresh face.
Already, there is a sense of déjà vu surrounding Hillary. Her scandals seem the same. Defenders like James Carville, David Brock and Joe Conason are coming out of the woodwork. Other Clinton apologists, such as Hilary Rosen, are reminding fellow Democrats who’s really in charge.
Even the Clintons seem to understand it’s different this time. Hillary is invoking her grandmotherly status. They are toying with campaign slogans that sound more like a farewell tour than a bridge to the future.
Hillary’s social media campaign launch was reminiscent of a grandmother trying to master contemporary slang. Some might find it cute, others a stretch.
After losing the 2008 Democratic nomination to a freshman senator, the Clinton campaign has the feel of Adlai Stevenson coming out of retirement. “Ready for Hillary” has been repealed and replaced with “Ready for retirement.”
That’s not to say it won’t work. Rolling Stones tickets are going for nearly $300, so nostalgia certainly sells. But there was a time when nostalgia wasn’t what the Clintons were selling.
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.
W. James Antle III is managing editor of The Daily Caller and author of the book Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped? Follow him on Twitter.