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Clinton seizes opportunity after crisis David Paul Kuhn Friday afternoon began with possible tragedy: a hostage crisis at Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign office in Rochester, N.H. As the incident unfolded, Clinton’s campaign closed its doors and canceled her public appearances. But nightfall brought a happy ending: the campaign workers safe, the man in police custody — and the New York senator flying to the scene to express thanks. The hostage-taking itself offered a rare, if small, genuine drama in a campaign season governed by strict schedules and scripted stump speeches. And as soon as it ended, Clinton took full advantage of the opportunity she had unexpectedly been handed.
In her New Hampshire press conference, she stood before a column of police in green and tan uniforms. She talked of meeting with hostages. She mentioned that she spoke to the state’s governor about eight minutes after the incident began. The scene was one of a woman in charge. “It looked and sounded presidential,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “This was an instance of the White House experience of this campaign. They knew how to handle this.”
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