Clinton hasn't forgotten that he lost re-election as Arkansas governor after raising the cost of state license plates. Sticking close to home. After last week, you can be sure there will be no 1998 GOP contract. The Republicans aren't just short on ideas. They're sure that if they get a good idea, the president will steal it.
Republicans now figure they're safer sticking to items close to home.
So long as Clinton is popular and the voters are relatively content, incumbents are better off if they focus on fine-tuning. Besides, when they try to point to larger achievements, such as the balanced budget, the president gets the credit. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, however, still insists on trying to tie it all together. But even Gilmore's pollster John McLaughlin points out that tax talk alone is not enough. Voters are pretty skeptical these days.