Team Clinton unveiled a new campaign plane on Wednesday -- and with it, an honorary member of the flight crew.
"My name is Hillary, and I'm so pleased to have most of you on board," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced over the public address system of the 737 aircraft before it took off on its maiden voyage, from Las Vegas to Reno, shortly after 2 p.m. pacific standard time.
Welcome to Hil Force One. Or HF1, for short.
| I always thought 'Broomstick One' was better ... |
"FAA regulations prohibit the use of cell phones, blackberries or other wireless devices that may be used to transmit negative stories about me," Clinton said. She warned her guests -- a couple of dozen reporters, members of her Secret Service detail and several aides -- to keep their seatbelts on even after the light had been turned off. "Things can get awfully bumpy when you least expect it," she said. . . .
. . . Clinton, notoriously wary of the press, had until Wednesday avoided too much mingling with her assigned reporters, choosing mostly to fly on a separate charter, sometimes in and out of separate cities. Her decision to travel with the ink-stained masses -- albeit in the front first class section -- came as part of a broader effort of late to be more accessible, with suddenly frequent interviews, conference calls and press availabilities (including one immediately before the flight).
Still, she did not wander too far off-message, even in jest. "In the event of an unexpected drop in poll numbers this plane will be diverted to New Hampshire," she said, as reporters leaned to the center aisle to catch a glimpse. Clinton then promised to deliver her "stump speech, in its many variations," as in-flight entertainment. "We know you have choices when you fly, so we are grateful you chose the plane with the most experienced candidate." |