Brown confident in Clinton victory

Lt. Gov. Anthony BrownLt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown is “very optimistic” that Sen. Hillary Clinton will be “very successful” in the Iowa Democratic caucus, Jan. 3.

The lieutenant governor has been to Iowa three times on the senator’s behalf, including a recent visit to the Hawkeye State, where Brown met with a group of veterans.

Brown, who served in Iraq as a Reservist in 2005, told PolitickerMD.com that he had a “very robust conversation” with roughly 20 veterans, each of whom was a committed caucus-goer. He said the group was comprised of both Clinton supporters and undecided voters.

Brown stressed that the senator was “very committed” to increasing benefits and services for veterans and their family members. He referred to bipartisan work the senator had done with Republican Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia to expand retirement and TRICARE health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reservists. The Senate passed the Chambliss-Graham-Clinton Amendment in June of 2006.

In addition, the lieutenant governor said he thought Clinton was the “most experienced” Democratic candidate.

“She has traveled to 70-plus countries building relationships with leaders’ from around the world,” Brown said.

“She has been through the battles on health care,” Brown later added.

He also referred to Clinton’s work on the Armed Services Committee, which she has served on since 2003.

Brown said he was encouraged by his conversations with undecided voters in Iowa, saying that Iowans were very responsive to Clinton’s plan to provide universal health care.

The lieutenant governor also weighed-in on Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who like Brown, is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

“(Obama) is a man of considerable intellect,” he said. “He is a very valuable member of the United States Senate.”

Though he did not directly criticize Obama, Brown again referred to Clinton’s experience, while discussing the senator from Illinois.

Curiously, Brown would not say who his wife, Pat – another Harvard-educated lawyer – is supporting in the race.

“I would defer to her to express her opinions,” he said.

Furthermore, Brown said he was aware that other Marylanders like Sen. Barbara Mikulski, former Rep. Tom McMillen, and former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend had been on the campaign trail for Clinton, though he did not see them during his visits.

Gov. Martin O’Malley endorsed Clinton’s campaign in May, while the lieutenant governor did so in September. Brown’s Press Secretary, Samantha Kappalman, said that the lieutenant governor was not lobbied by O’Malley to support Clinton. She said Brown was not pressured in anyway, and that the decision was his own.