Clinton Stays In The Shadows

On the eve of the election, President Clinton never left the White House compound. This campaign is unique in Mr. Clinton's career. In this year of scandal, he has avoided the usual campaign rallies. Instead, Mr. Clinton is concentrating on fund-raising and addressing small groups of loyal Democrats, CBS Senior White House Correspondent Scott Pelley reports.

His interview Monday on Black Entertainment Television is part of the strategy to get Democrats to the polls.

Â"Do they want more of the last eight months of partisanship or would they like more progress? Do they want us to have more Washington politics as usual or would they like the people of America to be the center of our focus?Â" the president said in the interview.

Monday was unlike any Election eve in Mr. Clinton's career. He was almost sequestered on the White House compound. Compare this to the last midterm election.

In 1994, Mr. Clinton headlined 17 rallies in the week before the vote. On Election eve, he covered three states in one day. This year he is being advised to raise money and stay out of most districts. His events have mostly been small fund-raisers.

By appearances this year, it almost seems the party is being led by Hillary Clinton. Far more in demand than the president, she has made 23 stops in two weeks. On Monday, she appeared for Democrat Charles Schumer in the New York Senate race.

Â"When he [Schumer] fights he is not fighting for some extremist Republican agenda, he is fighting for a New York agenda that will improve the quality of life for people,Â" Mrs. Clinton said.

The key to the election is the get out the vote effort of both parties. One senior advisor to the president said Monday night: "We don't know how it will go because nobody knows who is going to vote tomorrow."

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