Clinton Gets Presidential Endorsement
Hillary Clinton has locked down a coveted 2016 endorsement — from President Fitzgerald Grant, the fictional chief executive from the hit ABC television show “Scandal.”
Speaking to political journalist/filmmaker and Roll Call contributor Brent Roske in Iowa, actor Tony Goldwyn, who plays Grant, came out strong for the former secretary of State and discussed the curious phenomenon of people thinking he could be a candidate someday himself. “Iowa is such an important state. It’s really exciting to be here on the ground,” Goldwyn said of his support for Clinton as candidates vie for the votes of the state’s first-in-the-nation caucus-goers.
[jwp-video n=”1″]
Asked by Roske whether fans ever asked him about politics, given that he plays a politician on TV, Goldwyn said he’s even been asked whether he’d run for the Oval Office one day. But even in this age of reality television stars seeking elective office, Goldwyn demurred.
“I’m not smart enough to run for president!” he said. “Let Hillary Clinton do that.”
In addition to Roske moving his operations from California to Iowa (where he’s been producing his public affairs show “Roske on Politics”), the filmmaker has been prepping the release of a feature film, “Courting Des Moines.”
The movie is a sequel to Roske’s online series “Chasing the Hill,” about fictional Rep. Samantha Clemons. In this iteration, Clemons resigns from Congress under tax fraud allegations and moves to Des Moines. She then gets caught up in caucus fever and runs for president.
Roske’s journalism and filmmaking intersect with his interviews in the film of real-life presidential candidates and other politicians (Clinton; Donald Trump; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Rep. David Young, R-Iowa), who help the viewer navigate the complicated caucus process. As the filmmaker quotes veteran journalist Larry King in the film’s preview, “I have never understood the Iowa Caucus.”
Roske and former Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will co-host the Iowa premiere of “Courting Des Moines” Jan. 30, the Saturday before the caucuses.
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.
