Pragmatic Clinton Cozies Up to Drudge

Political gossip purveyor Matt Drudge is traditionally a friend to Republicans and an enemy to Clintons, but the media-savvy Democratic frontrunner has found a way into the good graces of the unpredictable man who made his name peddling Lewinsky scoops. The Times looks at a coup that reflects Drudge's considerable sway in shaping political campaigns.

Mitt Romney hired the Bush camp's closest Drudge contact, but Clinton boasts a staffer who has worked to mix positive spin with the negative. The stealth spin is of a piece with the approach that's seen Clinton joining forces with Newt Gingrich and Rupert Murdoch under certain circumstances. For his part, the man under the fedora cops to her importance: “I need to be part of her world.” (More Hillary Clinton stories.)