Jules Witcover: The surrogate problem

W hen it comes to surrogates for this year?s presidential candidates, the old expression comes to mind: With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been kept busy lately putting distance between themselves and campaign supporters and advisers whose loose tongues have created distracting miniflaps. The former first lady has said herself that backers in both camps have said things that would better have been left unsaid, and should not draw Democrats? attention away from the serious issues of the day.