Mr. Fix-It

Clinton has become the “Michael Clayton” of the Obama White House, a roving, always on-call fixer who lends his political skills to help Obama and the Democrats in tough situations. Clinton is campaigning and raising money in places where Obama is less (or less than) welcome. And, as was revealed Friday, he has been an intermediary on sensitive, off-the-grid conversations with candidates such as Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), whom he tried — on behalf of the White House — to talk out of running for the Senate.

One of Clinton’s lowest political moments as president was when his party lost both houses of Congress in 1994. Now, with Obama’s Democratic majority similarly imperiled, 44 is turning to 42 for help. In a toxic environment where candidates are running away from the establishment, Clinton has swooped in to Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York and Pennsylvania, and he is expected to make more stops before November’s midterm elections.

Republicans have taken notice, suggesting that Clinton might play a bigger role this cycle than Obama. “President Obama spends his days in the Oval Office, but it appears, more and more, that he has no idea how to use it,” said GOP strategist Kevin Madden. “Bill Clinton isn’t in the Oval Office these days, but he knows how to use the presidency.”