Today's New York Times reports that Hillary Clinton wants to "revitalize rural America:"

In a speech delivered on a 152-year-old family farm, Mrs. Clinton called for major federal investments to expand broadband Internet access in rural communities, promote the development of alternative fuel sources like corn-based ethanol and encourage medical school graduates to practice in agricultural areas.

"We can build a new rural future,'' Mrs. Clinton said, after listing economic problems that she said have led many Americans to abandon rural life. "We can bring back our Main Streets. We can keep people, particularly young people, here.''

Hmmm, that sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before? Oh, yeah:

"Young people deserve the choice to stay in the communities where they grew up, instead of being forced to leave home and move away just to get a good-paying job. As Governor, I'll work with business leaders to strengthen Virginia's traditional industries, and help companies find new ways to use technology to revitalize these traditional industries."

That was Mark Warner running for office in 2001. Here he is four years later touting the accomplishment of The Regional Backbone/Roots of Progress Initiative: "In Virginia, we have put down 700 miles of broadband in our rural communities so folks don't have to leave home to find a quality job."

Clinton's been in office six years, and she's just now bringing up the subject? How very 2008 of her. One of Warner's biggest appeals is that he's a guy who has proven the ability to connect with Republican-leaning rural communities by addressing economic development issues, and without getting bogged down on social issues as so many national Democratic party figures typically do these days. Hillary Clinton is among those who could benefit from such a strategy, which is why she's employing the time-tested method: "if you can't beat 'em, steal their ideas and pass them off as your own."