Clinton and Reich, once great friends, have had a frosty relationship since Reich left the administration in 1997. Reich spent the second term smacking Clinton for abandoning liberal ideas. Still, they spoke briefly when Reich was considering the gubernatorial bid. After that phone conversation, Reich claimed Clinton "was encouraging" about the run. But when Clinton heard what Reich was saying, he emphatically denied Reich's account and said he would "never" support Reich over rival candidate Steve Grossman, who raised zillions for Clinton and the party. Reich retreated, saying lamely that he had interpreted the absence of discouragement by Clinton as encouragement. (Incidentally, the former labor secretary's problems with exaggeration have been well documented by Jonathan Rauch in Slate here and here.)