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Bill Clinton Won't Campaign for Obama Until After Jewish Holidays
September 24, 2008 8:46 PM
On a previously recorded interview to air on CNN's "Larry King Live" tonight, former President Bill Clinton says he will wait until after Thursday, Oct. 9, before he will start campaigning for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Politico's Ben Smith reports.
What's the significance of Oct. 9?
Why, it's the Jewish Day of Atonement, of course.
And though the Southern Baptist former president isn't known for being a particularly devout Jew who observes the High Holy Days, apparently he's decided to wait until after Yom Kippur and the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, before he starts campaigning for his wife's former rival, for whom many Democrats suspect the Clintons aren't exactly rooting enthusiastically.
"When [the Clinton Global Initiative] is over, and after the Jewish holidays, which follow close on it, I intend to go to Florida, to Ohio, to northeast Pennsylvania, and to Nevada at a minimum," says the former president. "I may do events in Arkansas, depending on what the Democratic Party does down there. And I've agreed to do some fundraising for them in California and New York."
Asked King: "Are you kind of feeling Jewish that you're waiting until after the Jewish holidays?"
"No. But I think it would be -- if we're trying to win in Florida, it may be that," Clinton began, before discussing his real Florida target: "You know, they think that, because of who I am and where my politic[al] base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the 'cracker vote' there.
"But Sen. Obama also has a big stake in doing well in the Jewish community in Florida, where Hillary did very well and where I did very well. And I just think respecting the holidays is a good thing to do," he said.
- jpt
September 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (96)
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Debra
yea to Obama its all about him though he says the opposite on the campaign trail! Like Bill Clinton says, "I get where he is coming from" though because he knows he needs to turn out his army of privaledged self centered young and college age kids to vote for him to win
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 1:09:37 AM
Samantha
I guarantee that all of Obamas records are under seal in chicago by order of mayor dayley... Obama should be required to release all personal info even bush released that DUI record on the eve of the 2000 election when he knew it would hurt him
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 1:03:41 AM
Samantha - You betcha, gal. Just as soon as you show me Sarah Palin's transcripts. I'd also like to see some samples of her writing. Any idea what classes she took? Any idea why she went to five colleges? Those aren't the most important issues to me, gal, but why dontcha try to find out?
Posted by: mara | Sep 25, 2008 1:01:12 AM
Mara
I didnt say Palins religion wasnt disturbing but thats not a qualification for presidenta messianic complex is what the current presidnt has and we dont need to go through that again Obama thinks all he had to do was show up thats not the case
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 1:01:02 AM
Staniem, Perhaps Sarah Palin's savior will save us - the one who spoke of serpents and snakes and Israelites - all with the same level of violent threat and contempt - while he BLESSED Sarah Palin and asked her congregation for political support. Creeeeeeepy. It's on camera. Recorded. And not going away - reagrdless of what the Disney boys do. Even southern Baptists don't do this kind of stuff.
Posted by: mara | Sep 25, 2008 12:58:30 AM
Mara could you possibly get me Obama's grades from Columbia and Obama's senior thesis. All the other candidates have released grades- everyone except Obama.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 25, 2008 12:57:45 AM
Obamabots will give him a pass no matter what...
Posted by: Diamond Lou | Sep 25, 2008 12:50:30 AM
america*centric
yeathere are still a large number of undecideds and thats never happened this late before
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 12:45:04 AM
"the most recent ABC poll shows that 88% of registered Democrats intend to vote for Obama. That should include a lot of former Hillary supporters, I'd say." (snipped from herta)
______________
Well actually, N O !
Many former Hillary supporters have segued over to the Republican side and will be supporting McCain and Palin.
I don't understand just how that figure was determined..... but I can ASSURE you that there are a lot of pro-Hillaryites who never have been asked....like moi.
And ther are large groups of passengers riding the commuter lines at Union Station who will be happy to confirm this for you!
McCain and Palin
COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!
Posted by: america*centric | Sep 25, 2008 12:42:09 AM
USmarine0331
Bill Clinton also said McChicken has bad policies and Obama's going to win. Plus Hillary is campaigning for Obama right now!!!
Real military man there McCluck-cluck! Quits his campaign and runs to hide under his desk in Washington as his campaign goes into a "FREEFALL" in the polls!!!
You can run McChicken, but you and your dumb as a rock sidekick Palin cannot hide from the debates!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Davis | Sep 25, 2008 12:39:43 AM
I can identify with what Biden said. I do play miniature golf but my passion is basketball. If only I could have been like Mike like Michael Jordon. I would be on the basketball courts right now instead of reading this article and posting.
Now when it comes to miniature golf thats a hobby of mine and in a dream I did hit a drive over 400 yards in a miniature golf classic against Tiger Woods last year but then the morning alarm clock went off and I woke up.
I should be thinking about politics instead of sports but this article distracted me. So just for the record Go Obama/Biden '08
Posted by: Cooday | Sep 25, 2008 12:36:04 AM
Bill Clinton also said he admires John McCain.
So did his wife, Hillary.
So does many long-time Democrats, who are saying, "No way!; No how!; Nobama!!!
Posted by: USmarine0331 | Sep 25, 2008 12:34:01 AM
Davis
your savior Obama isnt going to wave a magic wand either the point is he is required to be in the oval office tomorrow at the request of the president period and if that delays the debate you obamasnots will accept it!
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 12:31:50 AM
samantha
dont back down... the point is Mccain should be way behind and hes not because to be a presidential candidate you have to know everything about them and Obamas peopel have prevented things from getting out
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 12:28:58 AM
julie strass
what are you talking about?
how can you mess it up for bill and larry king in 2012?
Posted by: j | Sep 25, 2008 12:28:10 AM
The debate WILL happen Friday or the whole country will call McChicken exactly what he is, Cluck, cluck, cluck...
______________________________________
Speaking of chickens don't count yours before they hatch my dear. If you Obamabots used your brains you would see and KNOW that McCain is never afraid of debating. Let the debate go on. Sounds like Obama's prep time will be a little hurried. Poor thing and I am afraid McCain is quite operational.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 25, 2008 12:27:46 AM
I can assure you that I will work tirelessly to ensure that y'all are screwed in 2012 no matter what.
_________________________________________
...And this is exactly why I am a former Hillary supporter who is not voting for Obama.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 25, 2008 12:23:25 AM
Debra and staniam,
I can't wait for McCain to give bush a big hug in tomorrows meeting in Washington, it will make a great photo opt!!
The debate WILL happen Friday or the whole country will call McChicken exactly what he is, Cluck, cluck, cluck...
McCluck-cluck can't hide under his desk in Washington, it's not going to work!
Suspend his campaign? What a joke!!! Just watch how Letterman rips that old fool tonight on his show! Apparently McSenile canceled tonights appearance telling Letterman he had to catch a flight immediately to Washington.
Watch what happens when Letterman found out McCain was Lying to him (big surprise)!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Davis | Sep 25, 2008 12:22:30 AM
J
IM not going to work for Mccain but Im not working for Obama either and NC is a battleground state so thats his loss litterally
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 12:19:43 AM
mara
IM not going to give you a link I told you it was RCP and electoral-vote they kinda frown on putting links in posts here
Posted by: staniam | Sep 25, 2008 12:18:17 AM
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