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« Caroline Kennedy Endorses Obama | Main | Ted Kennedy to Endorse Obama »
Obama Basks in Kennedy Glow
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ShareJanuary 27, 2008 12:08 PM
ABC News' Mary Bruce reports: Fresh off his landslide victory in South Carolina, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left open this morning the possibility of an upcoming endorsement from Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. Just hours after Caroline Kennedy announced her endorsement of Obama, the 2008 candidate addressed rumors in an exclusive "This Week" interview that the Massachusetts senator was up next.
"I'll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself. And nobody does it better. But obviously, any of the Democratic candidates would love to have Ted Kennedy's support. And we have certainly actively sought it," Obama said. "I will let him make his announcement and his decision when he decides it's appropriate."
Obama also spoke out on Bill Clinton’s involvement in his wife’s campaign after a week of mounting tension between the two camps. In response to Bill Clinton’s comments comparing Obama’s South Carolina win to those of Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988, Obama suggested Bill Clinton’s "frame of reference" and racial politics may be outdated.
"His frame of reference was the Jesse Jackson races. That's when, you know, he was active and involved and watching what was going to take place in South Carolina. I think that a lot of South Carolinians looked at it through a different lens... As long as we were focused on those issues, we thought those would transcend the sort of racial divisions that we've seen in the past," he said. The 55 percent won by Obama in South Carolina was more than double the 27 percent of the vote that went to Clinton, with Edwards coming in third at 18 percent.
But Obama did clarify, however, that he did not think Clinton’s comments this week were intended to negatively harm his campaign.
"I don't think they were trying to demonize me, but I do think that there is a certain brand of politics that we've become accustomed to, and that the Republican Party had perfected and was often directed against the Clintons, but that all of us had become complicit in, where we basically think anything is fair game," he said.
He also reiterated that the "slash-and-burn politics" that exists in Washington today "is not the Clintons' fault. It is all of our faults, in the sense that we've gotten into these bad habits and we can't seem to have disagreements without being disagreeable. So part of what I think we have to do is to set a new tone in politics. Not a naive one."
January 27, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (13)
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The Clintons' practice the politics of personal destruction
Posted by: Bryan | Jan 27, 2008 1:39:17 PM
Totally agree Bryan...
Posted by: cathy | Jan 27, 2008 3:31:04 PM
Bryan, Cathy - ditto.
It will be interesting to see how the Kennedys affect the race. I can guess between these endorsements and of course the huge win in South Carolina, in which all expectations were shattered, we'll see the polls tighten some in the next 10 days. It remains to be seen how much.
We'll probably also see an overtly clean campaign for a while. The Clintons got hammered for pursuing personal destruction politics. Though the covert stuff... I'm sure that will continue. Those Manchurian Muslim e-mails will still be forwarded around, just not the South Carolina in-boxes anymore.
Of course there is a chance that Clinton supporters aren't the ones keeping those dirty tactic e-mails alive. It could be Republicans. But then we have to ask why they would want to cut off Obama now, thus giving Clinton the nomination.
Posted by: Paul | Jan 27, 2008 5:58:16 PM
because the republicans can beat Obama but not Hillary. Hello. Wake up.
Posted by: HELENA | Jan 27, 2008 6:06:08 PM
I would not want a Kennedy endorsement. Have we already forgotten the Viet Nam war, Go, Hillary 08.
Posted by: HELENA | Jan 27, 2008 6:08:46 PM
p.s. Reading what Caroline Kennedy said about Barack Obama made me cry!
Posted by: Shelley Mills | Jan 27, 2008 6:54:28 PM
Obama is very impressive. I beleive that he is what we (America) need to bring our country and world together as a whole. Change is good. America needs a change in all areas. OBAMA is the man for the job!! OBAMA
Posted by: Wrathell Gause | Jan 27, 2008 8:13:09 PM
Obama is very impressive. I beleive that he is what we (America) need to bring our country and world together as a whole. Change is good. America needs a change in all areas. OBAMA is the man for the job!! OBAMA
Posted by: Wrathell Gause | Jan 27, 2008 8:13:16 PM
I am latino, and I believe that Obama is the best thing to ever happen to America not to mention politics. I see the guy as a new breed. I am longtime Republican, yes I voted for Bush. But regret that now seeing as how we have lost respect around the world and not really accomplished much by putting our fellow soldiers and friends in more harm. The mission was to get Osama bin laden, they know where he is in Pakistan and yet no action is taken. Meanwhile our childrens future is being used as a lien and that isnt right. Now we think what is going on with our Economy now is bad, just think if we continue with the failed plan.
Posted by: Rafael Navarro | Jan 27, 2008 11:13:44 PM
It is not hatred you see from Obama supporters towards Clinton supporters, it is frustration and disgust at seeing their candidate's impeccable character been dragged through the mud relentlessly and unfairly! In all the forums I have read it is the Clinton people who are most vicious and hurtful. A few weeks ago I was ready to support Hillary if she became the candidate. Now I have decided that if Barack doesn’t make it, I'll vote for McCain who at least is honest. Hillary will not need my vote because she won’t win, regardless. I am not the only one who thinks this way. The Clintons messed up big time and will pay dearly for it!
Posted by: Millie Linares | Jan 28, 2008 3:36:12 PM
My God, don't you democrats get it? Hillary cannot win!! No one likes her! Obama CAN win and just might, if you guys are smart enough to give him the nomination. I am a republican leaning independent and I'm telling you, nobody will mobilize the republican vote like Hillary. Republicans may not agree with Obama on the issues, but he at least seems honest and genuine. So they won't fight so hard against him. Hell, some may even vote for him.
Posted by: me | Jan 28, 2008 4:44:26 PM
One more thing .... I do feel that the Kennedy endorsement has thrown a bucket of cold water on the Obama campaign when it comes to independents and republicans who might be open to Obama. Kennedy is terribly divisive and represents much of the negative that Obama wants to change. OBama has to show that he wants his party to change, not just the other party. Everybody needs to change and if he doesn't get that message across to Ted and his buddies, he will lose support.
Posted by: me | Jan 28, 2008 4:47:28 PM
I am sorry but Hilary and Bill are already showing this country that they will continue with strife and division...whereas Obama wants us all to unite and become a better country. Do you all know the world sits back and looks at us and laughs at how horrible our country is...I lived in Japan for 3 years and USA is a joke to other countries and I believe that Bush ran this country into the ground and Obama and Edwards can bring back the respect that USA is known for.
Posted by: Dani | Jan 28, 2008 5:58:37 PM
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