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Clinton Secretly Visits Edwards; Obama Next

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February 10, 2008 3:43 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller Report:

ABC News has learned that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., met with former Sen. John Edwards secretly at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Thursday. Clinton's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Illionis Sen. Barack Obama will meet with Edwards on Monday, sources say. 

Clinton initially told reporters that she was not asking for Edwards' endorsement immediately after he got out of the race. Yesterday, speaking in Lewiston. Maine Clinton said "I'll ask John Edwards to help with anything I do in the White House."

This would be an important endorsement for Clinton to secure, and is essential enough to her that she made a stealth trip to North Carolina, despite her busy campaign schedule. Clinton was two hours late to her first event last Thursday in Virginia, presumably things in the Tar Hill state tied her up.

Sen. Obama would very much like Edwards' endorsement too. Pundits have speculated that Edwards' populist message is more closely aligned with Obama.

Before exiting the Democratic presidential contest, Edwards secured pledges from his rivals to make fighting poverty a priority.

The meetings were initiated by Clinton and Obama, according to sources. 

ABC News' Raleyn Johnson contributed reporting.

February 10, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (261)

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Some secret.

Posted by: Tonya | Feb 10, 2008 4:00:55 PM

If Edwards endorses Clinton he will be a real disapointment to me. She represents everything he stands against. She takes money from lobbyists, she is status quo, she is so engulfed in the Washington ways that Edwards spoke out against. I do hope he endorses Obama, and I would love to see Al Gore endorse Obama as well- but dream I may.

Posted by: Sarah | Feb 10, 2008 4:33:17 PM

This, plus the firing of her campaign manager, begins to smell largely of panic. She's one more tearful episode from being gone from this race.

Posted by: Chris | Feb 10, 2008 4:35:26 PM

Something fishy going on!

Posted by: Ron | Feb 10, 2008 4:44:30 PM

Meeting with Edwards for any Candidate is a huge win. However it is sad to see that she was late to her town hall meetings because of it and forced all her loyal constituents to wait.

Posted by: I for O | Feb 10, 2008 4:45:07 PM

I saw a motorcade getting a police escort the other day. I was wondering what was going on and why there was no mention on the local news. I bet that was her. Maybe, I'll run into Obama on Monday!

Posted by: kings2beat | Feb 10, 2008 4:45:40 PM

I believe Senator Edwards must endorse Senator Obama. Senator Edwards ran from the start, knowing that Senator Clinton was the establishment candidate. He chose to run against her. I remember well the passion I heard in Senator Edwards voice in why he was runnning for President in two different town hall meetings he had in Concord, NH in the 2004 race. That same passion and beliefs should lead him to endorse and fight for Senator Obama. Only Senator Obama can rally the party, the independents, and Republicans to bring about the change that Senator Edwards himself believes in.

Posted by: Ray Foss | Feb 10, 2008 4:47:01 PM

I hope Edwards endorses Hillary Clinton.
We definitely need the changes that she
can bring to america

Posted by: Lillybell | Feb 10, 2008 4:56:58 PM

The intellectual mind of a Republican: The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (1980) established the ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge), But someone forgot to tell GW Bush before he stood in front of the cameras during a speech he made and spoke these words:"I think it is a good idea to start and build ANWR in the Artic, it's beautiful country up there. You can all visit and see how beautiful the Artic country is."

Posted by: Angela | Feb 10, 2008 4:57:13 PM

I am a republican, I feel John should just switch parties, and run against McCain. He would get my vote, I am sure among many more.

Posted by: Marilyn Oliver | Feb 10, 2008 4:59:29 PM

I hope Edwards endorses Hillary because Obama has been using Big Pharma tactics to swiftboat Universal Health Care.

After learning that Obama has brought the "Harry & Louise" campaign Big Pharma used to defeat UHC in the 90s we all know Obama is no populist.

I hope he saw the article in the NYT about Obama lying about passing the nuclear energy in IL after he watered it down for his donors at Exelon.

Edwards should also remember that Obama swiftboated him and accuses him of losing those Whirlpool jobs even though Obama's donor's at Maytag had a big say in those jobs being shipped overseas.

Posted by: LatinVoter | Feb 10, 2008 5:04:12 PM

Supporting Hillary Clinton is like walking around with a handful of mashed potatoes and gravy on Main street.

Posted by: wiseowl | Feb 10, 2008 5:04:19 PM

Well as an Edwards supporter that voted for him AFTER he suspended I will have to say there is just NO WAY I can vote for Obama even if John endorses him. It is STILL my vote! I will be forced to write John in if Obama gets the nomination. You who think Obama isn't a dirty politician better do your research a little better...choir boy he is NOT!

Posted by: Annie | Feb 10, 2008 5:08:56 PM

The Dream Team. OBAMA/EDWARDS.

Posted by: Linda D | Feb 10, 2008 5:16:05 PM

If anyone thinks that things are falling apart in the Clinton campaign and think she is about to fold up her tent an go home is living in self deception! She is not one tear away from getting out. At the very least she's pretending to have a broken wing to draw away what she perceives as preditors away from her nest. The Clintons are very calculating and I would be disappointed if the drama were any less calculating and media free attention getting as it is. There has to be drama in order to keep the media focused and interested in what she's doing, and she is going to play it up until the bitter end. And for the media, the more bitter the more better blues!

Posted by: Dale | Feb 10, 2008 5:21:44 PM

When is Hillary going to release her tax returns?

Posted by: Sloane | Feb 10, 2008 5:22:20 PM

I was a supporter of Edwards, if he endorses Obama, I will vote MaCain.
MaCain is a moderate.

Posted by: Pat | Feb 10, 2008 5:24:28 PM

Hopefully John will remember the nasty, false robo-calls the Clinton campaign made about him in SC.

Posted by: Janet | Feb 10, 2008 5:26:24 PM

Some idiot says we need the changes that Hillary would bring to America. Would that be like California spending 200 million dollars teaching first graders about alternative sex. Or would that change be like a 12 year old girl leaves school to go to church and goes to jail for it. Or a 12 year old girl leaves school to get an abortion and get full support from the school. Yes democrats are changing things for sure.

Posted by: demslie | Feb 10, 2008 5:32:14 PM

That's ok if you support Obama with any reasons or no reasons at all. But please be fair and realistic: it would be so ironic, naive and sad for any of you to think he was perfect or even paint him as like Jesus or some sort of hero. In a word, he's merely another dirty politician that says and does anything to get elected! Who wouldn't say or do anything to get elected? He is different in this election for his rhetoric speeches vs. Hillary's much more specific deliveries. Imagine how you would feel IF everything stays the same but his speeches sounded boring even the contents are the same? That's not wise although it is your choice to vote for him simply because he delivers more exciting speeches. Also when you Obama supporters back him and against Hillary, please be like an adult, you can be biased, but don't use dirty words to bash someone, or it would only show the world that a lot more O supporters are not mature therefore one has to wonder whether these supporters are able to make correct judgments.

Posted by: snakebaby | Feb 10, 2008 5:33:25 PM

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