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Rendell: Obama 'Rivals' Reference No Accident

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May 28, 2008 3:51 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) thinks that Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., recent reference to Abraham Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" was intended to send a signal about his openness to including Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., on the  Democratic ticket.

"I know Senator Obama. He doesn’t say anything by accident," said Rendell. "He went out of his way to mention 'Team of Rivals.'"

Rendell, a high-profile Clinton supporter who helped her carry the Keystone State's April 22nd primary, would still like to see the former first lady become the Democratic presidential nominee. But with that scenario looking increasingly unlikely, Rendell is optimistic that Obama will put her in the No. 2 spot.

Obama's reference to "Team of Rivals," a 2005 book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, came May 22 in Boca Raton, Fla. A voter asked him if he would be willing to consider a running mate who could help unify the party "even if his or her spouse is an occasional pain in the butt".

"One of my heroes is Abraham Lincoln," said Obama. "And a while back there was a wonderful book written by Doris Kearns Goodwin called 'Team of Rivals,' which talked about [the way] Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever . . . personal feelings there were, the issue was how can we get this country through this time of crisis."

"And I think," he added, "that has to be the approach that one takes, whether it's vice president or Cabinet, whoever, and by the way that does not exclude Republicans either."

The author of "Team of Rivals" has joined Rendell in predicting that Obama will pick Clinton as his running mate. Appearing Tuesday on MSNBC, Goodwin said she is willing to bet that the Democratic frontrunner will put Clinton on the ticket if he wins the nomination.

Rendell made his comments in Arlington, Va., following a National Governors Association discussion on state efforts to prevent home foreclosures. 

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and David Chalian contributed to this report.

May 28, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (78)

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if obama is not man enough to put hillary on the ticket, then he is surely not man enough to deal with the world's tough leaders who will test him. if hillary is not on the ticket, i walk to mccain, plain and simple

Posted by: ron | May 28, 2008 4:00:43 PM

Lincoln kept Chase in the Cabinet because he thought he could control him better if he was closer to him.

So I am thinking Obama could appoint to a Cabinet position it wouldn't have to be ambassador to Bosnia or something like that.

But if he thinks she is gonna kneecap him maybe he can put her at HHS to keep her occupied.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | May 28, 2008 4:07:05 PM

While your all running to support McCain out of spite why don't you look at his advisers: Norman Podoretz Promoting war with Iran. Cofer Black Head of Blackwater, Charlie Black Blackwater. Bud McFarlane Iran contra. Robert Kagan, Bill Kristol, on record supporting invasion of Iraq before 911. And Henry Kissinger, the granddaddy of them all, father of Nixon's failed foreign policy an WAR CRIMINIAL extrodinaire. If that is the company you are comfortable with McCain keeping, then your voting for WAR rather than a canidate. In other words you will vote for a BUSH 3rd term, rather than an alternative. Some Democrat. But the neo-CONS are all just liberals who believe in imperialism and further expansion of the far reaching empire that we no longer can afford. Who needs bullets when you can't buy food with our worthless dollar and are evicted out of your home? Never matter, we have to bomb some brown people in order to be safe in our tent cites in public parks 5,000 miles away.

Posted by: ugh | May 28, 2008 4:17:03 PM

Clinton will not take it to the convention. It won't happen.

And if you listened to her retoric, you would know.

She knows this is over but this history and she doesn't want to go done without fighting.

I honestly wouldn't mind Clinton on the ticket. As long as it's Obama on top. The President makes the decisions not the Vice.

Posted by: Vanessa | May 28, 2008 4:21:08 PM

To all Dems who say they will vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination, go ahead. When your kids are dying in another war that we should not be in, will you still "support" your vote, or will you be the ones protesting another war and calling for McCain's impeachment . All this because you didn't like that Obama got the nomination. That's just plain stupid. I am a Hillary supporter, but I know when the fight is lost. Once Obama gets the officail nod, I will be out to support him, just like I have supported Hillary.

Posted by: Kellie | May 28, 2008 4:29:23 PM

"I know Senator Obama. He doesn’t say anything by accident," said Rendell. "He went out of his way to mention 'Team of Rivals.'"

--------------------------------

LMAOROTF!!! that is the funniest thing I ever read!!
Old gaffe mouth! LOL LOL LOL ha ah hahaha Every thing he SAYS IS AN ACCIDENT!!!

Posted by: HP Boston | May 28, 2008 4:29:24 PM

Isn't team of Rivals about including people from the opposite party in your cabinet? Chuck Hagel, Richard Lugar, Colin Powell, etc. Forget Hillary, she brings nothing good to his ticket. He certainly doesn't need her to win or to make progress while in the White House.

Posted by: brianr | May 28, 2008 4:39:18 PM

I have changed to independent and I have no worries voting for McCain. He is knowledgeable and experienced. He is the better moderate to balance the WH and get THINGS DONE!
Obama is to far, far, left to accomplish anything of importance as he showed in IL. and the Senate!
So if the convention and the seating of FL and MI delegates is not resolved, he is my guy!
HILLARY is superior to both John and Barry!

Posted by: HP Boston | May 28, 2008 4:41:25 PM

It is true Obama knows exactly what he does say.

All his lies, all his misconceptions, misleading remarks to the people.

The stories he has made up, in order to make people believe he fits in and can make it seem like he can relate to them.

All for a vote. The Scam artist in action.

Saddly has dupped so many people.


He wants to conquer the world and rule.

Can't put anything past anyone who throws their own grandmother that raised them under a train.


Posted by: seah | May 28, 2008 4:45:29 PM

clearly hillary would make a better president. however, let's not forgot how powerful cheney has made the veep spot...clinton can still run the country from air force 2.

Posted by: History'sLessons | May 28, 2008 4:52:13 PM

I sure hope he's referring to Chuck Hagel, or at least referring to offering her some cabinet-level position that he knows she won't accept, 'cause I don't feel like holding my nose while I vote.

Posted by: Mary | May 28, 2008 4:54:42 PM

Clinton makes the ticket as strong as it possibly could be, but it is still likely not to be good enough. Clinton needs to be the nominee if Democrats want to win in November. And she ought not put Obama on the ticket, because the same associations that make him unelectable will drag Clinton down. Democrats have to make a clean break from Obama. He fates the party to disaster.

Posted by: Andrew Austin | May 28, 2008 4:56:57 PM

Uh,Roxanne...The Clintons made $109 mil over 7 years.Not last year.Bill being the larger earner. Could be because he was a past 2 term president. Just guessing.. Get your facts straight. Obama made a few mil himself from book sales. Why is that so shocking? Non issue.

Posted by: Bea | May 28, 2008 4:59:29 PM

Lou,

Where were you when Hillary was dodging bullets in Bosnia?

You were right there seeing and hearing her lie directly to your face, huh?

Not only do you not possess common sense, you're unable to grasp the simple concept of ethical sense whatsoever.

Look at the white american calling the polish guy WHITE!

Hypocrit

Posted by: Jack | May 28, 2008 5:01:34 PM

This older white American male is planning on voting Obama.

Fewer and fewer regrets every day, seeing the kind of behavior that Mrs. Clinton and her supporters are capable of.

Obama may be inexperienced, but given the kind of "experience" that Washington offers -- that may not be a bad thing.

Vote for Change -- Obama '08.

Posted by: Tom C | May 28, 2008 5:02:52 PM

I think this is great: If Obama wins, we get Obama, Clinton and McCain in the Whitehouse, which is where they *all* belong. Clinton can be the one to order missile strikes and McCain can be the one to answer the phone at 3:am and Obama can do what he does best: Make America look good.

That is what *I* would like to see!

Posted by: jojoba | May 28, 2008 5:02:53 PM


Russ,

Since you are an expert of the past, perhaps it would behoove you to go tell Bush/Cheney/McCain that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Unfortunately, they do not have the insight, foresight, or hindsight to learn from Truman or Johnson, and neither do you.


Posted by: No Murderers Wanted | May 28, 2008 5:05:24 PM

If Hillary wants to be # 2, let her beg Barack. Does this not make sense especially after that god for saken word she used the other day about why she is not going away?

Posted by: Ngoh | May 28, 2008 5:06:09 PM

The whole OBAMA team knows Hillary is radioactive and to keep a safe distance of such massive toxicity.

Plus, she blew any chances of that happening on Friday with her dumb a** comments about the Kennedy assassination.

WHAT A DUFUS MAXIMUS!

She'll be home baking cookies in a week.

Bill will be at the Mustang Ranch dusting off and getting a checkup with the "head nurse".
Chelsea will become a Nun.

That is all

Posted by: Jack | May 28, 2008 5:06:55 PM

OBAMA HAS TOO MUCH DIRT IN HIS PAST AND PRESENT, TO WIN IN NOVEMBER!
HILLARY CAN WIN!
IF WE PUT OBAMA IN THE NOMINATION, WE WILL LOOK LIKE THE BIGGEST FOOLS EVER!
IF HILLARY DOESN'T GET THE NOMINATION, I WILL BECOME AN INDEPENDENT!
I NO LONGER WANT TO BE PART OF A PARTY THAT GETS SNOOKERED OVER AND OVER BY THE REPUBLICANS!!!!

HILLARY CLINTON 08!!!!!!

Posted by: kerry | May 28, 2008 5:07:41 PM

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