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Clinton Returns to #68 in Senate
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ShareJune 05, 2008 2:13 PM
ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senator Harry Reid hopped up in the middle of his weekly off-camera briefing with reporters after an aide whispered something in his ear. He left the rest of the briefing to Senators Dick Durbin, the majority Whip and an Obama supporter and Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington, both Clinton supporters.
Reid staffers confirmed later that he left the meeting with reporters to take a call from Sen. Hillary Clinton. Reid will, again according to aides, officially endorse Sen. Barack Obama, who has clinched the Democratic nomination, sometime Friday. Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had pledged to remain unpledged until voting in primaries ended and they encouraged Democrats to pick a candidate by Friday and Reid had said this week he would try to be an example for his colleagues. He might be the last Democratic Senator to officially endorse a candidate.
It might be the last time that Sen. Clinton is able to make Reid change his schedule for her. When she returns to the Senate after officially conceding her bid for the White House on Saturday, she'll go from being one of the two most important Democrats in the country to being Senator #68 of 100 (#37 among Democrats).
Her colleagues in the Senate leadership who had endorsed her Presidential candidacy said today she would be welcomed back to the Senate with open arms (as have the other two Democrats who already dropped out of the Presidential race to return to the Senate this year). But they won't be creating a special spot in the Senate leadership for her.
"I think we're all really excited about the November election and the opportunities our party has with the leadership we've got and we see tremendous differences between our candidate and McCain and we feel very good about this election," Murray said.
"We've had a lot of Senators return to the Senate that have run for national office and they are all welcomed with open arms and given the possibility to work with us and we'll continue to. Senator Clinton has tremendous knowledge on many issues and is tremendously respected in the Senate and I assume she will be capable of leading us in directions from wherever she is," said Murray, the highest ranking woman among Senate Democrats.
But she said there's no special role for Senator Clinton in the Senate leadership.
"We don't have a special position. We haven't created one for anybody," Murray said.
June 5, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (46)
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A Senate Job is a pretty good gig just ask john kerry.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Jun 5, 2008 2:35:21 PM
You make it sound like that's a bad thing. She has made history and should be respected for it. This is coming from an Obama supporter!
Posted by: Hippemom | Jun 5, 2008 3:12:03 PM
The Democrats need one or two big hitters in the Senate with Sens Kennedy and Byrd ailing. I think Hillary could cut herself out a pretty nice niche leading the charge for healthcare reform amogst other causes.
Posted by: markymark | Jun 5, 2008 3:13:43 PM
Her health care will be with open doors not locked like she tried once before.Never trust her believe me she is as bad if not worse then Billy.....
Posted by: voter | Jun 5, 2008 3:21:46 PM
Hillary made history. Let's give her the respect she deserves people.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 5, 2008 3:26:36 PM
Harry Reid, if you don't ensure that a place is created on THE TICKET for Hillary Clinton, I pray you all lose in a landslide and are unceremonially fired by the American people.
Posted by: LonghornMama | Jun 5, 2008 3:28:20 PM
I hope Hillary gets really passoinate again , and works as hard for health care as she did to become president. If so,we should have national health care by next year.
Posted by: newvoter | Jun 5, 2008 3:33:39 PM
Hillary needs to stay away from Obama, all he will do is drag her down; him and his thug friends!
Posted by: c.california | Jun 5, 2008 3:40:40 PM
Hillary is already a proven and respected force in the Senate. However, being tremendously respected, effective and knowledgeable on the issues is a strike against you in American presidential politics -- too bad for us.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Jun 5, 2008 3:42:49 PM
The Republicans worst nightmare will be realized.
Hillary will write the National Health Care legislation that is passed by the Senate.
Barack Obama will sign the legislation and make sure Hillary is there for the signing.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 5, 2008 3:47:23 PM
coming from an obama supporter i hope he puts somewhere in the cabinet i think healthcare
Posted by: angie | Jun 5, 2008 3:49:06 PM
A vote for Obama is a vote to set America back 100 years.He has already divided the Country and if elected he will ruin America.
Vote for anyone but Obama!
Posted by: Sam | Jun 5, 2008 3:51:21 PM
I think she might have a hard time getting re-elected to the Senate if she is not able to bounce back from all of the dirt she dished out this past year. I was all for her being nominated at the start of the primary, and then she got nasty. I still like her, but she has a lot of damage control to do.
Posted by: Wade | Jun 5, 2008 3:51:51 PM
I hope she takes Harry's place. He is ineffective and incompetent.
Posted by: Randy | Jun 5, 2008 3:55:53 PM
Wade-
This election wasn't as nasty as the others I've seen. I wish people would stop saying that she played dirty. let me tell you Obama played dirty too.
He doesn't exactly have clean hands in all this.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 5, 2008 3:56:09 PM
I guess she'll just have to settle for being vastly powerful and important. Besides, she really made history this time, I'm an Obama supporter, but now there is no way that anyone can claim that a woman cannot be President of the USA. She came very close.
Posted by: Shain | Jun 5, 2008 4:02:05 PM
Sam
a vote for obama is a vote for putting america back on track to be the dominance in the world we once were....
bush has tarnished our reputations so badly you cant even tell people from other countries that you are from america or risk the rude looks and comments...
a vote for mccain will however, push us further into the easiest country to hate, as well as push womens rights back another 40 years
no thanks mccain im sick of bush im sick of your fake war
a vote for mccain is a vote for more innocent lives to be squashed out and families to be ruined
NO THANKS
Posted by: bhrandon | Jun 5, 2008 4:02:49 PM
Well put bhrandon!!!
Posted by: Wade | Jun 5, 2008 4:04:58 PM
To bhrandon
Trying to make excuses already for Obama losing the general election.I agree with you that Obama will lose big time but it will be because of him and his racist supporters and their hatred.
Posted by: Kate | Jun 5, 2008 4:05:10 PM
Is it just me or does this story read like she's returning to prison or something?? I think that the media should finally lay off this woman. Give her some space!
Posted by: DMK | Jun 5, 2008 4:05:31 PM
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