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Rendell Cools on Obama-Clinton Ticket

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June 04, 2008 3:38 PM

ABC News' James Gerber reports: While some high-profile supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., began advocating for her to be offered the vice presidency less than a day after Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Clinton's most vocal surrogates, shot down this very idea in an interview Wednesday with NY1 News.

Rendell reminded Clinton and her supporters that the choice for vice president belongs solely to Obama. "He has to make the choice, and it's his choice to make," said Rendell. "You don't bargain with the Presidential nominee. Even if you're Hillary Clinton and you have 18 million votes, you don't bargain."

Last week, Rendell seemed optimistic that Clinton would get the V.P. nod. By Wednesday, the Governor had changed his tune, fearing that Clinton could overshadow Obama.

"The rule for the vice president is make sure you never upstage the president," said Rendell. "It's rule one. You know, Hillary Clinton in some ways couldn't help but upstage, even if she was trying not to."

Rendell also thinks that former President Bill Clinton could greatly complicate matters if his wife was the vice presidential nominee. Clinton has made several controversial remarks while stumping for his wife on the campaign trail, such as comparing Obama's victory in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson's win in 1988, then later claiming that the Obama camp had "played the race card" on him. Earlier this week, the former President issued a tirade against the media for its alleged Obama bias. 

"The Obama campaign would have to make strict rules, you know, about what President Clinton could and could not do during the campaign," said Rendell.

June 4, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (76)

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Hillary could upstage Obama even if she were in a semi-coma. Experience and talent always take center stage.

Posted by: Emily | Jun 4, 2008 3:43:42 PM

she would NEVER upstage Obama. She is OUT. If she was that great she would be the nominee today.She was a disgrace to all us women, last night, who thought she had some character.Rendall is looking at the spot himself.

Posted by: grannie | Jun 4, 2008 3:49:32 PM

Obama is doomed without her on the ticket. We'll see if he has any more sense than Pelosi, Dean, et al. I doubt it...

Posted by: Cardsgal | Jun 4, 2008 3:49:34 PM

Ed Rendell:

Another Hillary supporter slowly peeling himself away from her.

Posted by:   Lee C.   ―   U.S.A.    | Jun 4, 2008 3:50:40 PM

He may surprise you guys. He lasted out with Babba, Hillary, Penn beating him down for months...he is pretty tough.

Posted by: grannie | Jun 4, 2008 3:51:50 PM

The main problem for HRC is Bill; HRC is a great tough campaigner and a good senator and normally I would say should be on the ticket; but HRC as VP is not workable un-fortunately; HRC & Bill in the white house with Obama; this would be Obama's worst nightmare; Would hurt Obama effectiveness, Bill looking over his shoulder, the media and public believing it’s really the Clintons running things; “not this Obama guy running things”; there would be conflict just like there’s been conflict so far (HRC & Bill’s way or the highway attitude just like this campaign); NO, NO, NO; only a fool with no vision or common sense would elect to put themselves in this position having HRC VP. No HRC in the white house……If there’s a need for a person to fill her shoe’s without all the baggage the Obama & the DNC need to find him or her quickly; Randell works for me.

Posted by: MG | Jun 4, 2008 3:54:13 PM

The democratic is seriously broken.

Thanks Howard, thanks Nancy!

Posted by: A | Jun 4, 2008 3:57:40 PM

Politicians suck! The are all traitors, liars, and deceivers.

My how quick everyone is to switch their support.

Hillary to Denver or Our New Coalition - Independent Party (I wish the Clintons would wake up to the fact that we are ready for a 3rd Party)

Obama is already looking like an idiot making his every other day switchs

UNDEMOCRATIC PARTY just lost my vote.

Posted by: disgusted in Illinois | Jun 4, 2008 4:02:32 PM

Sexism..Sexism...MMmmmmmmmmm Hillary showed us how weak she is by having to take "time to think"...she wouldn't have that option if she was the president. Just shows us the weak side of herself. That speech was a disgrace to womenhood.

Posted by: newvoter | Jun 4, 2008 4:05:53 PM

Hillary doesn't want VP.. Some people like her to be VP for the purpose of uniting Dems...

Obama doesn't want Hillary as VP either becasue he will look like a kid to her and people will wonder who will be real CIC...

Hillary knows Obama won't pick her as VP but she offer the options to show Dems she will do whatever it takes to unite Dems...

In the end, Obama will fight by his own in G.E. and he will take all blame when he looses to McCain...

Posted by: True Truth | Jun 4, 2008 4:06:53 PM

staunch...WOW I guess you showed everyone...welcome to the "rich and famous" world of JOhn McCain. I hope you got money, honey...

Posted by: grannie | Jun 4, 2008 4:07:52 PM

A:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think NOBAMA meant that s/he's voting for Obama.

Posted by: Emily | Jun 4, 2008 4:08:35 PM

A: I like the idea of pre-election impeachment! We should start the proceeding for a nominee impeachment.

Posted by: Emily | Jun 4, 2008 4:12:58 PM

Finally a Clinton supporter with some sense! She cannot be his VP because she would not be willing to take orders from him and run his agenda--period! If she and the rest of her supporters cannot understand that the President has to be in charge, not the Vice-President, then let them stay home or vote for McCain as they have threatened. The rest of the country wants to get on with the business of beating McCain and putting Obama in the White House!

Posted by: Sanity | Jun 4, 2008 4:13:32 PM

How could any HRC supporter vote for McCain... the man that will bomb Iran, never push for universal health care, opposes womens rights etc.

HRC needs to go back to the Senate.

Posted by: L. Post | Jun 4, 2008 4:17:24 PM

I think that Obama and Hillary are gonna deal. He does not want her to be VP and she does not want to be 2nd on the ticket in any case.

They will make a deal that he will FAKE offer her the VP position and she will gracefully refuse but then be able to tell her supporters that she just can't do VP. But since he was now nice enough to ask her she will do all she can to get her supporters to back him. For this he will give her a plum position in his cabinet and help pay down her campaign debt.

That is what I think is gonna happen

Posted by: Patty- Chicago | Jun 4, 2008 4:20:11 PM

I love the way the MSM can't come to terms with some facts...the first being that the Clintons are not racists. When Bill was talking in SC, only a handful of people heard what he actually said. We heard the edited snippets and the call was made....RACISTS!!!! Even Jesse Jackson said Bill's statements were true. That's the kind of "journalism" that has brought us the messiah Obama. Well done!

GO HILLARY!

Posted by: Dee | Jun 4, 2008 4:21:24 PM

Hillary has shown her selfishness by not conceding graciously to the Democratic NOMINEE Senator Barack Obama. She always thought of her not the party. Ashamed of Hillary! Governor Rendell could influence on her and ask her to do the right thing: Concede and unite the party or declare your support to McCain. She could not be Senator Barack Obama VP. She lost all her chances. Senator Barack Obama is for Change and HRC represents the Washington establishments.

Proud Latina for Barack Obama President!!!

Posted by: Elia | Jun 4, 2008 4:23:19 PM

1. Obama did pass the 2118 mark yesterday.
2. Hillary is not bi partisan she had 12 suporters to 9 on the Rules and Bylaws comittee and still couldn't get her agenda passed.
3. Hillary will not carry Texas and West Virginia.
4. Hillary admitted that the nomination is decided by delegates
5. Hillary wants the spotlight and will try to steal Obamas
6. Hillary started with over 200 SD backing her before the 1st vote counted.
7. Barack won because he got young people involved, gain the support of the Dem base, energized the black voting pop. and prove he can withstand controversy.
8. Obama won becuase Hillary underestimated him.

Posted by: MM | Jun 4, 2008 4:23:37 PM

1. Obama did pass the 2118 mark yesterday.
2. Hillary is not bi partisan she had 12 suporters to 9 on the Rules and Bylaws comittee and still couldn't get her agenda passed.
3. Hillary will not carry Texas and West Virginia.
4. Hillary admitted that the nomination is decided by delegates
5. Hillary wants the spotlight and will try to steal Obamas
6. Hillary started with over 200 SD backing her before the 1st vote counted.
7. Barack won because he got young people involved, gain the support of the Dem base, energized the black voting pop. and prove he can withstand controversy.
8. Obama won becuase Hillary underestimated him.

Posted by: MM | Jun 4, 2008 4:23:39 PM

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