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The Note: Pressure on Clintons as Democrats Seek Unity

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June 25, 2008 9:12 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports in Wednesday's Note: It’s unity week for the Democrats -- and watch this tense tango: Hillary Clinton two-steps toward togetherness, Barack Obama congas for comity (with a fandango of a phone call) -- and Bill Clinton manages to shimmy out a statement.

While we ponder Sen. Obama’s star choices (Samuel L. Jackson or Don Cheadle? Heidi Klum or Cindy Crawford?) and taste preferences (fruitcakes or martinis? -- combine them both and you have a drink worthy of “Sex and the City,” female outreach settled) . . . a few questions to frame the day:

How many more polls like this before there’s real panic in the GOP? (Answer: One.)

How many more panel discussions can turn into debates before there’s a real-shakeup inside the McCain operation? (Answer: None -- and two more foreign trips next week? Is he seeing an electoral map we’re not?)

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

Is this one of those weeks where it’s good to be a candidate/senator or bad to be a candidate/senator? (Answer: Depends on the senator.)

How many more ads like this before Obama’s upside is formally declared to outweigh his downside in down-ballot races? (Answer: Three.)

Is Ralph Nader trying to say things politicians just don’t say? (Answer: Yes.)

How carefully will Bill Clinton have to choose his words when he puts his endorsement into action? (Answer: Very.) How many of those words will be unscripted? (Answer: None.)

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.

June 25, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (107)

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Good grief, figure it out. The Clinton's can help Obama but it is up to him to figure out the electoral math and reach out to the Clinton supporters. Instead, it is continuous veiled threats from the ObamaNation and attempts to degrade the Clinton's reputations.

What McCain may see that others don't is the weakness of the so-called unified party strategy. The reluctance is high and it won't take many more flip-flops by Obama to undo it given his reluctance to get his Luddite ears out of his chickenLittle behind on energy policy.

Change for the worse is not change we want to believe in and if it comes to electing another Republican to get change we need, then 'yes we can'.

Posted by: len | Jun 25, 2008 9:32:30 AM

Obama -- N E V E R !

Posted by: T | Jun 25, 2008 9:37:41 AM

Obama doesn't have a clue about anything.

Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jun 25, 2008 9:40:27 AM

No, I'll never vote for him.

Posted by: brigitte | Jun 25, 2008 9:43:08 AM

Obama - change you can believe in. If, of course, you don't care about specifics.

Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jun 25, 2008 9:43:39 AM

Obama and the DNC ripped the Democratic party apart.

Obama continues to do so. By the move of only half the Democratic party to Chicago.

The Voters do not want Obama. What does the DNC not see about that. The voters voted NO to Obama. They still do not want Obama.

The DNC playing God and Poltical Fixer in the Primaries. Getting involved, Playing thier game and influencing the media and voters. Was wrong on so many levels.

It is not on Hillary's Shoulders That she was the better candidate and best one to be President, and the choice of the people.

The Bottom line is the voters voted Not to obama. They still do not want him.

Hillary gave her word. she is living up to that. Kudo's to her. Takes honor and courage. Showing she is still the better one.

The voters are obligated to their country. To make sure the best person for President is put in Place.

It Is NOT Obama.

Posted by: seah | Jun 25, 2008 9:48:37 AM

PUMA.

Posted by: K | Jun 25, 2008 9:50:05 AM

the least hillary can do is try to unite this party thank god she lost she would have been horrible as president just look at the debt she got us into just think if she was president the debt we would be in

Posted by: angie | Jun 25, 2008 9:51:09 AM

len your comment made no sense...

i argue that by most polls standards the democrats are very unified behind obama. I dont know why you think some saving grace is the clintons.

I mean thats what you republicans hope for is that somehow someway the clintons will get back up on their horse and ride forward in a charge that would destroy the democrats... but thats not going to happen..

i think the mass majority of democrats are fully behind obama, and campaigning with clinton will possibly bring most of the rest home...

but women dont like mccain because hes a polar opposite to womens issues. It doesnt matter how many times he says my friends he still is opposed to issues that women have always been very pro.


obama has a very good energy policy and it will continue to grow... mccains energy policy is a few bandages and some duck tape. What has mccain offered in terms of real progress on the energy crisis?

and soetoro id have to say that mccain is the one looking like he doesnt know anything.

Posted by: bhrandon | Jun 25, 2008 9:51:45 AM

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

Obama 08!!!

Posted by: matt w. | Jun 25, 2008 9:55:21 AM

How can Obama reach out to Clinton voters when they stand red-faced, arms folded and sticking their tongues out? What a bunch of spoiled cry babies. The best way to deal with such immature behavior is to ignore it.

Posted by: J Robinson | Jun 25, 2008 10:10:21 AM

Obama's way of reaching out is by telling Clinton supporters to "get over it" will only make things worse.

Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Jun 25, 2008 10:15:11 AM

I think the only Hillary supporters who are not backing Obama are the ones on this site. Have you looked at the polls lately? Those supporters of HIllary's are not stupid and are not acting like a child, they know how important it is that McCain does not win this election.
Grow up, stop acting like a child and do the right thing.

Posted by: becky | Jun 25, 2008 10:23:29 AM

I'M A HILLARY SUPPORTER. I WILL ONLY VOTE FOR OBAMA IF HILLARY BECOMES HIS RUNNING MATE. NOT BECAUSE I HAVE FINALLY LEARNED TO LIKE HIM BUT BECAUSE MCCAIN SCARES ME MORE AND WITH HILLARY, AT LEAST, THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY IN THE HIGHEST PLACE WHO KNOWS HOW TO GET THE WHEELS IN MOTION AND MOVE FORWARD TO GET THE GOALS ACCOMPLISHED.

Posted by: neil1785 | Jun 25, 2008 10:24:38 AM


Obama or Clintons have NO power on
voters at this time OR to dictate our
votes.
We said over and over again:we will
NOT vote for Obama in november....
.....end of the story.
4 years with McCain is fine with us.

Posted by: Nicholas | Jun 25, 2008 10:29:44 AM

sorry to see Hillary sell herself like this to the big O. I still think she is only doing this for the cash and not for unity. Superdelegates haven't voted yet and can change their mind any time they please. It ain't over till it is over. The big O is just a bag of air.

Posted by: mich mike | Jun 25, 2008 10:36:27 AM


I hope Obama's campaign managers
read our posts.....
UNITY.....NEVER.....
We will NOT vote for Obama in november
and nobody can change our minds...

Posted by: Nicholas | Jun 25, 2008 10:40:13 AM

puma people,

be little bit politician... like your Hillary... be more realistic and smart.
if you ever want her to be a nominee again... at least this time you should not ruin this election.... then you know what? she will never get a chance in her life time... because other 1.8M will never vote for her.... fair is fair. period.

Posted by: cloud123 | Jun 25, 2008 10:43:28 AM

bhrandon, THE KNOW-IT-ALL,

THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK .... WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH .... I STILL THINK THAT OBAMA IS NOT FIT OR QUALIFIED FOR PRESIDENT BUT I'M VOTING FOR HIM ANYWAY ONLY IF HILLARY IS HIS RUNNING MATE. AT LEAST, WITH HILLARY, THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY IN THE HIGHEST PLACE WHO KNOWS HOW TO GET THE WHEELS IN MOTION AND MOVE FORWARD TO GET THE GOALS ACCOMPLISHED.

Posted by: neil1785 | Jun 25, 2008 10:48:11 AM

Neil1785

Hill isn't going to be the VP nom...but she is going to be part of the team.


It really is going to be the best team the country has seen in a long time.

Posted by: dl | Jun 25, 2008 10:50:50 AM

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