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Obama's Top Strategist Defends Decision Not to Pick Clinton for VP
August 24, 2008 12:16 PM
ABC News' Mary Bruce reports: Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., chief strategist, David Axelrod, spoke out this morning against accusations that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., was never vetted for the vice presidency.
"I can tell you, the first person that [Obama] sat down and talked to at all about this vice presidential issue was Sen. Clinton. They had a discussion back in early June about it, and he spent more time with Sen. Clinton alone, talking about issues, than he has with Joe Biden or anyone else in the last couple of months. So, that's simply not true," Axelrod explained in an exclusive interview on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."
The McCain campaign pounced on the issue Sunday morning, releasing an ad attempting to rile up former Hillary supporters. "She won millions of votes. But isn't on his ticket. Why? For speaking the truth?" the ad asks amid clips of Clinton targeting Obama during the primary season.
Axelrod went on to explain why Obama opted for Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., instead of the former first lady: "[Obama] has a high regard for Sen. Clinton ... She's going to be an important voice in moving this country forward in the next administration. But he felt that Sen. Biden would be the best fit for him at this time."
In a separate interview, former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani questioned Obama's decision not to pick Clinton. "The strong choice would have been Hillary Clinton. The obvious choice would have been Hillary Clinton," Giuliani said. "She had 50 percent of the Democratic vote. Obama has 50 percent of the Democratic vote. You almost have to go to extraordinary lengths to avoid her as the vice presidential pick of the party."
"Sen. Obama has made a choice more out of weakness than strength," Giuliani continued. "Don't go with your strongest candidate, and then go with a candidate that actually emphasizes all your weaknesses and has been quite vocal about them."
And while the former mayor of New York welcomed Biden "to this whole effort again," he made clear that he has no intention of joining him on the campaign trail as McCain's running mate. "I have not been, as far as I can tell, vetted, if they do tell you about that," he said. "I am certain that the candidate -- it's down to three or four candidates. It is not me."
August 24, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (289)
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McCain is right. 18 million votes and she's not on the ticket-- or at least given right of first refusal? That cetainly seems like yet another stupid move. Defeat from the jaws of victory-- same old, same old...
Posted by: La Chatte | Aug 24, 2008 12:24:11 PM
It's the audacity of arrogance. Obama and his insular campaign is so full of themselves at this point, they won't acknowledge the person they almost lost the nomination to. And, to not even vet them or give them a serious look over? Interesting, no one is saying they vetted her...no one. And, Caroline Kennedy of all people should be ashamed for not doing so, given her own father when making his VP picked even realized he had to pick Johnson, someone he didn't like, for the sake of the party. And since the announcement? A two point bounce? The left wing of the Democratic party, those who basically caucused for Obama, have managed to pick the weaker candidate and that's shown in his pick of a more experienced candidate. Give me a break. And, come November, give me McCain.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Aug 24, 2008 12:38:46 PM
I am sorry the Republicans didn't get the Democratic VP they were strategizing against in Hillary Clinton. However, she is still available for McCain to choose as VP.....18 million voters would help him a lot don't you think? McCain-Clinton 08!
Posted by: dmac1 | Aug 24, 2008 12:39:13 PM
As far as I know, the nominee of either party has a right to choose his or her running mate. Senator Obama is not banned from making such selection as well. I am more than satisfied with Sen. Biden. He is a great democrat who has been figthing for democratic values since long before the Clintons jumped into the national stage. If experience is going to matter in this election, Sen. Biden has a resume that Hillary cannot even dream of. Obama-Biden '08
Posted by: carl29 | Aug 24, 2008 12:40:35 PM
This is the time for McCain to offer Hillary the VP spot on his ticket. What is holding him back? Isn't McCain a Maverick who doesn't mind going against his party's will? Isn't McCain a bipartisan politian? Isn't McCain a great friend of Hillary? So, I think it is time for McCain to pass from rethoric to action, and offer Hillary the VP nod on his ticket.
Has McCain vetted Hillary?
Posted by: carl29 | Aug 24, 2008 12:44:18 PM
Hillary is a loser!
Congratulation Obama for President!
Obama does not need Hilaary for anything as well as VIP.
lubujohn
Posted by: lubujohn | Aug 24, 2008 12:45:29 PM
As a Hillary supporter, I will pull the lever for McCain with glee as I hope for her run in 2012. We're gonna send smarty pants back to Chicago to live in his Rezko mansion.
Posted by: AmericanWoman | Aug 24, 2008 1:01:31 PM
What sort of impression do you Hillary Clinton supporters think you're making? Do you think you're coming off as thoughtful, and insightful? Or is it more likely you're coming off as spiteful children incapable of dealing with things as they actually are? Put some thought into it, and think it all the way through.
Posted by: CC | Aug 24, 2008 1:09:02 PM
I guess you all feel Hillary Clinton is so unknown that she would need a thorough vetting.
The fact is that Hillary said herself that she didn't want to be vetted unless she was going to be the selection. The non-vetting was to spare her and Bill the trouble of having all Bill's foundation donors come under scrutiny.
You Hillary people really need to relax. And I'm speaking as a former McCain supporter here, not as a long-time Obama guy.
Posted by: Red | Aug 24, 2008 1:18:14 PM
Ted Kennedy and his cohorts Kerry and Dashle wanted Obama as the nominee and rigged to superdelegates against Hillary; and Kennedy wanted Biden so Obama, being Kennedy's yes man, put Biden on the ticket.
Posted by: Doreen | Aug 24, 2008 1:20:42 PM
Doreen I would love to know where you got your info.
Posted by: d | Aug 24, 2008 1:24:59 PM
I am one Hillary supporter who will gladly vote for John McCain in november. Why will any sane person vote for that empty suit Obama?
Posted by: Iffymens | Aug 24, 2008 1:25:21 PM
im a conservative.... why do people think that hillary is more qualified to be put ahead of joe biden for ANYTHING?
Posted by: tim | Aug 24, 2008 1:27:35 PM
iffymens...
but i bet you would have voted for him if he chose hillary as his v.p. choice?
Posted by: tim | Aug 24, 2008 1:28:59 PM
NEWSFLASH:
Hillary didn't really want to be the VP!
Posted by: Red | Aug 24, 2008 1:30:32 PM
are you kidding me red??!! she didnt want to be, but she would have taken it in a heartbeat!!! its politics man!!! u think a clinton would turn down a promotion?!
Posted by: tim | Aug 24, 2008 1:31:47 PM
debra...
its pointless. the democrats have screwed it up again. even most obama supporters know he isnt qualified to be president, they just wont admit it. they are gonna ride it out into the sunset. none of it makes ANY sense, but you as a hillary supporter has to let it go. its over.
Posted by: tim | Aug 24, 2008 1:36:56 PM
JA...
yeah, obama is clueless.
Posted by: tim | Aug 24, 2008 1:37:41 PM
I saw an interview with the founder of PUMA.
She says she's not a republican, but she was a McCain supporter and donated to his campaign in 2000.
But anyway, can we PLEASE stop hearing about Hillary?
She hasn't said anything negative, and is obviously fine with Obama's choices.
Posted by: julie | Aug 24, 2008 1:38:20 PM
What is shocking is that McCain presumes that intelligent women can be so bitter about Clinton's loss of the primary that they are willing to vote against their own personal interests. Even if they aren't enthralled with Obama and feel cheated by the bizarre primary process, how can these women support a man who will overturn Roe v. Wade?, a man who has demonstrated his contempt for women through his coarse remarks even to his own wife? a man who promises to send their sons into more illegal wars? a man who has brought in Karl Rove the Cheney/Bush attack dog,, Ralph Reed the corrupt Christian Coalition leader and Phil Gramm of Texas/Enron fame to run his campaign?? Get real, recognize PUMA as a bunch of Rove stooges and move on -only Republicans could stomach a vote for McCain/Bush. It is simply the worst possible formula for the advancement of women's causes.
Posted by: jefflz | Aug 24, 2008 1:39:21 PM
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