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Bill Clinton: Hillary Never Wanted to be Obama's VP

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September 22, 2008 1:37 PM

ABC News' Russell Goldman Reports: Despite saying she would accept the offer to be vice president, Hillary Clinton never really wanted to be Barack Obama's running mate, her husband former President Bill Clinton told ABC's The View.

"Not really, she didn't," Clinton said in response to a question from host Barbara Walters about whether Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. wanted to join her one-time opponent on the Democratic ticket.

In June, soon after conceding the primary to Obama, Sen. Clinton told New York lawmakers that she would accept the veep slot if it was offered.

"I'm open to it,' she told other New York lawmakers at the time.

President Clinton told The View that had Obama chosen his wife instead of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden it would have been "the best politically," and that his wife would have likely taken the job though she didn't want it.

"It's a very personal decision who should be vice president. I like Sen. Biden a lot. I think he was a good choice. [Hillary Clinton] would have been the best politically at least in the short run because of her enormous support in the country," he said.

President Clinton said Sen. Clinton would have felt duty-bound to accept the offer, but that she enjoys being a senator.

"She said, 'if [Obama] asks, I'll do it, because it's my duty.’ She loves being a senator for New York and has more freedom to develop her positions on the issues and her things," the former president said.

Clinton said he believed sexism played a role in Hillary Clinton’s failed presidential bid and said he understood why people allow aspects of their identity – including race and gender – cloud their judgment when selecting a candidate to vote for.

"There is some [sexism] but a lot it is almost subconscious, that makes it more insidious," he said.  "Do I think there was some of it in the election? I do."

Clinton said he believed Obama would win the presidency, but spoke admiringly of Republican contender Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Clinton called Obama a "good man" and "smart candidate," whose chances were shored up by a larger and more diverse party than the Republicans. "I'll be surprised if he doesn't [win.]"

Clinton said McCain was instrumental his administration's normalizing relations with Vietnam and said he had proven his worth to the American people.

"The American people, for good and sufficient reasons, admire him," Clinton said of McCain. "He's given something in life the rest of us can't match."

September 22, 2008 in Clinton, Bill, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (474)

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Joe Biden is the senator from Delaware, not Rhode Island.

Posted by: David | Sep 22, 2008 1:52:10 PM

I still hope we see the Clintons participating as leaders, but I truly love Joe Biden, who (PLEASE NOTE) is the senator from Delaware NOT Rhode Island (which is not spelled "Rode"). I'm really not the picky type but that is a pretty noticeable blunder.

Posted by: Karenne | Sep 22, 2008 1:52:53 PM

Thanks for the quick fix, ABC. It would be pretty embarrassing to forget which state on of the Vice Presidential candidates was from. Although with the way the press is largely ignoring Sen. Biden, I wouldn't be that surprised.

Posted by: David | Sep 22, 2008 1:54:26 PM

Thanks for the correction.

Posted by: Karenne | Sep 22, 2008 1:54:45 PM

And there you have it ... Bill just endorsed John McCain.

Posted by: Kitty | Sep 22, 2008 1:58:38 PM

Sis
Checkout this add about Hillary Clinton?
There are also some articles about Sarah Palin on the internet that John McCain is trying to keep silent.Also the Republican Party lawyers are filing a lawsuit to keep her record or should I say the lack there of hush hush.

Posted by: Tonita Bell | Sep 22, 2008 1:59:31 PM

I like Clinton and McCain. I will not vote for Obama because of many reasons but the main factor is he has never done anything to prove that he will fight for the people. Look at his senate district that he left in shambles.

If Obama had made actual changes in his time in the senate and was not affiliated with such corrupt and racist people, then I probably would have voted for him.

Posted by: SAm | Sep 22, 2008 2:01:19 PM

Who is Joe Biden ?

Posted by: Chuck | Sep 22, 2008 2:01:28 PM

What? no disprectful attacks from Joy Behar? No comments abou tslavery from Whoopi?

Posted by: geevill | Sep 22, 2008 2:05:25 PM

The FBI is stepping up its investigation into the possibility that a University of Tennessee student hacked into the personal e-mail of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

A person who identified himself as a witness tells 10 News that agents with the FBI served a federal search warrant at the Fort Sanders residence of David Kernell early Sunday morning. Kernell lives in the Commons apartment complex


David Kernell is the son of Mike Kernell, a Democratic state representative from Memphis.

Look like the MSM can't keep this story from breaking

Posted by: geevill | Sep 22, 2008 2:06:51 PM

SAm: what shambles? you must not have vented Obama.

Posted by: beck | Sep 22, 2008 2:09:09 PM

geevil, I'm thinking Behar and Whoopi have had a chance to reflect on their behavior. Nope, that's not it. It's the big D for sure.

Posted by: Kitty | Sep 22, 2008 2:11:54 PM

sounds like Bill Clinton is subotaging the Obama bid for the white house. Pity he gives such back stabs on own party candidate. Although on the surface what he said was true and would have been appropriate post election, politically this is simply not the time and venue to say so. As a politician, he knows better than anyone. He's rocking the democrat boat.

Posted by: charlotte cli | Sep 22, 2008 2:12:07 PM

Of course she didn't. I feel sorry for all the posters and her supporters who said that she did want to be on the ticket. It just goes to show what happens when you go to bat for a viper. I hope people learn their lesson with her.

Posted by: Lisa Again | Sep 22, 2008 2:12:20 PM

Sam,
Obamas accomplishments are well documented.
Get honest on your real reason

Posted by: sure | Sep 22, 2008 2:15:47 PM

I have always believed in Creation.Whoopi Goldberg puts up a heck of an argument for Evolution.

Posted by: Quietone | Sep 22, 2008 2:15:54 PM

"And there you have it ... Bill just endorsed John McCain."

The second time in only days:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/bill-clinton-pr.html

Looks like a trend? Is Bill playing bad cop so good cop Hillary can run in 2012?

Posted by: NonAffiliated | Sep 22, 2008 2:15:57 PM

Thge plan is Hillary in 2012...i would bet she was offered the VP position but turned it down..With Hillary, it's really all about Hillary..they will not be giving there best to get Obama elected..it's about 2012...geez

Posted by: Quietone | Sep 22, 2008 2:17:55 PM

Bill did NOT enforce McCain, funny how people hear what they want to. By the way, just read and researched McCain's VP pick Palin...seems she charged women for rape kits while mayor. That means if a women was raped, she could not be examined until the victim paid $1000 for it. Alaska's rape cases are 2.5 times the national average, and Palin never did a thing to lower that number...in fact, she fired a guy for going to DC to get money to fight rape. Doesn't sound like something the mother a 5 would do.

Posted by: John | Sep 22, 2008 2:19:23 PM

Why would Bill Clinton go on the View with those pinheads?

Posted by: kathy | Sep 22, 2008 2:20:27 PM

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