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The Note: Obama vs. Clinton: The Battle Continues
August 07, 2008 4:30 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein writes in Thursday's Note: Sen. Barack Obama is set to leave for his much-deserved vacation with one very big loose end that doesn’t want to be tied -- and that’s not counting the veepstakes.
It’s the drama that won’t go away, the storyline that’s too delicious to recede, the symbol of a party’s divisions the very mention of which brings smiles to the faces of editors and producers: Obama vs. Clinton. (Welcome back.)
To former President Bill Clinton’s missing praise (to say nothing of what he is saying), we add this: A steadfast refusal by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to rule out allowing her delegates to vent in the peculiar fashion of voting for her on the convention floor, instead of the candidate she’s campaigning for.
“I happen to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their voices were heard and their views were respected,” Clinton, D-N.Y., told a gathering of supporters last week, ABC News reported Wednesday. “We do not want any Democrat either in the hall or in the stadium or at home walking away saying, well, you know, I’m just not satisfied, I’m not happy.”
“It’s as old as, you know, Greek drama,” Clinton said. (We couldn’t agree more.)
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.
Clinton gets a chance to clear the air with a *noon ET Web chat Thursday* organized for supporters (hope you weren’t expecting softballs -- or donations that don’t come with a price).
What does it say about the most important relationship in the Democratic Party that this is still an unresolved issue, three weeks before Obama is set to formally claim the nomination? Can a party heal if one of its principal players -- and a few million of her supporters -- aren’t ready for it?
“The refusal to publicly announce her intentions is widely seen as a bargaining chip Clinton is holding on to as party officials negotiate logistics regarding her convention speech and other activities,” per ABC News.
Said Clinton friend Lanny Davis (who, like most inside Camp Clinton, don’t want a roll call): “It's a reflection of genuine frustration by Hillary Clinton supporters that Sen. Obama seems to have forgotten about 18 million voters.”
Think of how much the joint Obama-Clinton statement released late Wednesday doesn’t say: “We are working together to make sure the fall campaign and the convention are a success. At the Democratic Convention, we will ensure that the voices of everyone who participated in this historic process are respected and our party will be fully unified heading into the November election.”
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' Hope Ditto, Alexa Ainsworth and Jason Volack contributed to this report.
August 7, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (205)
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She has lost but does not want to be forgotten, oh my dear Hillary.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Aug 7, 2008 4:47:43 AM
Good -
I am so sick and tired of hearing the name OBAMA, OBAMA OBAMA and OBAMA to the point where my stomach turns.
Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Aug 7, 2008 4:50:48 AM
Just imagine if he picks Bayh as his VP. Can you say Obama Bayh. Obama Bayh ha ha ha. Ick.
Posted by: Kitty | Aug 7, 2008 5:00:26 AM
It must suck for Obama, but the fact remains he needs Hillary, and he needs Bill. Both of them have huge support in the democratic party as well as the nation, particularly in areas that Obama lacks support (rural areas). Hillary should be offered the VP spot, but if not, at the very least, they both should be showcased at the convention. If they are not, I promise you this, BO will not win. He must recognize that he won this contest more narrowly than a primary has ever been won. He needs her half of the party. It's my opinion, that it will be a huge risk if she's not on the ticket. But if he flatly refuses that, he MUST find a way to showcase her at the convention. I read she's raised 500K for him and he has failed to raise that for her (an agreement they made after the primary). That gets back to her voters, and it will be hell to pay in November.
Posted by: a reader in georgia | Aug 7, 2008 5:03:51 AM
Go Hillary! Unity is overrated. Everyone unified behind President Bush after 9/11 and look how that turned out. Hitler unified Germany behind the German Workers' Party. Think with the brains God gave you people. Don't drink the Kool-Aid.
Posted by: Amber | Aug 7, 2008 5:12:17 AM
Amen Billy...Amen
Posted by: Josh N. | Aug 7, 2008 5:16:13 AM
Whether or not Obama picks Hillary as his Veep there are supporters of hers whom still won't vote for the ticket. I'm still against the "Dream" ticket and a Bayh ticket.
Posted by: Vanessa | Aug 7, 2008 5:16:24 AM
Oba can win without the Clintons. He did win when the Clintons were openly contesting against him - how can he fail to win when they are out of the picture? Insane!
Posted by: Al | Aug 7, 2008 5:16:31 AM
When will Edwards speak at the convention? ;^D
Posted by: johnny7 | Aug 7, 2008 5:17:47 AM
I am one of those selfish Hillary supporters who will vote for John McCain, and yes, I sleep very well at night. John McCain has said many times over the years that he would rather lose an election than win a war. He backed up his words by challenging George Bush on his execution of the war in Iraq, and alienating his own Party. McCain has alienated his own party on several issues over the years. That is the difference between Obama and McCain. I can pretty much predict what McCain is going to do. I have no idea what Obama stands for. He says one thing, changes his mind, and then changes it back again, depending on the way the wind blows. I have no idea who this man really is. He reminds me of an onion. Peel away the layers, and there’s nothing at the core. I don’t always agree with John McCain, but I’m pretty sure I know where he stands on most issues. At least that gives me some level of comfort. From day to day, I don’t know where Obama stands on anything. In one day, he said THREE different things about Iraq – he’d get the troops out in 16 months, then he’d keep troops in Iraq depending on conditions on the ground, and then he went back to his commitment to get the troops out in 16 months. It’s clear to me that this man is willing to say anything to get elected. The question is, what does he really believe and what will he really do?
Posted by: FOB | Aug 7, 2008 5:18:13 AM
Obama gave a hostile interview to a Las Vegas Radio Station..........he does not like to be questioned...
Channel 8 in Las Vegas
Posted by: Jed | Aug 7, 2008 5:19:02 AM
Anybody remember that Saturday Night Live skit? The one where Hillary gives her top reasons she should be given the nomination. Her #1 reason "I'm a sore loser." I believed it to be true back then and Hillary is proving it to be true now.
Posted by: joel | Aug 7, 2008 5:21:27 AM
Good -
I am so sick and tired of hearing the name OBAMA, OBAMA OBAMA and OBAMA to the point where my stomach turns.
--> yeah right, if his name is John Smith you wouldn't be so sick would you?
Posted by: someone | Aug 7, 2008 5:22:18 AM
A much deserved vacation. This guy has taken more vacations this year than I have. The Democrats are on vacation and the Republicans are showing their face in Washington D.C. Hillary Clinton is not on vacation and her husband is raising money for AIDS awareness and treatment (a subject that the "One" has not touched) and John McCain is not on vacation. Obama could pick the other "one" , whoevever that might be and I wouldn't vote for him. Go on vacation Obama. We all need a rest - from you. And because Hillary Clinton would not and did not play dirty by callling Obama out on his racists remarks (good for John McCain) she suffered. BTW he is not the nominee yet. There are over two weeks before the convention.
Posted by: Sue | Aug 7, 2008 5:23:55 AM
The issue is Hillary received more popular votes in the primaries ever. No one else in history has received as many popular votes as Hillary. As a Hillary Democrat, I am disgusted with this party that has chosen to annoint someone not deserving to be the candidate. In the end if Hillary is not the party's nominee, I shall vote for John happily.
Posted by: benvictor | Aug 7, 2008 5:24:12 AM
I am tired of Obama too but not because of his funny name. But because his pandering- insult to our intelligence campaign.
Obama now wants MI and FL fully seated. What happened to rules are rules?
I mean this is absolutely filthy and so disgusting that I can not contain myself.
With them seated fully
HILLARY WINS!!
Posted by: Davis | Aug 7, 2008 5:24:54 AM
I so sick of hearing the name Hillary,Hillary,Hillary.
Let her go back to her job and let the election take it's course.
Enough of her and her cheating husband.
Posted by: Bimbo | Aug 7, 2008 5:27:45 AM
I am one of the 18 Million voters that just can't see Obama as our next president deep down I really want to support Him but, it is not in me due, to the way that he and his supporters treated the Clinton's through the entire Primaries. Hillary needs to stand up for herself, her values, and the 18 Million people that voted for her. There is no alternative and Obama needs to sit down and shut up. She got the Popular vote, she got more votes yet He got more delegates due to the way our system is set up...If every vote counts then why is she not our nominee....Experience vs. talk and as far as I can see Obama is all talk that's why He's flip flopping on the issues. I can't support anyone who does that. He talked a good game but, now that the primaries are over he's showing everyone in this country he doesn't have the first clue....America NEEDS Hillary Clinton.
Posted by: pink rose | Aug 7, 2008 5:31:23 AM
If Obama is so massianic why is he still tied to McCain in the polls? With all the millions raised and economy in the gutter why is Obama not making any movement in the polls? Crazy lunatics in the Obama camp seems too blind not to see that the red states that made him the nominee are no longer there to vote for him in the fall. Arrongance, ego and sheer stupidity will certainly doom this man's candidacy if he does not take Hillary with him. The southerners voted for Bush/Cheney twice in a row, what makes anyone think that they will not vote for McCain who is a saint and angel combined when matched with Bush. Obama campaign team are really dumb not to take Hillary with them and angle for a landslide instead of a razor thin margin which always favors the vote rigging GOP time and time again.
Posted by: Ed Banks | Aug 7, 2008 5:31:56 AM
The world is not big enough for the egos of Obama, Hillary and of course, Bubba Bill. Bill is fuming that an upstart not only took the nomination from Hillary, but made Bill look foolish in the eyes of many people with his rants. Obama may know this, but he has a Bull's Eye on his back. The Clinton machine is out to make sure his presence on the political stage is a short one.
Posted by: Jeff in Orlando | Aug 7, 2008 5:33:16 AM
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