“‘I want to say also that this may be the last day I’m ever involved in a campaign of this kind,’ the former president told Clinton supporters in South Dakota, ABC and NBC reported on their news websites. ‘I thought I was out of politics, till Hillary decided to run. But it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to go around and campaign for her for president,’ he added at the start of his stump speech.” There’ve been rumors floating around about Sen. Clinton’s speech in New York tomorrow, but has Bill let the cat out of the bag? One can only hope.
Update: Sigh…A Clinton spokesperson categorically denies an imminent exit tomorrow. In related news, New York Magazine’s John Heilemann and The Atlantic‘s James Fallows ponder what Sen. Clinton is thinking these days. Heilemann: “[M]y response is simple: She wants to be president. Duh. And if it ain’t gonna happen this year, then her central objective is to make it as likely as possible in 2012.” Fallows: “The Clinton team doesn’t worry about hurting Obama’s prospects of winning in the fall, because they assess those prospects at zero. Always have…So by definition they can’t be making things worse. It is like sticking pins into a corpse — you’re not really hurting it any more. And if these efforts in fact make Obama’s victory less likely — well, then, reality will conform to their preexisting view.“
Update 2: Word this morning is Sen. Clinton will in fact concede (sort of) tonight. “The former first lady will stop short of formally suspending or ending her race in her speech in New York City…But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.” Update 3: McAuliffe says not so. Get it together over there, y’all.
Update 4: Well, for once McAuliffe was right — You can’t call that a concession. Sen. Clinton’s “un-concession” speech tonight in New York, delivered an hour after Sen. Obama had mathematically clinched the Democratic nomination, would’ve been stunning in its gracelessness, if it wasn’t so much in keeping with what we’ve seen all election season from her. Classy until the end.
Mo, a spinner to the end.
I don’t know that this is as categorical as you say, Kevin. Remember, this is the depends-what-the-definition-of-‘is’-is crew.
“She is in this race until we have a nominee…”
We have a nominee.
“…she still believes there is a path for her to become that nominee.”
Sure. If Obama is captured by aliens and carted off to the planet Xrththrop. Or, I’m trying to remember, didn’t Hillary Clinton herself have an analogy on this one… Oh, nevermind. Anyway, given something remarkable happening, that would lead to a path for her to become that nominee, yes.
“I think it’s pretty clear that she is not conceding.” When asked “Will you deny that she is dropping out tomorrow night?” Elleithee responded, “Yes.”
Clever, this one. She may not be “conceding.” She may not be “dropping out.” She may just be suspending her campaign. That’d be my guess, especially after Vilsack’s comments today.
Semantics? Some antics, indeed.
I’ve been saying to people for the last few weeks that the Clintons’ one objective is to get back to the White House, and the only thing standing between them and their goal is Obama winning the election in November. That math, to me, is what is truly “inexorable” at this point. But the conventional wisdom at this point seems to be turning toward HRC wanting to be a team player for now. I’ll believe it when I see it.
The AP is reporting she’s out tonight.
Excellent parsing job, Ben — It looks like (thankfully) you hit the nail on the head.
You speak Clintonics like a pro! 🙂
McAuliffe says not so. Get it together over there, y’all.
Maybe they don’t want to depress turnout for today? I think what probably happens tonight(if enough SDs come out to put him over the top) is that she suspends her campaign but doesn’t formally concede or throw her support to him. Then the haggling begins in earnest. Campaign debts, jobs for campaign staff, policy planks, maybe an offer of a healthcare czar position? I hate that part of my donations are going to go to pay for the Clintons’ 3 month vanity campaign, but whatever, this needs to get done and we can always raise more. The healthcare czar thing is more concerning, as she already blew it on this issue the first time around, and we don’t really need a controversial figure like her complicating that issue and providing an easy target for attacks. But it may have to be done.
Also, Senators = spineless. I know they have to be collegial and all, but this is getting ludicrous.
…And immediately she throws her hat into the ring for veep. But heavens-to-betsy, y’all… ONLY if it’d help the party to have li’l ol’ her on the ticket.
My opinion? It wouldn’t. It’d only perpetuate the Darth Cheney-style (vice) presidency trend, and while I’m sure Hill wouldn’t be THAT bad, I think he could do better. That is, with someone who hasn’t as much as said that he’d be a terrible president. Oh, and someone who isn’t crossing her fingers for a tragedy.
Jimmy Carter will come out and formally endorse Obama after the polls close tonight.
I may very well be wrong, but I really don’t see Sen. Clinton on the ticket (particularly considering word is Obama already said no.)
Even notwithstanding the Macbeth-style machinations that would ensue over at the Naval Observatory for four years, she brings all of her (and her husband’s) weaknesses and none of their strengths to the ticket. The only state she could flip, and it’s a longshot, is Arkansas.
Meanwhile, the rabid Clintonite dead-enders aren’t going to be swayed by her placement in the 2-slot, and everyone else will be aghast that the Clintons are still just a heartbeat away from the presidency. I just don’t think it’ll fly.
Demconwatch reports 10 Edwards delegates moving into Obama’s column. That plus delegates won today plus the MT superdelegate contingent should do it. Time to break out the good Scotch.
Congrats on your foresight Kevin, and thanks for the great coverage. It’s been nice to have a place to come that is below the threshold of the craziness of the larger political blogosphere but which is still covering the primary thoroughly and expertly.
No problem, JDunn,and thanks for the kind words. I’m off to procure some Jamesons on this end myself.