Clinton, Obama Supporters Discuss Combined Effort to Win in November

[babylonsister]

Rival Camps Plan Inevitable Merger
Clinton, Obama Supporters Discuss Combined Effort to Win in November

By Matthew Mosk and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, May 18, 2008; Page A01


Top fundraisers for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have begun private talks aimed at merging the two candidates' teams, not waiting for the Democratic nominating process to end before they start preparations for a hard-fought fall campaign.

Despite Obama's apparently insurmountable lead in delegates needed to claim the nomination, aides to both candidates are resigned to the idea that the Democratic contest will continue at least through June 3, when Montana and South Dakota will cast the final votes of the primary season.

But in small gatherings around Washington and in planning sessions for party unity events in New York and Boston in coming weeks, fundraisers and surrogates from both camps are discussing how they can put aside the vitriol of the past 18 months and move forward to ensure that the eventual nominee has the resources to defeat Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in November.

Mark Aronchick, a Philadelphia lawyer who has raised more than $1 million for Clinton's bid, said that while her supporters have not given up on their candidate, they recognize the need to start preparing for the general election.

"Only if we do this right, and see this through in the right way, will there be a chance for a full, rapid and largely complete unification of the party," Aronchick said.

Aronchick was one of about 35 Clinton and Obama insiders who attended a dinner last week in Washington aimed at what he characterized as helping the two sides "grope towards unity."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702425.html

[LakeSamish706]

1. Thats very encouraging I must say... It really was a concern as to whether or...

not the two sides would come together and I am happy that they are moving in that direction. The reality is we need to take the White House back and begin the take back of the country.