CNN: Clinton 'insiders' approach Obama team about exit strategy [View All]

[maddezmom]

Source: Argus Leader

CNN: Clinton 'insiders' approach Obama team about exit strategy
Staff reports • May 23, 2008

Hillary Clinton campaign "insiders" have approached Barack Obama's aides to make some proposals, CNN reported today.


Clinton staffers say that while she is not interested in being Obama's running mate, he may need to make that offer to her in order for the Democratic Party to move forward and to allow her to make a graceful exit from the campaign, according to the CNN report.

The CNN report is summed up this way in "On Politics," the USA TODAY political blog:

Clinton insiders say that they've told the Obama aides there are three possible scenarios:

• Obama could ignore Clinton, which might anger her supporters.

• He could offer her the vice presidential slot, she would say no and all would be well.




Read more: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/UPDATES/80523018/1001/news

---

CNN: Clinton Camp Pushing For Compromise In Formal Talks
The punditry is abuzz after a report on CNN this morning that Clinton and Obama have held formal talks about her exit from the race, with Clinton outlining three possible scenarios. Bloomberg reports:

The two Democratic campaigns are talking about ways for Clinton, from New York, to drop her bid for president that may include joining the Illinois senator's ticket, CNN reported. Talks are in a "very preliminary" stage and are described as "difficult,'" the network said.
However, the revelation from CNN cites only anonymous sources. And an interview with David Axelrod on Thursday claimed that talks had not begun between the campaigns:

The chief strategist for the Obama campaign, David Axelrod, said Thursday that no overtures had been made by Mr. Clinton or any prominent supporters to place Mrs. Clinton on the ticket.

"There have been no contacts between the campaigns, and no one is looking for a deal of any kind," Mr. Axelrod said in an interview. "She's running for the nomination for president, as we are. We're focusing on closing out the nominating fight. We'll deal with vice presidential questions in sequence."


Talking Points Memo suggests that even if the report is overstating conversations between the campaigns, the disclosure of Clinton-Obama talks is significant:

more:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/23/cnn-clinton-camp-pushing_n_103240.html



Formal Talks?
05.23.08 -- 8:58AM By David Kurtz
CNN is reporting this morning that the Obama and Clinton campaigns are in formal talks about ending her quest for the Democratic nomination and possibly giving her the VP slot.

These apparent talks are described by CNN as being in a ``very preliminary'' stage and as "difficult."

It's really unclear what this means or what's really going on here. CNN doesn't have anyone on the record. Just anonymous sourcing. We'll have video of their report up shortly.

On first blush I'm skeptical that there really are "formal talks" in the usual sense of that phrase. The report appears to lean heavily on sourcing from within the Clinton camp, which is notable. The significance here may not be that there are formal talks underway or that the vice presidency is under discussion. The real significance may be that this is the opening salvo from the Clinton camp ahead of the negotiations that would likely accompany her withdrawal from the race.

more:http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/196619.php