HONOLULU, Aug. 11, 2008
Clinton To Headline Convention's 2nd Night
Obama Campaign Also Announces Michelle Obama Will Headline Opening Night Of Convention
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Play CBS Video Video Clintons Get Major Role At DNC Rumblings from the Clinton camps gain them a spotlight at the Democratic National Convention. But will they help the party gain desperately needed unity? Bob Schieffer talks to Harry Smith.
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Video Will Clinton Fans Back Obama? Barack Obama must convince Hillary Clinton supporters to vote for him during the presidential election. As Jeff Greenfield reports, this could be difficult for the presumptive Democratic candidate.
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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., smiles as she campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, in Henderson, Nev. (AP)
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Photo Essay Hillary Clinton A look at a life and career full of firsts.
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In-Depth VP Hot Sheet: Obama CBSNews.com ranks the top contenders to be Obama's running mate.
The former first lady will speak on the second night, Tuesday, Aug. 26 - the 88th anniversary of the women's right to vote. The campaign and convention committee in a statement called her "a champion for working families and one of the most effective and empathetic voices in the country today."
The Obama campaign is trying to avoid hard feelings among Clinton's supporters at their carefully orchestrated convention. But they still haven't reached a deal on whether Clinton will be included in the roll call vote for the nomination, which could make the party appear divided heading into the final stretch of the White House race.
The campaign said Obama's wife, Michelle, is slated to headline the opening night on Aug. 25. The high-profile appearance at the kickoff is a chance for the potential first lady, who has been attacked by GOP critics, to speak directly to voters. She can also help explain her husband to voters in the most personal terms.
"As the person who knows him best, Michelle will talk about the Barack Obama she knows and loves, the values that drive him, and why she believes he'll be an extraordinary president," said Michelle Obama's chief of staff, Stephanie Cutter.
The yet-to-be-named vice presidential pick will speak on the third night, as is the tradition. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe tried to build excitement about the impending pick in an e-mail to supporters Sunday night, encouraging them to send their e-mail and phone numbers to "be the first to know."
Democratic officials say Bill Clinton is also scheduled to speak on the same night as the running mate. But only the headliners were listed in Sunday's official announcement, made while Obama was vacationing in his native state of Hawaii.
The former president plans to be in the audience Tuesday to watch his wife's speech. Democratic officials say she has not decided who will introduce her, but one option is her daughter, Chelsea.
One Clinton adviser, speaking on a condition of anonymity because speech preparations are being kept private, said she wants to deliver a "forward-looking" speech that pays homage to the historic nature of the primary between a black candidate and a woman candidate without dwelling on the divisions.
John Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee who finished a distant third in the primary, was left off the speakers list as he grapples with revelations that he had an affair with a woman hired to produce campaign videos.
Obama is expected to become the party's first black presidential nominee on the fourth and final night as the convention moves from Denver's indoor Pepsi Center to a bigger venue at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. It happens to be the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Clinton told supporters she is seeking a way for her delegates to be heard at the convention and be united after the hard-fought nominating contest.
"Because I know from just what I'm hearing, that there's incredible pent up desire. And I think that people want to feel like, 'OK, it's a catharsis, we're here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Sen. Obama.' That is what most people believe is the best way to go," she said, according to video of the remarks taken by an attendee and posted on YouTube last week.
Obama told reporters Thursday he thought the negotiations with Clinton aides had gone "seamlessly," but he also rejected the notion that there might be a need for emotional release on the part of some Democrats.
"I don't think we're looking for catharsis," said Obama. "I think what we're looking for is energy and excitement."
Advisers to the New York senator said she will almost certainly not ask to have her name placed in formal nomination at the convention to avoid a divisive vote.
Under DNC rules, Clinton must submit a signed, written request to have her name placed in nomination, accompanied by a petition signed by at least 300 delegates. Some Clinton delegates have circulated such petitions, but the effort is meaningless without Clinton's signed request.
Delegates are not formally pledged to any candidate so Clinton does not need to "release" them to Obama. The rules also say delegates may vote for the candidate of their choice whether or not the name of such candidate was placed in nomination.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 57 Comments
- Awww, boo-hoo. The Clintonians are still suffering from sour grapes following the steamrolling they took under the Obama Shuffle. Cry us a river, lil'' Hillary.
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- Obama has no record of his own, except for a pathetic 143 days of US senate experience. With no national history of his own, his only option is to keep slamming the other guy.
This is a Commander-In-Chief election in a world which is growing more dangerous. Obama is unfit and unqualified.
Wasn''t it Hillary who agreed with this, too? - Reply to this comment
- The only thing Hillary should be doing at the dem convention is cooking and cleaning for Obama and Bill
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- The only thing Hillary should be doing at the dem convention is cooking and cleaning for Obama and Bill
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- Are those tapes going to be released??? I think Hillary should release those tapes if they show that Obama is unfit to be President.
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Posted by johnbush2
The tapes he was talking about are the tapes that came out with Rev Wright. We have already seen them.
Also, Miss Clinton has no loyality to anyone but herself - Reply to this comment
- Obama is a radical muslim senator from Illinois. As a male muslim, Obama is naturally a misogynist. Women can see that clearly and hate him.
Obama is also a violent advocate of black liberation theology. I doubt this goes down well with hispanics.
Further, as a radical muslim, Obama is also antisemitic. Jews don''''''''t trust an Obama presidency.
To compound his problems, Christians could never support Obama as he is a strong and passionate advocate for infanticide.
As I have told you many times, Obama is going down. Americans are going to kick Obama''''''''s shiny black @ss back to the senate.
The fact is that Obama could only win in Illinois because there is a large black and muslim population in Chicago.
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Posted by johnbus
Your so full of Poo that its flowing out your nose. Everyone knows he isn''t a Muslim. Give it a rest and talk about some real policy - Reply to this comment
- Ms Clinton, your loyalty lies to this nation and not the Democratic party. If you are holding tapes that show Obama is unfit to be President, you should release those tapes to the public.
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- Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has been privately enumerating her doubts about Obama to supporters, according to people who have spoken with her. Clinton%u2019s pollster Mark Penn recently unveiled a PowerPoint presentation red-flagging Obama%u2019s lukewarm leads among white female voters and Hispanics.....
CBS news
Obama is a radical muslim senator from Illinois. As a male muslim, Obama is naturally a misogynist. Women can see that clearly and hate him.
Obama is also a violent advocate of black liberation theology. I doubt this goes down well with hispanics.
Further, as a radical muslim, Obama is also antisemitic. Jews don''''t trust an Obama presidency.
To compound his problems, Christians could never support Obama as he is a strong and passionate advocate for infanticide.
As I have told you many times, Obama is going down. Americans are going to kick Obama''''s shiny black @ss back to the senate.
The fact is that Obama could only win in Illinois because there is a large black and muslim population in Chicago. - Reply to this comment
- We don''t know much about Obama. He is not even showing us his original birth certificate. But from what little we know, voters can safely assume that Obama is unfit to lead. Period.
Leave "race" out of this. - Reply to this comment
- In a December 30, 2007 memo written on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Mark Penn writes to his fellow Clinton staffers that after the caucuses, if Obama "is riding a high we will have to take him down."
He runs through a series of potential attacks against Obama -- he has taken a bunch of liberal positions that make him unelectable, has been inconsistent on Iraq, has flip-flopped on issues, and voted present a number of times in the Illinois legislature instead of taking a position.
Then, playing out a number of scenarios, Penn writes that if they come out of Iowa and it''s a two-way race with Obama, "on Friday we do a media interviews (sic) and basically say that he is unvetted, discuss his ever-changing positions. Release the tapes. Create immediate pressure that deprives him of oxygen.''''
"Release the tapes"????
What tapes?
ABC news
Are those tapes going to be released??? I think Hillary should release those tapes if they show that Obama is unfit to be President. - Reply to this comment
- That is an absolute fact.
There are many posters on here stating unequivocally that Obama is unfit to be president while in the same comment claiming that NOBODY knows anything about him.
Since they admit to knowing nothing about him their obvious dislike for him can only be logically explained as racism.
The sad part is there are so many people who want to vote democratic and honestly do not wish to be racist but will be things they otherwise consider irrelevant.
Considering the , a white male, democratic nominee would have a 30 to 40 point lead in all national polls.
Even Hillary Clinton, facing gender bias, would have a 15 to 20 point lead
Racial bias is far more prevalent and, IMO, Obama If he is the nominee I will be voting for him.
personal problem it is just as well, because he wouldn%u2019t have a chance now either.
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Posted by jn122736
The reason its close has nothing to do with his skin color or racism. Hillary would of been close to McCain to and probably lost.
Its CLOSE because Obama has flaws and McCain is good canidate. Obama''s flaws aren''t his color, they are his lack of experience, thus a lack of accomplishment especially compared to McCain. Another flaw is his associations with people. Another is his energy policy.
Don''t be so fast to cry wolf when their isn''t anything to cry about. - Reply to this comment
- That is an absolute fact.
There are many posters on here stating unequivocally that Obama is unfit to be president while in the same comment claiming that NOBODY knows anything about him.
Since they admit to knowing nothing about him their obvious dislike for him can only be logically explained as racism.
The sad part is there are so many people who want to vote democratic and honestly do not wish to be racist but will be things they otherwise consider irrelevant.
Considering the , a white male, democratic nominee would have a 30 to 40 point lead in all national polls.
Even Hillary Clinton, facing gender bias, would have a 15 to 20 point lead
Racial bias is far more prevalent and, IMO, Obama If he is the nominee I will be voting for him.
personal problem it is just as well, because he wouldn%u2019t have a chance now either.
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Posted by jn122736
The reason its close has nothing to do with his skin color or racism. Hillary would of been close to McCain to and probably lost.
Its CLOSE because Obama has flaws and McCain is good canidate. Obama''s flaws aren''t his color, they are his lack of experience, thus a lack of accomplishment especially compared to McCain. Another flaw is his associations with people. Another is his energy policy.
Don''t be so fast to cry wolf when their isn''t anything to cry about. - Reply to this comment
- That is an absolute fact.
There are many posters on here stating unequivocally that Obama is unfit to be president while in the same comment claiming that NOBODY knows anything about him.
Since they admit to knowing nothing about him their obvious dislike for him can only be logically explained as racism.
The sad part is there are so many people who want to vote democratic and honestly do not wish to be racist but will be things they otherwise consider irrelevant.
Considering the , a white male, democratic nominee would have a 30 to 40 point lead in all national polls.
Even Hillary Clinton, facing gender bias, would have a 15 to 20 point lead
Racial bias is far more prevalent and, IMO, Obama If he is the nominee I will be voting for him.
personal problem it is just as well, because he wouldn%u2019t have a chance now either.
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Posted by jn122736
The reason its close has nothing to do with his skin color or racism. Hillary would of been close to McCain to and probably lost.
Its CLOSE because Obama has flaws and McCain is good canidate. Obama''s flaws aren''t his color, they are his lack of experience, thus a lack of accomplishment especially compared to McCain. Another flaw is his associations with people. Another is his energy policy.
Don''t be so fast to cry wolf when their isn''t anything to cry about. - Reply to this comment
- Makes no difference who Obama picks as VP.He is going to lose.The dream is over...
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- Terrorist don''t lob softballs or play powder-puff football either, so lil'' Hillary need not apply for vice-president either. Somewhere in NY a neglected kitchen stove needs cleaning. Got apron, lil'' missy?
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- ===those people===
Posted by DaVicar2
"Those people", huh? Yeah, right, there''''s no racism in America, Obama was just playing the race card, right?
Racism in America is just oozing from just about every crack.
Posted by rafterman1 at 02:15 PM : Aug 11, 2008
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rafterman1;
That is an absolute fact.
There are many posters on here stating unequivocally that Obama is unfit to be president while in the same comment claiming that NOBODY knows anything about him.
Since they admit to knowing nothing about him their obvious dislike for him can only be logically explained as racism.
The sad part is there are so many people who want to vote democratic and honestly do not wish to be racist but will be persuaded not to, by things they otherwise consider irrelevant.
Considering the disastrous results of the past 8 years of this republican administration, a white male, democratic nominee would have a 30 to 40 point lead in all national polls.
Even Hillary Clinton, facing gender bias, would have a 15 to 20 point lead
Racial bias is far more prevalent and, IMO, Obama doesn%u2019t have much of a chance to be elected.
If he is the nominee I will be voting for him.
I was very disappointed when Edwards dropped out before Super Tuesday, but with his recently exposed personal problem it is just as well, because he wouldn%u2019t have a chance now either. - Reply to this comment
- Saying Hillary would have won Iowa if Edwards had been out of the race is wishful thinking. Had Edwards dropped out before Iowa, Obama would probably have by an even bigger margin, since all the exit polling showed that Obama was the overwhelming second choice for Edwards supporters. Edwards and Obama were the beneficiaries of the not-Hillary votes. Even her supporters acknowledge that she is polarizing and there are people who would write in someone if her name were the only one on a ballot.
Her refusal to admit that her vote for the Iraq resolution was a mistake very likely cost Hillary Iowa, not anything involving John Edwards. Maybe she should have taken the time to at least scan through the NIE to which Senators were given access instead of blindly building her "tough" credentials. - Reply to this comment
- Are there any other political conventions this year? I mean, I never read about anything other than Obama and the DNC convention in Denver.
Just wondering.
But I guess our wonderful, unbiased media knows what''''s best for me to know.
Posted by HawkSprings at 03:43 PM : Aug 11, 2008
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Gee I wonder how I know all about the Republican Convention that will be held the week after the Dems in St Paul Minnesota. I also know that many top GOPers are telling Reb. Congressmen and Senators that are running for re election, that they would be better off steering clear of the Convention and pretending that they are something other than a Republican. - Reply to this comment
- I still think Obama should pick up Hillary as VP. Just makes the most sense politically.
Posted by mrmazerati at 04:30 PM : Aug 11, 2008
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Good Lord, the man would have to wear a full suit of body armour, day and night. - Reply to this comment
- President Bill Clinton and First Lady Clinton deserve alot more respect than these fools on this site offer. The Clintons were good for America, thank you both for a job well done in the 90''s. Those were the happiest years America has seen.
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