WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2008
Obama Talks To Rep. About White House Post
Officials Say Lawmaker Rahm Emanuel Approached About Possible Chief Of Staff Post
-
Presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, smiles as he listens to U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., during an unscheduled stop at the Chicago Sister Cities International Rally in Chicago, June 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Photos Pursuing The Presidency Images from the debates, conventions and campaign trail in the 2008 presidential election.
The disclosure came as Obama and John McCain made their final arguments to voters in key battleground states, fighting over the causes and cures for the ailing economy and appealing for the last minute votes that will seat one of them in the White House next week. Obama tied McCain to President Bush and said Americans are paying a steep price for the partnership, while the Republican linked his rival to Big Oil and record profits.
The Democrats who described the Obama campaign's approach to Emanuel spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to be quoted by name.
An aide to the congressman, Sarah Feinberg, said in an e-mail that he "has not been contacted to take a job in an administration that does not yet exist. Everyone is focused on Election Day, as they should be."
Asked about Emanuel after touching down in Colombia, Mo., on Thursday night, Obama said only: "I'm trying to win an election." Then, referring to campaign manager David Plouffe, he said: "Plouffe is my chief of staff."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton earlier had said: "There's no news because there's no job to offer."
Emanuel is a veteran of President Clinton's White House, and has made a rapid ascent of the House leadership ladder since his election to Congress. He was chairman of the Democratic campaign committee two years ago when the party won a majority for the first time in more than a decade, and he cemented his reputation as a prodigious fundraiser and strong-willed political strategist.
Both Obama and McCain have authorized their staffs to begin transition operations in recent weeks - although only one of them will be in a position to make use of the results. As far as is known, no job offers have been made by either man.
Even so, Republicans seized on the disclosure. "Emanuel is among the most vitriolic and partisan people in American politics," said Alex Conant, a Republican National Committee spokesman. "Reports that Obama wants him to be White House chief of staff undercut any claims to unity and bipartisanship, and should alarm every voter."
As the race neared an end, opinion polls, early voting statistics and even the candidates' campaign schedules all make it look like the race is Obama's to lose.
A CBS News/New York Times poll released Thursday suggested Obama maintains a comfortable 11 percentage point lead over his Republican rival. The Democratic nominee leads with 52 percent of likely voters nationwide saying they will cast a ballot for him, compared to 41 percent for McCain.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From Politics
Add a Comment See all 55 Comments
- Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans; born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace.
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.
Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past.
Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
John F. Kennedy - Reply to this comment
- Let''s see - add staff from Illinois - - & Obama spent his political growth time in/from Illinois - - -
And people claim there has been too much cronyism in the past ? ? ? ?
The savior already gathers his like minded friends to ''help him run this country'' - - no, couldn''t be the same old thing, - - could it? - Reply to this comment
- A little presumtuous, I think.
Consider carefully your choice:
October Surprise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyspCRmJv7w
YouTube Search "Suit To Remove Barack Obama"
There are a TON of unanswered questions about the Democrat! - Reply to this comment
- Lovegetpeace, get off that stale old argument. If Obama wins, abortion will NOT be the law of the land, freedom of choice will be the law of the land. So if you don''t want one, you don''t have to have one. Isn''t that GREAT!
- Reply to this comment
- This is just one of MANY bright people he will appoint to bring the country back together again. No more HACKS!
What a breath of fresh air Barack''s wisdom will be. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by gop_will_Win at 10:01 AM : Oct 31, 2008
Republican President Bush has nationalized the Banking, Investment and Insurance industries. The Bush administration is now considering the request to nationalize the Auto Manufacturing industry.
How much more ''Liberal'' can one get? Using my terms, there is no more left for Socialism to fix. - Reply to this comment
- I am not here to convince people, I am here to tell them what is right.
Posted by gop_will_Win at 09:23 AM : Oct 31, 2008
Did you mean right as you see it? I, for one, don''''t agree with you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by r9119111
=====================
Then obviously you are wrong. - Reply to this comment
- gop-will-win.
Here''''s some quotes for you to ponder:
"You point out the speck in other''''s eyes while ignoring the log in your own".
You have heard it said "love your friends and hate your enemies" but I tell you "love your enemies".
"Judge not less ye be judged".
"He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone".
Hope these mean something to you. God bless and good luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by daffy64
=========================
That sounds so liberal. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by aclpepin at 09:53 AM : Oct 31, 2008
Do not enter the kitchen if you cannot stand the heat. You are weak emotionally. - Reply to this comment
- Everyone here should go do something constructive. This will all be played out in a few days. Calling each other names and taunting that the other side will lose is just stupid. It''''''''s going to be a close race because both candidates lack the ability to wow people. McCain has a lack of policy and Obama''''''''s are just silly. I thought the Democrats stopped the healthcare debacle after the Clintons first term.
I suggest everyone go and spend time doing something that doesn''''''''t **** you off so much as reading the views of people that do not and will not ever agree with you. Go and vote on Tuesday and support WHOMEVER wins.
Posted by aclpepin
ok nazi bootlicker! ;)
Actually we only have about 4 days to do this...I for one will not be back once Obama wins
Posted by jh6379again at 09:56 AM : Oct 31, 2008
--------------------------------------
...Yes, I am a Nazi bootlicker...you found me out. - Reply to this comment
- If Obama wins, abortion will be the law of the land for at least another 40 years. Obama is expected to name at least 2 brand new Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I wish to kindly Thank the advocate of an Ideology that is toxic to everyone in our nation. - Reply to this comment
- I suggest everyone go and spend time doing something that doesn''''t **** you off so much as reading the views of people that do not and will not ever agree with you. Go and vote on Tuesday and support WHOMEVER wins.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by aclpepin
I see your frustration. It seems to be mostly a pissing contest between a few. The rest of us our trying to have a conversation about the issues presented in the article but you have to wade thru the blather to get there. I agree I wish some of the people just on here to rave and spew would go do something else. - Reply to this comment
- Everyone here should go do something constructive. This will all be played out in a few days. Calling each other names and taunting that the other side will lose is just stupid. It''''s going to be a close race because both candidates lack the ability to wow people. McCain has a lack of policy and Obama''''s are just silly. I thought the Democrats stopped the healthcare debacle after the Clintons first term.
I suggest everyone go and spend time doing something that doesn''''t **** you off so much as reading the views of people that do not and will not ever agree with you. Go and vote on Tuesday and support WHOMEVER wins.
----
Right on. - Reply to this comment
- Everyone here should go do something constructive. This will all be played out in a few days. Calling each other names and taunting that the other side will lose is just stupid. It''s going to be a close race because both candidates lack the ability to wow people. McCain has a lack of policy and Obama''s are just silly. I thought the Democrats stopped the healthcare debacle after the Clintons first term.
I suggest everyone go and spend time doing something that doesn''t **** you off so much as reading the views of people that do not and will not ever agree with you. Go and vote on Tuesday and support WHOMEVER wins. - Reply to this comment
- I am not here to convince people, I am here to tell them what is right.
Posted by gop_will_Win at 09:23 AM : Oct 31, 2008
Did you mean right as you see it? I, for one, don''''t agree with you.
----
Many people don''t agree with him. He seems like a person full of rage and hatred. I''m sure he''s a decent person and has convictions, but obviously he has some major issues. These forums seem to be the only way he can vent his frustrations. Let''s all pray he feels better soon. - Reply to this comment
- gop-will-win.
Here''s some quotes for you to ponder:
"You point out the speck in other''s eyes while ignoring the log in your own".
You have heard it said "love your friends and hate your enemies" but I tell you "love your enemies".
"Judge not less ye be judged".
"He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone".
Hope these mean something to you. God bless and good luck. - Reply to this comment
- You just called me another name.
My father was a minister and I attend church every week.
You''''''''re the one calling people names.
Try to let love enter your heart, my friend. Hatred is poison.
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------
Posted by daffy64
===================
Was it the correct religion?
----
Oh sir. - Reply to this comment
- I am not here to convince people, I am here to tell them what is right.
Posted by gop_will_Win at 09:23 AM : Oct 31, 2008
Did you mean right as you see it? I, for one, don''t agree with you. - Reply to this comment
- Hey, you have your convictions, I have mine. God bless you and good luck. Obama 2008!
Posted by daffy64
You remember all those deer in the headlights looks from all those bankers and investors a few weeks ago? Very few saw it coming, the problem was they were to close to it.
Just like them Americans are to close to it and have let hate rule their vote. It was hate that brought the "Rights" to office in the first place after Clinton''s swing to the left with a democrat congress. Now we swing even farther to the left, which will backfire and swing us even farther to the the right. Will you be one of those with that Deer in the headlights look? Or is that what YOU want chaos? - Reply to this comment
- GOP will lose. Sorry my friend, you''''re not convincing anyone. Please, go do something constructive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by jxknowles
=====================
I am not here to convince people, I am here to tell them what is right. - Reply to this comment
Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more.
