Clinton, Obama Make Quick Trip Back to Senate Floor
By Shailagh Murray
A pair of late afternoon Senate votes brought Obama and Clinton together in rare proximity and made for some drama on the Senate floor.
Obama glided from desk to desk and was greeted by his colleagues like a returning prizefighter. Standing at the back of the chamber, he joked with Sens. Jim Webb (Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.), both uncommitted in the Democratic nomination battle. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota joined the group, and Conrad, who endorsed Obama weeks ago, took the roll: "Obama, Obama, Obama," Conrad said, pointing to himself, McCaskill and the Illinois senator himself. "We're for Obama," he said, looking at Tester and Webb. "What about you?"
Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont stopped by to shake Obama's hand, as did Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. Both are still on the fence. Obama chatted with Sens. Ken Salazar of Colorado and Tom Carper of Delaware, another pair of undecided Democrats, who represent Feb. 5 states (as does Lautenberg). Even Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, stopped by to pay his respects. McCaskill will campaign tomorrow in Missouri with Obama, and before walking away she told him, "Get some sleep."
For most of this lovefest, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton remained out of view, having stepped into the cloakroom during the first vote. There she ran into Kennedy, and the two exchanged greetings, according to people familiar with the conversation. Later, she took a seat next to Sen. Chuck Schumer, her fellow New Yorker. But by then Obama had cast his second vote and left the chamber.
On his way to the floor, Kennedy shrugged off the influence that his rousing endorsement of Obama earlier in the day might have on his colleagues. "These are all professional politicians. They know their political interests much better than I do," Kennedy said.
Posted at 6:34 PM ET on Jan 28, 2008
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Posted by: zukermand | January 29, 2008 11:05 AM
jrsweld:
Far be it from me to ridicule anyone -- I will simply quote the lines "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot," from the musical Camelot, and the following quoted by JFK's widow Jacqueline: "There'll be great Presidents again," she added, "but there'll never be another Camelot again ... it will never be that way again." Jacqueline Kennedy, interview with Theodore H. White, Life, Dec. 6, 1963 (Coincidentally, the November 23, 1963 edition of the London Herald had the subheadline: "America Mourns Camelot Dream.").
Posted by: JakeD | January 28, 2008 10:53 PM
All of the comparisons of Obama to JFK or RFK were ridiculed for days & weeks. I doubt that anyone will have the chutzpah to ridicule Caroline Kennedy's analogy of Obama to her deceased father.
Posted by: jrsweld | January 28, 2008 10:36 PM
Er, I meant "Caroline" Kennedy (still can't spell) - she says, "Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible." Ms. Kennedy (Schlossberg) has no dog in this fight (she is independently wealthy, not in political office, and volunteers in inner city schools), and her eloquent, earnest & quiet support of Barack Obama will wreak ripples throughout the country.
Posted by: jrsweld | January 28, 2008 10:35 PM
Not sure where Jake D's poll came from, but I doubt that scarcely anyone would rate an endorsement from Carolyn Kennedy in the negative column. Her op ed piece in the NY Times was full of grace.
Posted by: jrsweld | January 28, 2008 10:31 PM
Or, not, edhere. As someone posted on an earlier "Washington Post Gushes Over Kennedy (unless it's Kathleen, RFK, Jr., or Mary Kerry)" thread, an online poll showed quite the opposite, so far, than what the media is shoving down our throats:
Will the Kennedy family's endorsement of Senator Obama have any impact on your choice for President?
Positive 19% 964
Negative 28% 1458
It will have no impact 53% 2696
Total Votes: 5118
Posted by: JakeD | January 28, 2008 8:41 PM
You have to read a little deeper into the quote "they know their political interests much better than I do". Many are careful with endorsements because of the potential effect on their own political careers.
But it's the influence of these key Kennedy endorsements on voters that may be most historic.
Posted by: edhere | January 28, 2008 8:37 PM
Perhaps you guys didn't read all the way to the end where Kennedy shrugged off the influence that his endorsement of Obama earlier in the day might have on his colleagues?
"These are all professional politicians. They know their political interests much better than I do," Kennedy said.
Posted by: JakeD | January 28, 2008 8:12 PM
Will Sen. Kennedy's endorsement help? Well, here's a quick test:
Imagine you're a Democrat running for President. Now imagine that you have the choice of having either Bill Clinton or Edward Kennedy as your most outspoken, visible supporter. Given the performance of both men in the past few days, which one would you choose?
Posted by: whatmeregister | January 28, 2008 8:03 PM
Love, love love you Senator Kennedy for your endorsement of Obama and ending the lies the Clintons are using against anyone who dares to challenge them. We are tired of political lies, only to find the state of affairs of our dear country wounded so deep we can't seem to climb out the big hole dug so deep by the 'say anything to win politicians'. You are truly the Senate's LION. ROAR ON!
Posted by: arundelbay | January 28, 2008 7:48 PM
Senator Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama is a bold inspiring move that clearly puts the interest of the country above politics.
Many are delaying their endorsement of Barack out of concern that it may hurt them politically. (With all their dirty tricks, who wants the Clintons holding a grudge against them?)
Thank you Senator Kennedy for your courage and judgment.
Posted by: edhere | January 28, 2008 7:12 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
"Obama glided "
"Clinton remained out of view"
It's disheartening Shailagh Murray, a mean spirited child, feels compelled to influence our choice of candidate, and that most of us either don't notice or don't care.