Obama Found Out Clinton Was Dropping Out From Media, Politico Reports

News broke last night that Hillary Clinton would drop out of the race on Friday and throw her support behind Barack Obama in a rally on Saturday. The Politico points out that the Obama campaign heard about this major development not through the Clinton campaign, but rather, through the media.

But even when news reports circulated early Wednesday evening that Clinton would drop out of the race Friday, the initial reaction was muted.

"No comment," said an Obama aide.

The Clinton campaign had not yet made contact with the Obama campaign, another aide said outside an evening fundraiser in Manhattan.

Comments

[ratuff]

Well at least when Mac loses (not looses!) he'll concede right away, none of this drama queen stuff.

[katzooks]

In the wake of several olive branches and much undeserved praise extended to Clinton from Obama over the past week, and on Tuesday in particular, Hillary the Great Communicator responds with another invisible, spiteful spitball at Obama, leaving him to hear her latest Big News, not from her mouth, but ripped from the headlines, in true trashy tabloid fashion. Delicious irony, in contrast to Hillary's February 2008 comments:

"Words are cheap," she opined, as she accused Obama's words as being nothing but "lofty, empty rhetoric."

"I measure my life, not by applause or headlines," she said, "but by whether I"m helping people."

[Tinuviel]

I just don't understand why theres this idea that she needs this time to adjust to losing. Did she just realize on Tuesday night that she did not have and could not get the number of delegates needed to win by Tuesday night? Was his win a surprise to her? If that is the case she is already living a a bubble of her own reality...just like the guy in the White House now. That's what gets me, she needs time to adjust to losing? It's not like they were neck and neck (within a few delegates) until the last contest. She has had several weeks to realize she could not win.

[Margaret86]

I totally agree with your comment. I might point out that she has the rest of her life to get used to losing this campaign. As usual it's all about her. She relishes extending the drama and wallows in self pity. I am aware that losing has to be a blow given the hard fought nature of this campaign, but it's over. and she is well aware of how the game is played at the end of a campaign. She has to be gracious and supportive of the Winner not ask for more time. As a woman I am truly ashamed of her.
God only knows what kind of price Obama has to pay to get her to go away. YIKES!!!

[nellie]

As long as Hillary is still the big story, she will continue this nonsense. It gives her power. It's time to ignore her. But we need to have everyone ignore her and realize it's time to start working toward putting Obama in the White House.

I'm sick of this game. Time to be adults.

[ByersL]

Somehow I just don't trust her. I am so worried she's going to call for a floor vote and work on stealing his super d's....I just don't believe she's dropping out for real.

[LeftLeanWing]

If she does, I can see Pelosi walking across the stage to Kick Her Ass with Harry Reid trying to hold her back.

[Scarllatti]

Hee heeee, heeeeeee!!!!

[tuttlemsm]

She can try. By August there will be too much infrastructure and strategy in place centered around Obama victory theories. Even Democrats won't be that un-pragmatic.

[Hopefor08]

I have been an Obama supporter for some time now and voted for him in Louisiana. Clinton seemed to say all the things republicans would say in the meanest way. Obama would always be tactful about anything he said about her. She could have won and thought she would. I'm sure it hurt a lot to finish in second place. But she needs to buck up and be a Democrat first now. She is a smart woman and has great talent. Facing the facts is now the thing to do.

[Johnnn]

Maybe I would like Obama better if he grew a beard. Is he old enough to grow a beard?

[Johnnn]

If I was Obama, until I hear directly from Hillary, I would say nothing. If I'm Hillary I would never concede anyway. Gore should have NEVER conceded the 2000 election. Gore should have declared himself President and attempted to occupy the White House in January. Screw conceding!

[chriss0114]

There is a big difference between the two. We ALL know who has the most votes (and it is NOT HRC) the most pledged delegates and the most super delegates (what counts and is at the requisite number).

In Gore v. Bush, we still do not know the real vote tallies if FL.

[Scarllatti]

I thought we have all rapped up this kind of discussion. Those who do not keep their focus on the ball never make progress. If Gore did not concede to GWB, America would have been in our 7th year of civil war. Is that what you want? Guys, people should learn how to let go. It is a virtue, not weakness.

[PatrickforO]

The discipline of this man and his campaign is very good.

[DShawn233]

I have watched all of the "angry" statements from those that are saying that they are going to vote for McCain. To those that want to keep throwing that threat out there I can only say go ahead and do what you want to do, but, let me suggest that all of you store that anger that you have toward Obama and his supporters right now because you will need it to throw McCains way after Roe vs. Wade is over turned and you can use some more of it when everyone reminds you of the fact that you elected Senator McCain even though he did not support a bill that would have made sure that women receive equal pay in the work place. Store a little more of it for use when the troops that will have been on their 8th tour under McCain come home so stressed out that they will barely be able to function.
George Bush used your blind rage to get this country in the position that it's in now. If you allow yourselves to be used again we will all be riding bicycles to work by the time McCains 1st term is over while the "friends of McCain" will still be driving the vehicles that, only they, will be able to afford to drive.

[Krikkit]

He isn't the only one H left flapping in the wind while she pondered how best to whatever.

Her shrieking supporters on her blog site also had to wait 2 days for news. The last flash they got was the denial she sent out when ABC jumped the gun Tuesday.

She did send them all a letter today. It wasn't enough to get them behind her decision, much less convince them to back O after the char-assasination she's done on him over the past half year.

Looks like you've got a whole LOT more damage control to do, H. Best get crackin'!

[7NoTrumpXX]

May I offer a suggestion to Obama supporters? QUIT BASHING HILLARY if you want Obama to win the Presidency.

The more Obama supporters bash her, the less likely Hillary supporters will vote for him.

Obama is almost sure to lose the General Election without Hillary as VP. He is the PRESUMPTIVE Nominee. He is NOT the Nominee, yet. That will take place at the CONVENTION when the actual voting takes place. Any delegate can change their mind at the convention. Don't count your chickens until they are hatched.

I'll predict the the states he will lose without her. ALL the traditional RED states except Colorado. He will also lose Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Michigan and the election. It truly is--The Electoral College Stupid!

The ONLY way I see that he can win is for him to select Hillary Clinton as VP.

He simply cannot antagonize 18 million Clinton voters and win.

Had Florida and Michigan been COUNTED fully, their delegate separation would be about 20. She beat him in the poplular vote and most of the swing states. The superdelegates have NOT done their duty. Their duty was to vote for THE candidate who has the best chance of winning.

Hillary had a 100% chance of beating McCain. Obama has a 1% chance. The 50 state strategy is a misguided notion by the head of the Democratic Party...Howard Dean.

Obama/Clinton OR McCain/Romney 2008. Take your choice.

[tess08]

gee, i wonder where you get your stats,
they're positively wrong.

[ratuff]

Never Clinton, never!!!! Obama does not need her or her supporters so take your toys and go home!

[afrographia]

For all those insisting that Obama choose Clinton--or Webb or Richardson or Sebelius for that matter--keep in mind that any VP prospect has to be vetted, and neither they nor their spouse can have ethical issues. For example, if Bill Clinton got some funding for his library or foundation from shady international figures, Obama cannot choose Hillary, even if you think he should. Similarly, if Webb tells Obama privately--and I'm totally making this up--that he cheated on his wife or neglected to pay his taxes--Webb will not be chosen, and we may never know the reason why: So stop pouting, and stop demanding that this or that person must be chosen or you'll take your balls and play with McCain (or Nader or Barr).

[IRepTheKing]

Clinton has that "I'm taking MY football and I'm going home" attitude going on.

I've never seen a candidate act like this. She's making it look like people are making her concede. This only makes her supporters believe that her hand is being pushed, which won't look good. I say, leave her alone. Let her go pout in the corner. She's already shown her ass. Her supporters showed their at the Rules Committee meeting. You wouldn't think there were grown men and women there with all that uproar.

[Lexie]

See the difference in leadership ability and maturity: Obama walks up to his enemies and tries to talk to them. He does so without fear. Hillary, like Bill, duck and dive and don't answer their messages. Doesn't that remind you of a teenager who KNOWS he's in trouble?

[Johnnn]

Why do all you Obama folks care so much what Hillary does? Your flashy guy from Illinois has won!
Go attack McCain! Hillary owes you NOTHING. She owes it to herself to stop campaigning and get back to Washington. This way only two US Senators will be away from their day jobs from now until November.

[dana94591]

I think she needs to get more experience on how to concede an election.

[GunneraGirl]

i suspect the good folks of NY will provide her another opportunity to learn.

[Johnnn]

She is US Senator for life. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.