Obama-Clinton Group VoteBoth Shuts Down

WASHINGTON — An effort to urge Barack Obama to pick former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as his running mate is shutting down under the assumption she is not a contender for the No. 2 spot.

The two former Clinton staffers who started the group Vote Both say Obama's decision to offer Clinton a prime-time speaking role at the Democratic Party nominating convention and other signals suggest Obama will not chose her.

"Because it seems that Senator Obama has made his decision to offer the slot on the ticket to another candidate, we believe that continuing to ask him to pick Hillary is no longer helpful to our party's chances of winning in November," Adam Parkhomenko and Sam Arora wrote in an e-mail they planned to send Thursday to the 40,000-plus supporters who signed onto their online petition.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the campaign won't comment on the vice presidential search and hasn't finalized the convention speaking program. Obama and Clinton advisers have said Clinton is likely to speak on the convention's second night, Aug. 26, which is the 88th anniversary of the ratification of the amendment giving the women the right to vote.

Parkhomenko and Arora have a combined 10 years experience working for Clinton. Most recently Arora was a press aide to her presidential campaign and Parkhomenko was executive assistant to former Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, who is now chief of staff for Obama's yet-to-be named vice presidential nominee.

In an interview, Arora was coy about what makes them so confident Clinton won't be chosen.

"All indications we have from people close to Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are that Hillary is not on the short list," Arora said. "We're looking at how we can _ if we can _ use Vote Both to help him because we want a Democrat in the White House."

Obama said this week that he wants a running mate who will help him change how business has been conducted in Washington _ seen by many as an indication that he won't pick Clinton.

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On the Net:

http://www.voteboth.com

Comments

[Jellybelly]

I do know if he picks pro-life, anti-gay Tim Kaine, he will not get my vote.

[barackobama4prez]

oh well goody. and while you're sulking over the veep selection the country will go down the drain under an old, corrupt liar. then you'll feel pretty good about your decision huh.

[who38]

Say it isn't so....on both issues.

[truthskr]

I loathe the idea of a Kaine selection, but should he be Obama's pick, which he won't be, I'd rather the homophobic pro-lifer be sitting in the VP seat and not the presidency.

Of course, knowing McCain's position that his VP must be pro-life, anyone voting for McCain will undoutedly be voting for two, not just one, pro-life homophobic creeps.

[ProgressiveBum]

Finally, we can put this nonsense to rest.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Who will tell the PUMAs?

heh...

[theMightyT]

oh they're here in force... and in denial...

[barackobama4prez]

I meant throw the election to the republicans.

[SeriousBlack]

Thank God Almighty.

[maxwellinformed]

Seems they had rational minds after all. Who'd a thunk it?

[Justtellthetruth]

In that he seems to have sold out in a Hillaryesque fashion, what difference does it really make?

[theMightyT]

what does that mean? who sold out, and to whom?

[Furby]

Maybe Justell is referring to the FISA bill and the timeline for bringing troops home, or something like that.

[marignymitch]

Obama sold out on FISA, theocratic initiatives and the death penalty. I now think I see a Kaine in our future. Prepare yourselves.

[provgrays]

The only way Hillary would be on the short list is if all of those 50 and 60 something Hillary divas could swing the election. Obama's internal polling must show otherwise. Obama needs to run his own presidency and the last thing he needs is to preside over a Clinton redux by proxy.

Bill would not sit quietly by with Hillary as Veep and Obama knows it.

[Sloopydrew]

I really hope this isn't a way to get out hopes up only to have him pick Hillary a week or two from now. Testing the waters, so to speak. I really, really think she'd make a bad VP.

[swoosie1]

Well, have to vote for McCain then...Oba­ma is not a candidate that I can support. I am sure he is going to pick some freaky, lighweight, male, VP candidate that will not out shine him with their own glitter. He is an egomaniac and I am sure that he is imploding as we speak. We have certainly reached an Obama saturation point now, and it is going to be difficult for him to win. People are already tired of him like he is another Pamela Anderson..­.but without the important "equipment­"...

[nomobull]

BS BS BS BS BS

[provgrays]

Swoosie1,

Your comment makes no sense at all. You're sick of Obama because you don't support him. You are projecting your resentment onto the entire country and that won't fly. If Hillary had the goods, she would be the nominee right now.

Are you so bitter that you will vote for an old right winger like McCain? Does he support issues important to women? Is he going to restore civil liberties and tackle the endless problems that the next president will have?

What's with the Pamela Anderson reference? A little sexist, no?

[neuron]

Obama is so "over the Hill"...

[ramal]

Duh!!!!!!!!! I think any six year old could have figured that out.

[GoCards1978]

Blame Bill since his finances wouldn't pass the vetting process.

[Moka11]

We must stop the snide, smug, snark remarks concerning Hillary Clinton. I am guilty of it, too. But if we are tired of the Bush Years and a go along, enabling Congress we must understand that Hillary Clinton can be and will be a major force in the Senate

[LadyFist]

Does it ever end?

[GoCards1978]

Blame Bill Clinton since his finances wouldn't pass the vetting process.