Obama, Clinton Supporters Plan For Inevitable Merger

Top fundraisers for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have begun private talks aimed at merging the two candidates' teams, not waiting for the Democratic nominating process to end before they start preparations for a hard-fought fall campaign.

Despite Obama's apparently insurmountable lead in delegates needed to claim the nomination, aides to both candidates are resigned to the idea that the Democratic contest will continue at least through June 3, when Montana and South Dakota will cast the final votes of the primary season.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[AtomicSplash]

It's getting tougher and tougher to vote for Barack . The reason is in these threads. They are peopled by his supporters who when you bring up the hate coming from their camp toward Hillary or her supporters, they routinely answer by saying that the Clinton guys are just as bad...in essence equating the two sides and negating any of the change talk that they have included in the debate.

They like to talk the talk that they are some how different, but the talk never becomes the walk. And, I"ve just gone through eight years of that kind of hypocrisy.

[Parkhurst]

WoodyCPM wrote:
"I believe there's a lot of Republicans on this thread sowing dissension and strive between Democrats with some of these comments. A lot of these comments are over the top and some are just plain wrongheaded. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama are the enemy."

---------------------------------------------------

No, don't kid yourself. To many of Hillary's voters (she will have the majority of the popular vote by the end of these primaries), Obama IS the enemy. McCain is preferable to Obama because he is more trustworthy than Obama and more experienced than Obama.

So, it's important to understand, we do not believe Obama is an acceptable choice. He is not fit for the job, and many of us will do all we can to ensure his defeat in the fall if he is the party's nominee.

I think it's important to make that clear. We don't trust him, we don't want him, we wont have him.

Few of you seem to really get that truth. . . but you will in the fall.

[finlandstation]

equally important, is how obama supporters have abused us and hillary in general. what the don't understand is how upset and pissed off we are and how we would rather lose than to see them celebrate.
bottom line, unless hillary is on the ticket we will not vote for obama, under any circumstances. we can live with a democratically controlled congress and a mccain presidency for four years.
hillary must be on the ticket.
no justice, no peace.

[paganmist]

Few of people like you don't seem to get that you are not voting for a President in November, you are voting for a party.

GWB did not do everything he did alone. In fact, he didn't do much of it at all. He is the perfect example of how you can put a pen into the hand of an idiot president and say, "Just sign here; we'll do the rest." If not for the support of his party, for the assistant from hundreds of Republicans working together in accord, the past eight years will not have been possible.

"Obama IS the enemy."

There is a saying - actions speak louder than words. So you may *say* that you are a Democrat, but those are just words. In November, you will prove what party you are actually a part of by how you vote or do not vote.

[EinChicago]

"There is a saying - actions speak louder than words. So you may *say* that you are a Democrat, but those are just words. In November, you will prove what party you are actually a part of by how you vote or do not vote."

but that's just it; Obama is NOT a democrat. He's basically the choice of the Nader Herd who figured out this time around that rather than run their fringe candiodate as a third party, they can bully their way through the caucuses and infest the Dem party. HRC, Dodd, Edwards, were actually dems. Obama is basically Ralph Nader Part Deux.

[finlandstation]

einChicago
i couldn't agree more.

obama and his band of insurgents are not true democrats. they don't care about the party, only their candidate. they are in love with a personality not a set of values or ideas.
in many ways, they remind me of so many mindless george bush supporters in 2004, who couldn't stand to hear anything bad about their anointed leader, their savior. only in the case of obama followers, they feel good about demonizing a fellow democrat and characterizing all of her supporters as racist, uneducated bigots. forget that we think she is far more qualified than obama, all is fair to get him the nomination, even destroying the party in the process.

[Parkhurst]

Amerigucci wrote:
"Hillary Clinton needs to go away, to leave this campaign, to take her divisive ways and disappear."

-----------------------------------------------------

And take her 17 million democratic rank and file voters with her? By the end of the primaries she'll have the popular vote stiched up.

Tell me Amerigucci, are you a twelve year old girl? I ask because you certainly cme across as one.

[paganmist]

"And take her 17 million democratic rank and file voters with her?"

Actions speak louder than words. Democrats vote Democrat. If you do not vote Democrat in November, you are not a Democrat, no matter how many times you *say* it.

[EinChicago]

And Obama is not a dem, so that leaves real dems with nor real choice. Obama is basically the Nader herd candidate who the loony fringe has bullied its way throught teh caucuses and state by state disqualifications. You would have a point if he was actually a dem.

[Parkhurst]

With so many Hillarycrats voting for McCain in the fall, wonder boy's defeat is pretty much assurred. This two-bit hustler fools few save his Moonie fathful. When the adults come to vote in November, the empty suit will be history - can't come soon enough for me.

Then we take our party back for the gangsters.

[CubanPete]

Yeah, well YOU guys started it! The problem was the Hillary Supporters didn't back down to bully's like you guys thought they would. What did you guys expect? That the Blogosphere was going to be like one Giant Obama Caucus? Heh, heh,. Normally us Hillary supporters would have saved our snarky rebuttals for the attacks that Republicans give, but since you Obama worshippers have the mentality that is more immature than Republicans - we just felt it was more fun replying to your childish smear attempts against the most qualified candidate to date for POTUS and that is Hillary. To those that liked to call us Racist I always say, "If you want me to vote for a Black Man - show me one that is more qualified than Hillary and I will". Oh, and let me finish this post as I started it - SO THERE! Wow, I actually got a warm and fuzzy feeling just now acting all immature like that - no wonder you guys like doing it

[paganmist]

Strange. *I've* never done that. I guess now I'm supposed to behave as immaturely as you are in return...

No, I'll pass. I like being a responsible adult. :)

But have fun with your uhm, "warm and fuzzy" feelings.

[Seattlelite]

I think it goes without saying that the Hillary's campaign people have NO right to think THEY should be telling Sen. Obama what his message should be. My suggestion would be to shut the hell up and take some notes.

[finlandstation]

we have every right. more democrats voted for hillary than your guy. the party's establishment hijacked the nomination from hillary. you are not a democrat, nor are most of his followers. you are ruining our party, but we will have our revenge against you and will rebuild the party after obama loses this fall. can't win without us.

[Living4Dday]

Has anyone else noticed that Hillary supporters wave "Hillary" or "Clinton" signs. Obama supporters wave "Change" signs.
That tells it all.
It's not about a person. it's about a cause!!!!

[EinChicago]

Hogwash. Obama supporters are 1001% about teh cult of personality. That's the real fundamental problem with Obama Kultists; they're basicaly identical to Bush Kultists.

[ishok]

At a fundraiser last night Barack said that "For Dems to win in November, it will require a unified Party, adding:
"That means all of you have to be nice to Clinton supporters."

From this point on (unless "clawed or scratched") I'm going to refrain from any pointless ramblings with the Clinton supporters.

[CommittedDem]

Thanks for referring to us like we're some crazy species.

[Dustee]

Gore Vidal thinks Hillary has gone crazy and thinks McCain is a fool.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23719143-5013948,00.html

[Melissa]

Gore Vidal is a nut himself.

[MidwestMomma]

I agree and it won't be easy with all the paid hacks on the blogs feeding the flames but Yes we can!

Over 70 thousand people at the Obama rally today in Oregon! The largest crowd to date in the primaries! This is all so positive and exciting!

Momma for Obama '08

[CommittedDem]

Paid hacks? I've gone unpaid for many, many years for all the work I've done for Democratic causes. I've been subject to more hate on this blog than I have been in some rough Republican areas of this country. Let's stop the hate and the condescension

[DSully]

I agree. The hate needs to stop but it has come both ways. A lot of Obama supporters see some of the things Hillary has done as lacking integrity (planted questioner in Iowa, Bosnia, NAFTA lies, phony gas tax break, fear ad) so they are angry. Obama has refrained from these things, and his supporters should try their best to emulate the morals of his campaign. Still, the Clinton supporters have been equally vicious as has her campaign.

The hate needs to stop because we really can't let someone with McCain's policies in office and Hillary, love her or hate her, is going to play a pivotal role in the U.S. government in the next 8 years.

[trinity77]

Is this national Hillary day because it seems like her supporters post have priority today.

[Amerigucci]

Hillary Clinton needs to go away, to leave this campaign, to take her divisive ways and disappear.

She brings nothing to an Obama ticket. There is no state that she won that will go to McCain because Obama is the nominee. Every Democratic state she won will go to Obama, and it's very likely that there will be swing states and Republican states that will turn because of Obama, which wouldn't have turned with Hillary as the nominee.

Obama needs on the ticket with him is a NOT HILLARY candidate. Hillary is not a balancing influence - she's the anti-Democrat. Hillary's supporters need to open their eyes and see what it is about her that has Democrats who supported the Clintons throughout their problems turning against her. Consider that you're standing up too close and that you need to step back and see the details of what's come to light about her that makes her an impossible candidate for Democrats to get behind.

[CommittedDem]

So the 49% of Democrats who support her and believe in her, are "anti-Democrat"?? So, when she and her husband SAVED the Democratic party in 1992 she was also anti-Democratic? Wow, good luck winning in November with no Clinton supporters. You clearly don't even want them.

[paganmist]

"So the 49% of Democrats who support her and believe in her, are "anti-Democrat"?"

No, the people who vote anti-Democrat in November are anti-Democrat?

Let me simplify that for you:

In november, either a Democrat or a Republican will win. There are other people running, but it is impossible for anyone except a Democrat or a Republican to win.

If you vote Democrat = Democrats win = you are anti-Republican.

If you vote Republican = you help Republicans win = you are anti-Democrat.
If you vote third party = you help Republicans win = you are anti-Democrat.
If you write-in a vote = you help Republicans win = you are anti-Democrat.

If you do not vote at all = you do not love your country enough to help change it.

Those are your choices, "CommitedDem." You could always form a third party of your own if you like.

Problem is, people like you aren't voting out of any particular love for democracy, but out of bitterness, anger, revenge, etcetera. So I seriously doubt you will do anything to make your country better.

Instead, you will make your country worse, and then drag the rest of us down with you.

[EinChicago]

"In november, either a Democrat or a Republican will win. There are other people running, but it is impossible for anyone except a Democrat or a Republican to win."

Not this year. There is no democrat running in 2008. We either have Mccain for the GOP or Rev. Jim Jones Obama for teh loony green fringe. Either way, the democrats don't win.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Oh, I think our eyes are very open and that would include our ears too... we see and hear too much division in the Democratic party. You want to hold the ball? With that goes a little reason... who are you fighting with? This thing is essentially over, except for the formalities. The only thing I can think about this is its knee jerk reaction. The war is over go home and planet next years crop.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"we see and hear too much division in the Democratic party. "

have you asked yourself what the potential reasons are for that? could it be that maybe people are tired of the direction the party has been going in for the past 15 years? that for the past 15 years, the dems have become weaker, and weaker, and are serving no one but corporate america and the political machine? perhaps it's reached a critical point where enough people are tired of republican lite.

[ZekeBundren]

It might make sense for Clinton to be on the ticket as VP.

Or not. The signal differences are between McCain and the Democrat and not between the Democrats Clinton and Obama.

It is a good bet that anyone publicly staking out the preposterous moral/ intellectual/ philosophical position that McCain is their substitute for Clinton rather than Obama is either a Republican, a liar or a fool, or all three.

[MissingAmerica]

It appears it will be easier for the Democratic party to come together than some of the people posting comments! Personally, I just want to see this country live up to its name again, The UNITED States of America.

[cmeans29]

May 18, 2008
Gallup Daily: Obama Leads Clinton by 11 PointsTies previous high-water mark for Obama, recorded in mid-April


April campaign finance reports due Tuesday, May 20th. I'm curious about HRC's numbers. They reported raising $10 million in 24 hrs post PA primary; then reported $11.4 million HRC loan.

[MidwestMomma]

A crowd of over 70 thousand at his rally today in Oregon! Yes we can!


Momma for Obama '08

[MTJD]

Except, of course, for gay and lesbian Americans. Obama, the constitutional law
professor, the LEADER, can't even grasp the idea of justice and equality for us, in the way REPUBLICAN justices in California can. To gay and lesiban Americans, his motto is "NO YOU CAN'T!"

[paganmist]

Actually, MTJD, Obama's never voting against gays. He personally does not support gay marriage because it is against his religion. But he has never stated that his political position was against gay marriage.

It is possible to both respect his own religion, while also respecting the rights of others.

But if you are worried (as I have too many gay friends and, being bi, am occasionally in a position to be perceived as gay) you should check out his ACLU voting record. His "lifetime scorecard" of voting for civil rights and liberties is actually higher than Hillary's.

[TheNuff]

It is a PLOT to create a wedge issue come fall. I see its already working on you.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

bauersox, if mccain is closer to your ideals than another democrat then just go join the republican party. I don't know why people like you expect to be coddled and begged for your vote.

[paganmist]

The strange thing is that people are upset that Obama's tailored his career towards becoming President.

If you decide you want to be a Doctor, don't you start doing what it takes to achieve the qualifications to become a Doctor? How else do you become fit to become a doctor? Do people look at Doctors and go, "They're so fake. Everything they've done in their career was so that they could become a doctor."

Obama IS a politician. Anyone in politics is a politician. All politicians are not bad, in fact some are good. But GOOD politicians learn what they need to know to become better at their jobs, and they take the steps necessary to achieve that position.

"Well, he doesn't have the experience to become President."

The only bearing experience has on the Presidency is the level of confidence your experience evokes in people who want to vote for you. Just because one doesn't have as much experience as another person, does not mean that they don't have the ABILITY to do it.

In other words, Obama's put more work into his campaign than the other candidates. He's taken more risks. He's made more right decisions. He's utilized all available resources, as evidenced by the incredible network of donors and canvassers he's created. If Axelrod has contributed, it was Obama who realized that he'd be an incredibly useful tool and has utilized him.

[Breni]

In other words, Obama's put more work into his campaign than the other candidates. He's taken more risks. He's made more right decisions. He's utilized all available resources, as evidenced by the incredible network of donors and canvassers he's created. If Axelrod has contributed, it was Obama who realized that he'd be an incredibly useful tool and has utilized him.
***

Oh bull! The ONLY reason Obama is winning is because of the inexperienced, 'silly' , 'giddy', 18+ year olds