My eye was caught by a story, "Local Clinton backers, McCain adviser meet," in Wednesday's Times-Tribune of Scranton Pennsylvania. It featured a file photo of Hillary's brother Tony Rodham, he of the scandal and shenanigans during his brother-in-law's terms in the White House.
I had blogged about Tony seated next to Hillary's mother (Tony's mother too) during Hillary's "concession" speech in Washington on June 7. The AP caption hadn't identified Tony or the toddler daughter on his lap, but I recognized Tony and posted about it.
Hillary's late father has Scranton roots and the Rodhams vacationed there when the children were growing up. During her battle for the nomination, Hillary kept her controversial, disaster-prone brothers, Tony and Hugh, under the thickest of covers.
So I thought it interesting that Tony was on stage when Hillary seemed to say that the race was over and Obama and won, and I guessed then that Tony's presence last June signified how difficult it would be for Obama to select Hillary as his VP. I also realize now, and have posted several times on the subject since, how difficult it will be for Obama to bring Hillary diehards into his fold.
Times-Tribune reporter Borys Krawczeniuk details a meeting on August 18 among Clinton supporters -- Tony and his wife among them -- and Carly Fiorina, the former HP chairman, now one of McCain's main surrogates and ambassador to disgruntled Clinton supporters, some of whom say they will vote for McCain. The meeting took place at the home of Jamie Brazil whom Krawczeniuk identifies as a Rodham family friend "who has signed on as paid national director of Mr. McCain's Citzens for McCain Coaltion."
One attendee who organized Northeast Pennsylvania for Hillary during the primaries said that her presence does not mean she's supporting McCain. And neither does Tony Rodham's, she added. "The reason he was there was because he and Jamie [Brazil] are very good friends." She characterized Rodham's presence as "just a social call."