Will Hillary Campaign For Barack If He Gets The Nomination?

Hillary is determined to win the nomination. We all know that. In fact, her team held a day-long meeting with their key fundraisers in Washington yesterday which you can read about here.

Hillary spoke soon after noon to her top money people. "She took questions for most of the time," the fundraiser says, adding that she projected an "upbeat" air and that she said, "I'm a fighter, when I get knocked down, I get right up, we're gonna win this."

Now, some of us are happy about her determination to win, while others of us are not.

But here, for me, is the unanswered question of the day:

Will Hillary Clinton campaign to elect Barack Obama President of the United States if he gets the nomination?

And by "campaign" I mean work really hard... making the case over and over again for how much better America - and the rest of the world - will be if Barack Obama is president instead of John McCain.

I ask this question because Hillary has shifted so completely into "make Barack appear unelectable in the minds of the Super Delegates" mode that I find my mind flooded with questions:

How in the world would she campaign for him? (Can someone help someone win after putting so much energy into driving up his negatives?)

How would she help him win the big states that she has won? (Does she even admit in her mind -- after saying that only she can win the big states - that Barack could also win California? New York? Massachusetts? .... especially with her help?)

And the final question on my mind: Would she campaign for him at all?

With Hillary's strategy being to tear down Barack -- rather than try to convince the voters she will do more for them than he will -- I have a real problem seeing how she will flip that into helping him in the general election.

It's almost as if Hillary is telling us that unless she gets the nomination she will leave the Democratic Party... because a Barack Obama candidacy would be so unacceptable to her.

Of course, as far as I know, Hillary has no plans to leave the Democratic Party.

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UPDATE: Friday, 1:40am Eastern

Barack Obama has consistently said Hillary Clinton is a capable person and that he will support her for president if she gets the nomination. You can watch him say that on CNN below, in an interview conducted after he won the Mississippi primary this week Tuesday.

Follow Steven G. Brant on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SteveBrant

Comments

[DietrichMoody]

Hillary will not campaign for Obama, not because she wouldn't want to, but because she is horrible at campaigning. She had the nomination wrapped up, ahead in the polls, funds, etc. - but as soon as she started campaigning her numbers went down. Because she is all about name recognition and the good will President Clinton established for the Clinton name. But as soon as she starts talking, she starts thinking, she starts sharing: she begins alienating. I don't think Obama would encourage her to campaign for him. But Hillary would need Obama to campaign for her. Need.

As far as big states that she won and he did not. .A strong Vice Presidential candidate -running mate, on Obama"s team will give him OVERWHELMING victories in Texas, California, New York. A strong running mate for Obama, is what the Super-delegates should keep in mind.

Her strategy of winning ugly, has really taken some of the steam from the Republicans sails, against Obama. It some sense, it undercuts what McCain can do now...Its used, old, it's been tried. Have McCain use it again in September,or October, it will make McCain will look stale. Been there done that, that's the way you turn it around and say what Hillary did was good for Obama. It's pretty fu*kin brilliant if you ask me.

Was campaigning ugly in order to win ugly her choice. Who knows, but yes and her only way if she wanted to stay in the race. Unfortunately, playing ugly, exposes the public to many of Hillary's own serious flaws- indecisive, judgment, reasonableness,etc. It's a tragic hand for her - but she wanted to stay in the race. It was too tempting. She could have been the strong running mate. But she wants Power for power's sake.

[paixa3]

If Obama gets the nomination, BILLARY will approach McCain to be his VP....hell­, there is a better than even odds that she would become president. That is ALL she cares about.

[Cathi]

from dust to dust....re­publican to republican -- She used to be Republican­...let her go back and let THEM treasure her :-)

She's on a path to destroy the Democratic party...ar­e we sure she hasn't already changed her affiliation?

[chasgoose]

It's not really fair to only judge Clinton on this. Do you really think that Obama would actively campaign for Clinton is she gets the nomination? Of course not! Both candidates have already said too much against the other to really give an effective and helpful endorsement to the eventual nominee. Despite her one foolish, misguided comment about how McCain has more leadership experience than Obama, Clinton has always and continues to say that it is important that no matter who gets the nomination, a Democrat wins in the general election. Both candidates would obviously support the other one and would obviously urge their supporters to vote for whoever wins (people who don't think Clinton will do this are delusional), but neither Obama nor Clinton would really be able to help the other very much after this nomination process is over.

[Steven G. Brant - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, I think he would... and will, if she gets the nomination. I will see if I can locate a reference I can add to my post.

[vanessa04]

Would he still be standing by his (taped) assertion that he would support her if she becomes the nominee.

Guess not.

So... it's just words.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Cathi]

I would hope if she gets the nomination that he'd enter the race as an independent. That may be the only way to get it through her small brain that she's not ever going to president.

[Bluesue]

A lot of folks over the years have wished for a viable 3rd party.I've said that if Hillary gets the nomination (by hook or by crook as they say), what Obama has created would be a great basis for a 3rd party.

As it is, I've determined that I will still vote for Senator Obama in November - I'll write his name in if I have to.

[chasgoose]

I find it interesting that for all the bile spewn about Clinton being a horrible person who will stop at nothing to destroy Obama and get elected, that the nastiest comments in the comments sections almost always come from Obama supporters.

Do you really hate Clinton so much that you would work against this golden opportunity to get Republicans out of the White House? I thought Obamaniacs were for change! For someone so quick to judge Clinton for putting her own interests above the party, isn't that a bit hypocritical?

I admit that Clinton does represent old school politics and all that baggage that comes with that, but beyond that, people keep forgetting that with a few subtleties here and there, Clinton and Obama are pretty much ideologically matched. One of the reasons this race has gotten so personal is that they are almost identical from a poilcy standpoint. I understand that you find Clinton's harsh, old-school Clintonian style bad and why you would rather have Obama as the nominee, but if Clinton does get the nomination, is destroying one person worth selling out the entire country to the Republicans for 8 more years? As a Clinton supporter I hope she gets the nomination, but if she doesn't I will have absolutely no problem voting for Obama over McCain. I agree with him almost as much as Clinton, and I think he will still make a good president.

[drmavis]

Obama has been completely professional and courteous about Hillary. His surrogates, sometimes not, but he has been a complete gentleman. Hillary, on the other hand... Of course Hillary says it is important that a Democrat wins the general, but she also said that when Kerry was running, and her "campaigning" for him was just bragging about herself to prepare herself for the 2008 run. It was really half-assed and I think that is part of the reason why Kerry backed Obama and is not to fond of Hillary.

[Bluesue]

Yes, He hasn't set out to destroy her.

Hillary couldn't campaign for him with any credibility after endorsing McCain with her comments. Plus it wouldn't fit in with her plans for 2012.

[starboymikey]

Plus it wouldn't fit in with her plans for 2012.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­______
Fortunately, she can't run for president in 2012 and hold on to her senate seat. So under this scenario, if she runs again in 2012 and loses, she is gone, gone, gone from the political scene.

[efranklin]

Did she help Al Gore and John Kerry win? I think that is your answer.

[jbohio]

Yeah..
.I remember President Clinton campaigning in Pennsylvania for John Kerry about three weeks after he had his triple by-pass heart surgery. Remember that? In fact John Kerry pushed to get President Clinton out stumping for him a week earlier but President Clinton's condition did not warrant it.

[Fabienne]

Why do you think John Kerry came out in support of Obama so early? And why were so many Democratics in the last election so put out because Senator Clinton sat on her warchest and wouldn't give them any money to run? I think it would be a blessing to Obama to have her sit this one out. She has never been supportive of anyone but herself and her husband and she has no proven record of helping anyone win campaigns except herself, and in this one, she isn't doing the best job. She should remain in New York, where I've heard she is losing ground in the polls.

[VfromNY]

Maybe McCain is their guy since they are voting for someone who was pro war , who uses fear mongering. My guess is they are so intent in having a woman elected they have given up on their own moral compass. So who knows what the hillary supporters will do .

[ecksman]

hahah "as far as i know"

i would pay $100 to hear her answer that question

c'mon, lets create a bounty for a reporter to get that answer!!!!
who's with me?

[MissDarla]

Regardless of what happens in the democratic primary, Hillary Clinton will go on doing the work that she has been doing for years. She will remain and effective senator and will continue to work for and to serve the people in her constituancy. But why should she campaign for Obama if he wins the nomination? Not every democratic candidate is forced to campaign for the other in any race. This primary has been contentious on both sides. Obama manages to get his fair share of b***h slapping in as well -- you only need to go to factcheck.org to see how deceptive he's been throughout. He's hardly a politician of change --and I think that is what the American people are truly seeing. I don't expect he would campaign for her if she wins the nomination either. That's fair; but, again, it's interesting that you make this a one-sided Hillary issue.

[LDW]

Barak Obama and his henchmen have been busy painting both Clintons as foul racists, and trying to taint anyone who supports Hillary Clinton as being allied with racists, so how in the world is Hillary Clinton going to be able to support Barak Obama? Is she to genuflect and beg forgiveness from the Saint? How can his supporters, who he is inciting to hatred against her, come to accept Hillary Clinton?

Barak Obama is playing a dangerous, poisonous game, and the Democratic Party is standing back and allowing him complete freedom for his destructive tactics.

[jvarga]

If Senator Clinton's campaign is being painted as racists, its being done with brushes and paint supplied by her very own campaign.

Again its interesting how another poster forgets Senator Clinton endorsed Senator McCain over Senator Obama and goes on to attack Senator Obama for being destructive to the democratic party.

[ATLiberal]

Do you believe geraldine Ferraro's comments were appropriate? I don't. And the only thing I have heard from the Obama camp is that the words were reprehensible and Ferraro should be let go.

What's the difference between that and the "monster" comment from Samantha? She resigned and we all moved on.

I think it has been pretty well documented as to who is leading the attack charge, as people like the uncommitted Nancy Pelosi and others have clearly indicated. It's Hillary, not Barack.

[Tejano1]

his "henchmen?" what, is he in the mafia now? the clintons have done a fine job of painting themselves with their own brushes. don't come here with that weak b.s. that seeks to blame obama for clinton's southern strategy. no one but desperate clintonistas are buying that argument. it's patently obvious that the mcclintons have decided to make obama the unqualified affirmative action black guy. for you to deny it is disgusting.

[leogorcey]

Is this the new Republican Talking Point on how all this is suppose to play out? A glance at Billhill's record indicates they are just republicans dressed like demos and only use the dems to have some respectability (god knows they need it). No one is inciting hatred against poor Hillbill, they do a good job on their own. All this is over when Hillbill finally are forced to release their tax records. No question that their returns reveal a closet full of stained blue dresses.

[MPeter]

Hillary has never been a democrat. Everything she has said and done over the years was to position herself for power at any cost. Otherwise she has voted as a Republican, speaks like a Republican and, runs her campaign as the exact replica of George Bush, with Mark Penn as her Carl Rove. She has already said she prefers MCcain over Obama!!!! She has rejected every state and every caucus that Obama won and has tried him condescendingly and without respect despite his accomplishments. It is Hillary or MCcain. She has been as explicit as they ever get.

[drmavis]

I think, deep down under many layers of filth, is dorky college burning heart liberal Hillary, but it has long-since been covered up by "win at all costs" Hillary, which has involved remaking her image to be a centrist, more like Bill, and hence acting like a foreign policy hawk.

[Countess]

The democratic party should leave her.

[timm0]

I believe she will. Here's how I see it playing out. I've semi-predicted this a few weeks ago by predicting that she's shooting for martyrdom now, but assigned a different motivation to her. I'm changing that now.

Obama can be the first non-white to win, but there is still going to be a first non-male prez one day. That's all she cares about. So she sets herself on fire here, "doing everything she possibly can to win." She sews the seeds of persecution from outside as the reason for her demise, believing that there will be more people in 4 or 8 years who will claim that she got jobbed than there will be to remind everyone about her rove-like efforts. In the course of these attacks, she hopes to bring about Obama's demise, increase the belief that he's a Muslim, etc. so that his chances to win in the general are diminished.

Some time before the convention, once the damage is severe enough, she will tearfully throw in the towel. My guess is it will be once the no-revote in Florida is finalized ("oh, I fought so hard for you, dear Floridians!"). Her apologists will rage, but they will be back... she's counting on that. She will "do the right thing" and support a hobbled, [then] financially strapped Obama. If he refuses her help, all the better to support her victimization assertions. He won't refuse help. She campaigns for him, but hopes that mccain wins.

If mccain wins, she will run again in 2012. If Obama runs, she'll circle, waiting for blood.

[Fabienne]

She'll be so damaged in 2012, whether she weasels her way into this year's nomination (and then loses) or not that she won't make it through the first round in 2012. This was her only chance and she has blown it unless the party hands it to her, which means they will have blown it.

[cynara]

If she wants to even begin to erase the scares she's given him, she'd better be ready to go on TV and say the following, "In the heat of the campaign I let my competitive nature get the best of me, Barack Obama is 100% qualified to be commander and chief, and there is no threshold for a man of his talent. I was absolutely incorrect when I said otherwise and I will do everything in my power to fight this misconception, that I myself helped create."

Only then, could she start to blunt the negative impact of her own words, that will be played over and over again by the McCain campaign until November.

But I have no illusions that she is even capable of making such a statement. She harbors no regret in her vote to go to war with Iraq, her vote for war in Iran or her whole-hearted support of NAFTA. She hasn't said "sorry" about a damn thing yet, why should she when her apology would be most important to reclaiming the presidency for the democratic party?

[YellerDawg]

Why would she, after the way she has been savaged by Obama's surrogates? Judging from the daily parade of hate speech featured on Huffpo, I would fear for Hillary's life if she showed up at an Obama rally. Most of his supporters seem to think she is a cross between Godzilla and the Anti-Christ. Your snide attempt to malign Hillary notwithstanding, she will be loyal to the Democratic Party, although for the life of me, I don't know how.

[jvarga]

In your opinion, was she being loyal when she endorsed Senator McCain over Senator Obama? If so, your concept of loyalty is wrong.

[YellerDawg]

She never endorsed McCain over Obama. She was speaking specifically about readiness to be Commander in Chief. There are many aspects of the role of the presidency. Clinton and Obama are more alike in most aspects than Clinton and McCain. Any clear-headed person could see that. Taking one sentence out of a discussion is hardly a fair summary of the discussion. This campaign has been one long discussion. If you've missed most of it, you might believe that Clinton would prefer McCain to Obama. However, if you've been paying attention, you know how ludicrous that notion is. Your willful ignorance of the truth is sad, but typical of many of Obama's supporters.

[feelfree]

I'll be watching to see if she does. If she doesn't I hope her supporters will follow her lead and not support him in the general election.

[ATLiberal]

Come on, Yellerdawg, the idea that poor Hillary is being savaged by Obama unfairly isn't really based in any sort of reality. Each camp comes out daily with their talking points and fingerpoin­ting.I'd say it's pretty equal on that score.

I haven't heard Obama come out and endorse another party's candidate over Hillary. Or stand in front of the mikes with faux outrage saying "Shame on you!" about flyers that had been out for 3 weeks. Or make sarcastic cracks during the debates about Hillary. These are just three examples off the top of my head. It's pretty disingenuous to decry Obama as though he is the attcker.

[YellerDawg]

Obviously, you see only Hillary's sins and Obama gets a pass. OK. Party on.

[Thurber]

Why would she campaign for Barack? She's clearly shooting for the VP spot with McCain. She's much more likely to be a Manchurian candidate from the GOP, as far as I know :)

Sooner or later, every progressive will figure this out.

[YellerDawg]

Every crazy progressive, maybe. Where do you people get this stuff? The Republicans nominating Hillary for Veep? Now, that is a conspiracy even Oliver Stone couldn't figure out.

[starboymikey]

The Republicans nominating Hillary for Veep? Now, that is a conspiracy even Oliver Stone couldn't figure out.
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No, but it would be funny as hell. The crowning achievement of American political hypocricy. She could win the nomination and then, instead of opposing McCain, join with him as VP in a ticket that would run unopposed, except by Ralph Nader.

Boy, I'd love to have to have an option on that script to sell to Oliver Stone.

[jvarga]

I don't know how she could after virtually endorsing Senator McCain and refusing to "reject and repudiate" claims that he's basically an affirmative action candidate. Not to mention the whole Manchurian candidate issue and the 3 AM junk.