Will Hillary Rain on Obama's Parade?

The story I'd been hearing for some time has finally emerged in the mainstream media: namely that Hillary Clinton, her husband, Bill, and many of her major financial supporters, known as "bundlers" are so livid at what they see as underhanded -- I've even heard it called "vindictive" -- play by the Obama team, that it's been suggested the Clintons intend to eviscerate what ought to be Obama's coronation at the Democratic Party Convention in Denver next week.

There are reports that there will be a roll-call for delegates, in the hope that this crystallizes the magnitude of Hillary's support.

Inevitably, all it would realistically do is highlight the rawness of the wounds from this year's campaign trail battle -- which is precisely what Obama wants to move on from.

The Clintons are doing their best to resist him.

Only a week ago, an effort was made by Hillary's supporters at the Democratic National Committee's platform committee in Pittsburgh to abolish caucuses, not least because Clinton's supporters have long alleged that Obama won in Iowa -- the crucial first caucus (where Hillary came third) because Obama supporters were bussed in from Illinois.

The efforts in Pittsburgh were rebuffed, but resentment lingers.

One New York-based Hillary bundler told me he is upset that Obama has not raised more than the half a million dollars he promised towards helping her clear her debts. (She still is $25 million in the red). He won't be "bundling" for Obama.

Apparently he is not alone.

As of June 30th, only 10 of the 300 or so big Clinton bundlers had switched camps. (There has been some movement in July but it is said by sources to be insignificant.)

Also, angered Clintonites say they still hold a grudge towards David Axelrod, Obama's campaign chief, who sent an email to reporters highlighting Hillary's "I will continue" speech back in May, where she had alluded to Bobby Kennedy's assassination.

"For Obama to come out, as he did, and say 'we think it's a non-story' was ridiculous" says one Clinton backer. "Axelrod was the one pushing the story."

But Clinton's biggest gripe remains Obama's hiring of Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary's former campaign chief, and the declaration that Solis Doyle would be chief of staff to whomever Obama picks as Vice President.

"That," says someone close to the Clintons, was "interpreted as personal. To appoint the VP's chief of staff months before you've picked a VP is highly unusual -- particularly given the fractious relationship between Patti and Hillary. It was as good as telling Hillary "It's not going to be you."

From Obama's perspective, one wonders, is he mad or clever, giving both Clintons the stage in prime time consecutive nights before he speaks at the Convention?

One thing is for sure. When he finally appears in Denver, his speech needs to be better than his best. It isn't just the times that call for more than a rockstar. His party does too.

This article was originally published by the London Evening Standard

Follow Vicky Ward on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VickyPJWard

Comments

[dbartenstein]

Hillary will not go away as long as people put self-righteous indignation in front of the good of the country. That's how Bush was able to swiftboat Kerry and is what the Clintons seem intent on doing to Obama. Please Bill, inhale this time.

[BADEN]

To answer your question..

"YOU BETCHA!"

HillBill's Theme: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!"

HillBill's Purpose: To destroy the village to save it.

HillBill's Motive: All my moola is in the Russian market, and I did EXACTLY what neocon Albright said, to do, and all I got was a bunch of damn DNC voters voting out my DLC machinery and MAN AM I PISSED.
How's a man and his moll to make a BUCK around this joint? DAMN.....

[2Nurselady]

"Will Hillary Clinton rain on Barack Obama's parade?" I hope so. I do not think it is Obama's "parade." I think the Democratic Convention belongs to the delegates and I hope they are smart enough to vote for Hillary Clinton, the President this country needs right now - the one who can do the job needed to bring this country back on track after these 7+ years of sheer misery with the current administration. I also think it is high time that the delegates do what should be done, regardless of the manipulation and downright misogyny I believe was demonstrated by some in leadership in the DNC and by Donna Brazile and others who were wrongly given power as superdelegates and Rules and Bylaws Committee members. What a joke that was - watching them - 30 people sitting around a table, substituting the votes of the voters with their own personal votes. That was NOT acceptable. We need to do away with the RBC and Superdelegates and let the votes of the voters be the deciding factor in elections just as we expect other countries to do in their own elections. One person, one vote, count the votes, majority wins. Simple as that.

[pacodog]

Please wake up...Hillary Clinton is not going to be president. I think that Hillary is a good woman whom I admire, but to hold onto this grudge is so counter-productive!

Just because your canidate did not win, are you going to continue the "7+ years of sheer misery with the current administration"? Are you going to risk a woman's choice and access to birth control so you can prove a point?

Also, why doesn't my belief in Barack Obama matter? Hillary supporters like to talk about the votes she received, but what about the votes that went to BO?

I believe that both Hillary and Bill are smart enough to know that if they try to create a huge problem at the convention, they can say goodbye to any voice and power that they have had within the DNC going forward.

[Taratrue]

I hope so too.

[santamonica39]

OHMYGOD, I swear you people are so naive!! Honestly, democrats deserve to lose if we can't be smarter than this. Hillary has NO money. Got it - NO money! How exactly would she run this general election campaign if she were even nominated??? She can't legally take Obama's millions, they were not donated to her. She would have to start from scratch with just 2 months to go and would have to first have to pay off her debt.

If she aims to disrupt the convention, then her only conceivable strategy is to derial Obama in the hopes that he loses and then she can run in 2012. If you looovvvve Hillary so much that you are willing to let that happen, then you are no true democrat.

[sangean]

If the Clintons pull some kind of stunt at the convention and/or are perceived to have contibuted to an Obama loss either by comission or, more likely, by ommission, Hillary won't be able to get the Democratic nomination for Parking Commissioner in 2012. She would effectively be through in the eyes of the poobahs of the party. Perhaps her palace guard and loyal followers will form the Puma Party so that she could get her name on a ballot, any ballot.

[MrTessier]

Wasn't Donna Brazile a Clinton supporter in the beginning? I liked her then, and I still like her. I'm sorry the whole thing was upsetting, I'll not argue against it because you probably know all the arguments.

But, it's over. We can't change time. Once all the delegates do the roll call and we have a nominee, can we then move on? Is there any point where you will ever let it go?

If it helps, I apologize for all the slights that happened.

[smurphette]

I guess you weren't paying attention in math class 1+18,000,000= he won fair and square!

[BarackstarObama]

Listen up, everyone... Obama's Convention is going to be stupendous... the role-call will be done by states, and it will move along quickly... the Clintons will be a small part of the grand scheme. Let the paranoia stop!

[condawg]

...and I give you The CLINTONS!! ..."a small part of a grand scheme"!
.
.
.
....who believes that????

I'm going to watch convention for the spectacle of American democracy in action; with a six pack of Bud, a big bag of chips and wait for the screech of tires, the squeal of brakes and thud of car bodies hitting the wall.

[MrTessier]

LOL. It is great entertainment regardless of your political beliefs. We've turned the presidency into the biggest reality show ever!

[Fabienne]

I don't plan to watch the convention until Thursday, when the real Democratic leader stands up.

[Kiwi12]

Dear Lord, please make them go away already.

[reliant1]

Amen

[smurphette]

Amen and Thank you Jesus In advance!