Clinton says she's open to being Obama's VP

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton has told congressional colleagues she would be open to becoming Barack Obama's vice presidential nominee, saying she would consider it if it would help Democrats win the White House.

Clinton, a New York senator, made the comment on a conference call with other New York lawmakers Tuesday, according a participant on the call.

The senator's remarks came in response to a question from Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez who said she believed the best way for Obama to win over key voting blocs, including Hispanics, would be for him to choose Clinton as his running mate.

"I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.

The former first lady was not ready to formally suspend or end her race in a speech Tuesday night in New York City. But if Obama gets to the magic number of delegates, 2,118, she was prepared to acknowledge that milestone, according to aides who declined to be identified.

Obama effectively secured the magic number Tuesday, based on a tally of pledged delegates, superdelegates who have declared their preference, and another 15 superdelegates who have confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press.

It also included delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 30 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day.

On NBC's "Today Show," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, "I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee."

She will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.

Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.

The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.

Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.

Clinton was at home in Chappaqua, N.Y., with her husband, former President Clinton and daughter Chelsea. She was placing calls to friends and supporters and working on a final draft of her speech. She was also resting her voice, which was nearly shot after days of nonstop campaigning.

In a formal statement, the campaign made clear the limits of how far she would go in Tuesday night's speech. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination," the statement said.

Clinton field hands who worked in key battlegrounds said they were told to stand down, without pay, and await instructions. Speaking not for attribution because they didn't want to jeopardize their jobs searches, many said they were peddling resumes, returning to their hometowns or seeking out former employers.

Clinton officials have said they would not contest the seating of Michigan delegates at the convention in Denver this August. The campaign was angry this past weekend when a Democratic National Committee panel awarded Obama delegates it thought Clinton deserved.

this is a surprise

Thought she won't be a vice, especially not a black guy's vice.

If this is true, McCain will have big trouble. 

They always say once you go black you never come back, maybe she been there done that..

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blaze77535 said: They always say once you go black you never come back, maybe she been there done that..

 

Gee, blaze, you are baaaaaaaaad.
I recall all those educated people predicting the Clinton nomination to be a slam dunk.  The same who thought the NYC Mayor would walk away with the Rep. nominationand didn't give McCain a second glance. It tell me that even the "know-it-alls" don't know it all.  Of course it isn't over until the..........

I read on this forum, and others, that Obama would be easier to beat than Hillary.  What if she is selected as Obama's running mate?  Will they be unbeatable?  Come one, a black guy who can boogie, and Hillary Care to boot.  What a dream ticket. 

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So we are handing government over from Bush, Chaney a pair of globaist to Obama, Clinton another pair of globalist. Whats everyone so exited about.

I wouldn't vote for Obama if he were the only man last on earth.

Just say NO to a merger with Mexico.

algebra said: So we are handing government over from Bush, Chaney a pair of globaist to Obama, Clinton another pair of globalist. Whats everyone so exited about.

 

Exitement?  Let me know if you find any.  I only see complete frustration.

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Let's see -- if she doesn't have enough delegates, but still wants to be the first female president, and ran as Obama's VP, and they won, wonder how long it would be before there was another mysterious Clinton-related death that would make her president???????????  Hmmm .........

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(CM) Jim from Texas said: Let's see -- if she doesn't have enough delegates, but still wants to be the first female president, and ran as Obama's VP, and they won, wonder how long it would be before there was another mysterious Clinton-related death that would make her president???????????  Hmmm .........

 

That is a scenario that wouldn't surprise me in the least.

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kmcheng said:

this is a surprise

Thought she won't be a vice, especially not a black guy's vice.

If this is true, McCain will have big trouble. 

 

I think McCain is going to have trouble anyway.

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Jim, It wouldn't suprise me. Of course after watching Washington for 30 years nothing would suprise me.

sorry about double

 

Then you'd have to worry about Bill in the white house (and the first unlady) Barfrock's wife.

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Obama's base doesn't want to have anything to do with the Clintons.  In fact, one talk show host said that almost every single caller doesn't want her on the ticket and said that if she were to be put on the ticket, "Get a food taster for Obama".  Bill Clinton would have to be vetted.  Unless Obama's forced into it, he won't do it.  He may not even do it then, because he'd be betraying his base.  He's between a rock and a hard place, no doubt about it.  Personally, I  don't want to see Hillary or Bill campaign for him.  I've had enough of the Clintons.  I reached my limit today of Clinton fatigue and it was from the left.  In response, I cancelled my subscription to Obama emails and I cancelled my subscription to Hillary emails and I signed up with McCain.  I'm just an "old, white, racist biddy", so they didn't want my vote anyway.

CJBL said:

I wouldn't vote for Obama if he were the only man last on earth.

Just say NO to a merger with Mexico.

 

ditto

no liberal president! 

Wouldn't this be a team made in Hell ? One a globalist and the other a Marxist. Plus their respective spouses in the White House...

 

I KNOW I'm going with a third party candidate !

(CM) theSuperPatriot said: Then you'd have to worry about Bill in the white house (and the first unlady) Barfrock's wife.

 

You mean Bill and Michelle?

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RockyMtn1776 said:

Wouldn't this be a team made in Hell ? One a globalist and the other a Marxist. Plus their respective spouses in the White House...

 

I KNOW I'm going with a third party candidate !

 

They were calling for change, and we all might get it.  They will be hard to beat.  Think about all the brainiacs who have voted for Omama and Hillary thus far. God help us all.

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Can you say rigged?  They aren't elected anymore they are appointed.

elaina said:

RockyMtn1776 said:

Wouldn't this be a team made in Hell ? One a globalist and the other a Marxist. Plus their respective spouses in the White House...

 

I KNOW I'm going with a third party candidate !

 

They were calling for change, and we all might get it.  They will be hard to beat.  Think about all the brainiacs who have voted for Omama and Hillary thus far. God help us all.

 

I want change also, but not change to more liberal, but change to more conservative, more back to God.