Top Clinton Aide Considers Job With Obama Camp
NEW YORK—A top strategist for Barack Obama has reached out to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s former campaign manager about joining forces for the general election, the latest sign of political reconciliation between the two rivals as Obama begins consolidating his position as the likely Democratic nominee.
Obama strategist David Axelrod and former Clinton aide Patti Solis Doyle confirmed they had had informal conversations about how she might help the Illinois senator if he secures the presidential nomination as expected. The conversations were first reported on the Politico Web site.
“When the time comes, if we’re the nominee, we’re going to want to work with talented people across the party including those who worked for Senator Clinton,” Axelrod said. “Patti’s a good and talented person, and we all have a high regard for her.”
He added, “No specific offers have been proffered, and none has been accepted. This is not an official entreaty from one campaign to another.”
Solis Doyle hails from Chicago, Obama’s home turf, and met Axelrod 20 years ago while working in city government there. Her brother, Danny Solis, is a Chicago alderman.
A longtime Clinton loyalist, Solis Doyle began working as Hillary Clinton’s scheduler during her husband’s 1992 presidential bid and stayed with her through two terms in the White House. She helped manage the former first lady’s first New York Senate bid in 2000, and began laying the groundwork for her presidential bid shortly thereafter.
In February, Solis Doyle stepped down as campaign manager after Clinton’s third-place showing in Iowa and disappointing performance in the 22-state “Super Tuesday” contests Feb. 5. Maggie Williams, Clinton’s former White House chief of staff, replaced Solis Doyle.
Clinton has vowed to stay in the race through the final primaries June 3 even as she trails Obama in the popular vote and among pledged and superdelegates. She has also pushed for a resolution of disputed primaries in Michigan and Florida, whose results were voided after the states violated party rules by moving their contests to January.
Obama is expected to secure the majority of pledged delegates Tuesday after primaries in Kentucky and Oregon.
For her part, Solis Doyle said in an interview that her status has not changed.
“I’m for Hillary, I have been for 17 years. This thing isn’t over,” Solis Doyle said. “But I’m a Democrat and if Obama’s the nominee, I will do whatever I can to get him elected and make sure the party is unified.”
Obama wears a different suit every day and forget his Lapel Pin so you won’t hear the truth from him. Hillary is in a fix and has miss-spoken so often. I guess we will have to wait and see.
John, your comment was:
And when Hillary was a NY Senator she said she’d not run for president..she LIED.
My response:
Barack said that he should not run for office in 2008 because he would have to start his bid before he even sat one day in the Senate and he is not okay with that. STATING he wouldn’t have enough experience.
So now who lied?
What I can’t seem to understand is why the Clinton supporters are mad with Obama because he is winning? Why aren’t you mad with Hillary and the way she ran her campaign? I am. Here is our shot at the first woman president. She had it right in the palm of her hand. She was unstoppable, unbeatable when she first announced. What happened? Why are you not looking at the mistakes SHE made? Why are you not pouncing on President Bill and the mistakes HE made? Why are you blaming everyone but her? She ALWAYS had the final say in her campaign. Nothing happened unless she put her stamp of approval on it.
“I’m going to vote for McCain” is your are war cry. Why don’t you stomp your feet and hold your breath too? That is what a child who doesn’t get there way does.
Hillary needs to study the numerous mistakes made, brush herself off (so do you) and lets take back the White House in 2008.