Jun 3, 2008 7:50 pm US/Eastern
Clinton Tells N.Y. Lawmakers She's Open To Veep
Comments Come After Report Surfaces That Obama Has Effectively Clinched Nomination
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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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. (AP)
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Tuesday marked a monumental day in campaign 2008.
After a long, drawn out battle, Sen. Barack Obama has officially clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, according to the Associated Press. His rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, is now talking about the vice presidency.
Clinton is down, but she's not getting out – at least not yet. She's still actively campaigning for the number two spot on the Democratic ticket.
"I want you to think of it as a hiring decision because you are in effect hiring the next president of the United States," Clinton said yesterday as she continued her campaign trail.
Now those comments refer to the vice presidency. With Obama effectively clinching the nomination on Tuesday according to a tally by the Associated Press, sources tell CBS 2 that Clinton will not concede the election tonight, and she's told several New York lawmakers that she is open to accepting the vice presidential nod.
On Monday, former President Clinton may have foreshadowed Tuesday's events, telling an audience on a campaign stop: "This may be the last day I'm ever involved in a campaign like this."
He may have spoken too soon.
What Clinton is expected to do Tuesday night is tout the fact that she leads in the popular vote and then talk about uniting the party.
That's regarded by pundits as a hint to Obama that she's ready to get out, but she still wants something from him.
"Hillary Clinton needs to be perceived as a senior leader in the Democratic party going forward. That means consultation by and with the Obama campaign certainly on appointments, certainly on large policy issues, certainly on relationships with constituencies that have supported her," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.
Sources say that Team Hillary is eager to be on the Democratic ticket as Obama's running mate, but, say experts, that's something that can cut two ways.
"Barack Obama has spent months campaigning against old Washington and Hillary Clinton is one of the primary examples of what it means to be 'old Washington,'" said Birdsell. "To put her on the ticket would undermine his appeal."
On the other hand, the lady in the pant-suits has won an enormous number of votes along with important states like New York, California, Florida, and Ohio. She's also a huge hit among blue collar workers in battlegrounds states, which could help Obama in his quest to beat Republican Sen. John McCain.
"She does apparently bring a strong and rabidly loyal constituency," said Birdsell. "She is a talented campaigner with access to difference kinds of funding than Barack Obama."
So when will the Clintons bid their final farewells? It could be by the end of the week, though that depends on her talks with Obama.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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