Hillary on Obama, VP slot, Senate job

Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:58 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Ken Strickland
After addressing her Democratic colleagues today in their weekly luncheon, Sen. Hillary Clinton emerged with the Dem leadership at her side. She vowed to be "the very best senator I can be and to represent the greatest state in our country."

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton goes back to work at the Senate Tuesday. MSNBC's Mike Viqueira reports.

In a brief Q&A with reporters, she quickly shot down any lingering doubts that she's seeking the VP slot saying, "I am not seeking any other position." She added, "It is not something that I think about. This is totally Sen. Obama's decision and that's the way it should be.

When asked about McCain's efforts to court her supporters, Clinton said, "Anyone who voted for me has very little in common with the Republican Party." She then seemed to speak directly to her supporters: "If you care about the issues I care about and the future that I outlined in my campaign, then you really have to stay with us in the Democratic Party and vote Sen. Obama to be our next president."

Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, a McCain ally and supporter, attended today luncheon. Fellow Sen. Evan Bayh told reporters that Lieberman sat at Clinton's table and the two briefly exchanged pleasantries.

"We're going to work very hard to elect Sen. Obama our president," she said. "And we're going to work very hard to add to our numbers here in the Senate... I'm just hoping that we'll have a very significant victory this November... I am rolling up my sleeves and getting back to work."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

So your telling us Hillary is on the same terms with Lieberman as she is with Bill?

HT Greene, Greenville SC (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:29 PM)

I am not or never could be a hil supporter. I would like to thank her though, for keeping her word to support Obama and for making him a better candidate. And welcome to her supporters. We need you to be on the team so we can defeat McStupid.

Chris, Dorr, MI (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:32 PM)

First Read: " She [Hillary] then seemed to speak directly to her supporters: "If you care about the issues I care about and the future that I outlined in my campaign, then you really have to stay with us in the Democratic Party and vote Sen. Obama to be our next president.""

And then Obama's hired help immediately released Chelsea who was shaken, but no worse for the wear.

Guido Soprano, NJ (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:32 PM)

I don't favor Sen. Clinton for the VP. But according to the Veepstakes by Chuck Todd/David Gregory and MSNBC, she's a far better choice (I think) than the vast majoritiy--almost the best choice, really. Looking at the alternatives has greatly softened me towards her. Besides, she can teach Obama a lot about running a campaign against the Repubs.

**Note: still not particularly fond of her.

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:35 PM)

It's good to hear that she's telling her supporters directly that "Anyone who voted for me has very little in common with the Republican Party." "If you care about the issues I care about and the future that I outlined in my campaign, then you really have to stay with us in the Democratic Party and vote Sen. Obama to be our next president."

She couldn't have said it better. What do you say about that, Bobbi from Eau Claire, WI? Make sense yet?

Listen to reason Bobbi, Hillary insists (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:39 PM)

As a former Hillary supporter, I agree with her that we have to unite behind Sen. Obama. John McCain certainly doesn't stand for any of the principles that she fought so hard for during the campain.

John, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:42 PM)

Thank you, Hillary

I'm not your biggest fan

But, I appreciate your support for Obama
This may be the Democrats big year

Thanks for any and all help

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:42 PM)

Wa-hoo. Maybe Lie-berman begged to be let back into the Dem party, now that he can smell a real winner.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:44 PM)

Why does Lieberman still show up for Dem functions during this campaign. You would think he would have some semblance of shame the way he has conducted himself during this campaign. He has every right to choose whichever side he wants, but the lies he has told and the attacks on Obama are just disgraceful. Support the other side if you wish, but don't attack the dem nominee and still show up for lunch like "hey, everybody".

Hillary shocked & disappointed me to no end during this campaign but glad to see she is back and hitting the right notes. Also glad that she was greeted with such affection as I'm sure this has been a tough time for her. I hope her vacation was relaxing and helped get her mind ready for the next battle.

Obama '08

Barbria, Irving, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:45 PM)

Hey Joe it don't matter where you go. Traitors got no home.

uncle bluster (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:45 PM)

I think Hillary should be the VP. Then we'd have two feel good inexperienced liberals running around the WH, plus Bill would be there to top off the circus! It would be more entertaining then watching any sit-com.

Glenn Tummery, Houston Tx (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:48 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
She took her beating. She will not be the homecoming queen, or the prom queen, or the queen bee for that matter.

twocanpete (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:53 PM)

Welcome back Senator Clinton -- you are a class act!

Karen, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:56 PM)

Hillary is doing the right thing by just laying low, helping Obama, and staying quiet. In the end, she will get her due, whatever that may be.

http://www.politivine.com

Politivine.com (SC) (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:59 PM)

Kudos to Senator Clinton!

OBAMA 08

Jen, MI (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:02 PM)

This seems an appropriate and helpful response from Hillary Clinton... to realize that, for now, being "the very best senator" she can be is a pretty decent bottom line. The fact that she is looking to the Obama campaign to retire a double digit million dollar debt vindicates all those who resented that she kept campaigning through June. She was running on empty after North Carolina.

Hermine Clouser Middletown PA (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:04 PM)

Well that is very good news Senator Clinton. I am glad you are rolling up your sleeves, because we will need you and your supporters to bring a Democrat president to the White House. You seem not to be holding a grudge and I hope that it is genuine.

Cynthia, Philly PA (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:05 PM)

Let's go to work Senator Clinton and kick some butt in the fall. The country needs you to help get Dems across the board elected so we can move past this "let's go to war" mentality that our many of our friends on the Reps side have pushed over the last 6 years.

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:08 PM)

What the heck is lieberman doing there...he is part of the jewish lobby that has given us the worst middle eastern policy in US history...shouldn't he be caucusing with the neonuts?

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:09 PM)

I know there are still Hillary supporters out there who insist they are voting for McCain. The one yesterday who just got the "Democrats for McCain" T-shirt comes to mind. I would just like for any supposed Dem in this category to state an issue where Hillary Clinton and John McCain agree.

Universal health care? Protecting a woman's right to choose? Revamping NAFTA? Leaving Iraq? Maintaining a moderate Supreme Court? Truly helping the working class? Improving education?

Backing Hillary means standing up for the issues that were important to her and to our party. These same issues are also important to Obama and no matter what you think of him, he is the only current option for advancing these ideas. Voting for McCain out of spite seems childish, stupid and counter productive to what we're all trying to accomplish here and that is making America better. Not in 2012. Now.

AP from IL (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:11 PM)

Hillocrats for McCain. We have a lot in common with McCain and at the top of the list is a love of America. That it is in a nutshell.

No Obama for this Hillocrat (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:17 PM)

Thank you Senator! That is very kind and very touching! Reminds me of the Hillary we all so loved in the 90's.

Now go put some sense into Bill, and please push Obama to get Chelsea a role in his campaign. The Democtartivc Party and the country may soon need to be calling on her to lead us very soon.

The Don, Missouri (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:22 PM)

Sorry Hillary - I will Not support, unite or VOTE for obama - he is NOT qualified to lead our country - and MILLIONS of Americans feel the same way.
We will NOT vote Party - but for our Country. IF we liked obama we would of voted for him - BUT Hillary got the popular vote.
Looks like McCain is our 2nd Choice!

Molly (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:23 PM)

Senator Clinton,

Your avid supporters don't do you justice.

You're awesome.

Barack My World! (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:25 PM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1164809