Clinton counts herself in
Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:26 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
DENVER -- When Hillary Clinton utters the words "Count Me In," unity-focused Democrats might tend to feel their stomachs churn a bit.
Tonight, Clinton happened to be referring to a reception for a women's organization called "Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence," a group that grants support to female-owned microbusinesses.
But the irony was not lost on the senator from New York.
Noting her banter earlier in the day with a colleague who asked about her plans for the first night of the convention, Clinton said that she replied, "I'm going to count me in!"
Per Clinton's story, the friend replied incredulously, "Are you talking about the roll call?"
The joke, which wasn't followed up with a particularly vehement denial from the smiling senator, was met with cheers and giggles from the crowd of several hundred -- mostly women -- who clamored for a glimpse of Clinton at the nighttime event at the Denver Art Museum.
(Yet as the AP reported last night, the Clinton and Obama camps have agreed to limit the roll call vote. "The deal would allow some states to cast votes for both Obama and Clinton before ending the roll call in acclamation for the Illinois senator. Clinton herself may cut off the vote and recommend unanimous nomination of Obama, according to Democratic officials involved in the negotiations.")
Despite the reference to the possible lingering intraparty tensions signaled by the Clinton upcoming roll call vote, the former presidential candidate offered up words of praise both for both a newly-minted political rival and for the wife of one-time opponent Barack Obama. Clinton lauded Obama endorser Senator Ted Kennedy's "fighting spirit" after his surprise appearance at the DNC despite a dehabilitating brain tumor. "And didn't Michelle Obama do a wonderful job tonight as well?" she added.
Without mentioning the name of her former rival and his new vice presidential pick, Clinton also noted the support that the Democratic ticket would have for programs like "Count Me In."
"It's very exciting that we have a chance to elect a president and a vice president who will help us make the dreams of so many Americans come true again," she said.
