Barack Obama, stumping in S.D., casts Hillary Clinton as a team player

Barack Obama not only spent today far, far away from the trench warfare being waged in Washington over whether -- and in what proportion -- to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations at the Democratic National Convention later this year, he was doing his best to stay above the fray.

The Times' Michael Finnegan reports that as Obama campaigned in South Dakota in advance of the state's Tuesday primary, he had nothing but kind words for Hillary Clinton, praising her for running a "magnificent race" in their marathon battle for the Democratic presidential nod.

"I know that some Democrats are worried that, well, this campaign went on a long time, and maybe you can't bring the party together; the Clinton supporters and the Obama supporters, they're going after each other," Obama told a few thousand people gathered at a rodeo fairgrounds in Rapid City.

"Let me tell you something. First of all, we're going to come together, because Sen. Clinton is an outstanding public servant. She has run a magnificent race. And she is going to be working on behalf of the Democratic Party, as I will be."

Spoken like the presumptive nominee that he and his camp are anticipating he soon will be -- a designation that Clinton and her forces continue to do their best to forestall.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[SERVING NOTICE]

I am holding the superdelegates personally accountable, I know who you are, I don't care if you are "Democrats", you will be blogged, petitioned, exposed and written up. Do not go against the popular will of voting citizens. The superdelegates are the "Washington Insiders" that Obama claims to be independent of. Those inside guys at the top (including Barry O'bomber) did conspire to misrepresent and silence millions of voters in Florida, Michigan and caucus states. The good citizens who were elected to represent American citizens have instead betrayed the fundamental cornerstones of representative government. They are traitors and will be dealt with accordingly, the pen is mightier than the sword, the First Amendment is a stickler.

[ric]

That's why he's a winner

[shirlin]

Where are the Party elders and leaders? Where is Gore? Where is Dean? Why are the permitting the crazy deluded power-mad Clinton dynastic couple to destroy the party and the republic? There will be a revolution of party loyalists like me should Hillary succeed in stealing the nomination. Obama won the primary race fair and square. He is the superior candidate, the candidate who has won by ALL metrics. What about fairness do the Clintons not understand? What about justice does Hillary not know? We are disgusted with this scene of dynastic lunacy and with our party's enabling of the Clintons' continued power grab.

[Matericia]

Hillary Clinton has run a magnificent campaign. She magnified her foriegn policy experiences in Bosnia and Ireland. She magnified racial tensions and gender differences to her strategic favor.

She is magnificent and Obama is wise to soothe her ego.

[paddy Lee]

Hillary's brother is showing the stuff his family is made off. Apparently alll those who have been voting for his sister and brother in-law are fools. It is Hillary or the high saes!
Never have I seen such a bunch of spoilers! America has been defended by all and is free for all citizens so show maturity MAN

[Pedeen]

Go Go Barrack! every obstacle on the way you shall overcome!

[John]

I'm an independant who supports Sen. Obama. I thank Gov. Dean for championing the 50 state strategy. Yet, the demo rules (super delegates, Florida's and Michgan's malfeasance - give me a break), absence of demo leadership, sorry record of the recent demo majorities in congress - give great pause as to whether the demos (aside from Obama) can govern. We know Clinton can't. Her campaign is $31million in debt. Her campaign is daily drama. She's proven she's incapable of leading more than a senate staff.

[Luvjones]

I think it is time that the Democratic party come together and make a strong attempt and to win the White House back for the people. This is a democracy and let's face it, the majority wins. Barrack Obama will have the most delegates and therefore be the nominee. Nothing is going to change that. Hillary Clinton needs to show character and strength and step aside as she sees fit (which hopefully be sometimes next week). However, if she continues to create strife and not unity and delays this process and Obama loses in November. I guarantee you she will NEVER get the nomination. So, let's let reality set, take some Zoloft (cause she's gonna be very depressed and upset) and defeat McCain in the fall.

[Ian Plase]

Hillary, has for all purposes, ran a nasty & mean campaign. Its been done under the name of being " tough ", but it really has more to do with the lack of ideas her campaign has. Not often in this country do you witness a " high end " person being out done, by a " regular guy ". What she has shown us all is that if given the chance to lead, she would do no better than her " big daddy " husband who compromised his presidency away. Don't fear though, cause at least the best candidate will have a chance to improve things, & that's what this country needs so badly.

[Kentucky Thom]

I am a 56 year old WM who probably knows more about domestic and international affairs than 99% of Clinton supporters. I have listened to every politician since Eisenhower and I am here to tell you that Senator Obama is the last hope for this selfish, spoiled country. As the author of one of the above blogs states; Where are the Democratic leaders right now? They are allowing a bunch of feminists and sore losers to argue that Senator Clinton should receive the delegates from Michigan! All of the candidates agreed not to campaign there, all of the other Democratic candidates did not even put their names on the ballot. Any of you so called enlightened voters that would support this lying, deceitful individual and her husband must have lost your mind. This woman and her husband are power hungry liars not to mention up to their necks in skeletons from their last time in the White House. They are both very lucky their both not in the "BIG HOUSE" for violating campaign finance laws, perjury and multiple counts of murder.

[anubis2night]

SERVING NOTICE, I understand your upset, but really Florida and Michigan had a chance to do the right thing and follow the laws. Sadly they did not. They are lucky to have gotten the votes they did receive. As a american I think I speak for the rest of America when I ask FL to get with the program already and stop being a pain in the ass when it comes to voting. I'm more than a little pissed to see that these states might have even had a chance in who was elected for the democratic leader. Neither of these states followed the laws why reward them? And really your going to defend Hillary? She campaigned right outside of Fl in georgia before the primary as well as telephone calls to supports in FL. She came as close to stepping over that line as she could including leaving her name on the michigan ballot. Maybe you like to reward cheaters, but given the language of your post you seem to think that Obama is a cheat, when clearly these article show him taking the high road time and time again. But hey whatever floats your boat...

[Endolyn]

I have to say that I cannnot believe that Hillary Clinton and her supporters are arguing that all votes should count in Florida & Michigan and they are actually being given airtime by some stations including fox news. Even my 10 year old daughter understands that that would not be fair. If this is HRC's idea of fairness and justice, I shudder to think what decisions she would make as a President where she has to show qualities of fairness and justice. I dont think she has any.

[robinia]

Well, with the "half-vote" decision by the Democrats in reinstating the delegates of Florida and Michigan, what's Hillary going to do now?

She must be absolutely devasted! That ol' saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" does not just emphasize one's size, but also one's "EGO".

As Hillary will never never rise again, and the former first lady probably going through the most depressing and embarassing time in her life, someone please open up the champagne bottle and let us all sing "ding-dong the witch is dead!"!

HIllary, take Toto (your husband) and go back to Kansas. You've overstayed your welcome in the land of Oz. (Obama'z house)

Now, call up your husband and compare notes of how it feels to be HUMILIATED!

America and your party apparently don't like you enough to be Prez...dig? Say hello to Auntie Em.

Obama will re-arrange the White House office for you. He'll get rid of the oval desk first. He will do so, as an act of diplomacy.

Hillary, they may need someone to dust the office and clean the toilets. You might want to think about it during your spare time.

Tootles!

[robinia]

Again ladies, we WILL have a woman president someday. Fortunately for us, our children and grandchildren, it will NOT be Hillary Clinton!

[Clyde]

Kentucky Thom: I am 70 yrs. old and therefore know a hell of a lot more than you about politics (makes sense just like Obama makes sense!). What took this guy Obama 20 yrs. to realize his church was not worthy of his membership? If it took 20 yrs., how in the world would he make critical decisions in a hurry as head of our country? He's not worthy of any public office, much less our leader. He has in a way been endorsed by Hamas, Fidel Castro, Nation of Islam, etc. Boy, that makes me want to vote for him!! The only great talent he has is he is a good speaker. So were lots of men who made terrible, terrible leaders of nations. He's got you fooled.

[BJ]

It's easy to be magnanimous when your bounty is full!

[Mary]

Hillary wanted every vote to count. But they wanted all the delegates in Michigan with zero going to Barack Obama.
But really ,she wanted all the votes to count.????

[mary]

Clyde Hello Clyde, put your glass's on and read something other than your emails. Here is a news flash,

"Emails are not really considered a worthy news source old man. Get you facts straight before you offer up your years as evidence that you may know something the rest of us do not. Night night Clyde

[ruth]

As a lifelong Democrat and Hillary supporter, I will not be voting for Obama in Nov. if he is the party's candidate (as I'm sure he will be). I won't be voting for him NOT because I'm upset about the way Sen. Clinton has been treated or because I don't care about this country or because I'm a sore loser. Even if Sen. Clinton hadn't been running in the primary, I wouldn't vote for Obama. Anyone who actually has looked into his history knows that he is the consummate politician, the total hypocritical package, the man who will--and has--done anything to win . . . and then calmly and in righteous tones, tells the voters that we all need to come together and unify. Of course, you must unify behind him and agree with him and choose him as your leader because if you dissent or disagree, you're being "divisive" (one of his favorite words). And all these liberals fall for this crap. What happened to dissent? What happened to democracy? What happened to being able to disagree and still work together? Obama can't seem to work with anyone who disagrees with him; it's his way or no way. Sorry, but even McCain has been able to work with those he disagrees with. That's democracy. And as far as loving this country--McCain has done for this country before doing for himself; Obama has done what promotes his interests.

[John Quimby]

Hillary Supporters:

Welcome to the post feminist Party. Sometimes your "man" loses. Then you have to decide where your interests lie.

This isn't Hillary's party - it's OUR party. Come on and join up. Let's get a DEMOCRAT elected.

[JP]

Clyde, you may be 70 years old, but age doesn't always offer wisdom. For a political guru, you are posting shaky information. "He has in a way been endorsed by Hamas, Fidel Castro, Nation of Islam" - fail. Castro just scalded Obama, and there are no "in a way" endorsements from the others. On the other subject, church, common sense tells us that church members don't always agree with the messages or statements from the church, thankfully. The difference between politicians and the rest of us is that they are under a microscope for everything - including their belief system. I suppose that McCain hasn't had "preacher" problems lately, either? On another subject, both demo candidates would be much better than the rapublican trend of late. Hillary and Obama are BOTH fighters. The nature of this season's nomination contest proves that democrats are very charged, and with either candidate, this country is ready for drastic change, both politically and socially. Clyde, you sound like you are stuck inside the box, either refraining from or abandoning your freedom to gather real facts from different sources to build an opinion with substance. As far as the voting dispute, Florida should have recieved full restoration when accounting for the details, and Michigan shouldn't have counted at all. Michigan voluntarily screwed this vote in protest of state contest order, and all demo candidates agreed not to count it, that is, until Hillary realized she could use it to her advantage.

[Kim 4 America]

Many Americans are thankful to the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee for extinguishing the burning embers left by Hillary Clinton. Hillary’s participation could have been a great event, but her lust for power and the presidency has resulted in her perpetuation of within-party strife and hate. I for one will be happy when Hillary is dismissed and goes back to the senate. Hopefully, when a new woman emerges as a presidential candidate, she will possess the necessary competencies to win based on merit not entitlement.

[Mark Bohannon]

Now it's time for the superdelegates to choose their candidate and end this nightmare once and for all!

[Bob]

Will Hillary appeal the decision and extend the Drama all the way to Denver?

Part of me wants her to continue making a fool of herself; the other part wants her to just go away!

Hillary, the Queen of Spin and a Legend in Her Own Mind!

http://klintons.com

[cyberbian]

Yeah, just dump all those dumb old rules for Hil Hil!

Who needs order?
Who needs organization?
Hil Hil will do what is best for Hil Hil, and what is best for Hil Hil is best for us! She thrives in anarchy and chaos, she is a real fighter who will never give up dismissing anything which stands in the way of her personal benefit, and what is good for Hil Hil is good for Democracy! Give all the votes to Hil Hil! She is entitled to them. How can her daughter follow in her footsteps, if she does not become President. Are we never to have a true American Royal Family? Aside from the Bushes, I mean.