Hillary Clinton speaks (through an aide) on the veepstakes

Hillary Clinton today sought to distance herself from all the clamor that she has set her sights on claiming the second spot on the Democratic presidential ticket.

A terse statement sent out by one of her top aides, Phil Singer, on behalf of the currently out-of-sight and soon-to-be ex-White House candidate had this to say:

"While Senator Clinton has made clear throughout this process that she will do whatever she can to elect a Democrat to the White House, she is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her.  The choice here is Senator Obama's and his alone."

Speculation about Clinton's interest in the veep spot -- and whether she is lobbying for it -- has been especially fast and furious since Tuesday afternoon, when it was learned she had told fellow lawmakers from New York that she was "open" to the possibility.

But that evening, in the view of many, she stomped on her chances -- whatever they may have been up to that point -- in giving a speech that dwelled on her own campaign, only briefly mentioned Barack Obama and made no acknowledgment that he had laid claim to the delegates needed to secure the ticket's top spot.

Perhaps the conventional wisdom was summed up best in a column today by E.J. Dionne Jr., which began:

"Hillary Clinton talked her way out of the vice presidency on Tuesday night."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[kat]

If I were Hillary, I would tell Obama to take his veep spot and shove it. After the campaign she has waged, I would lose all respect for her if she graveled to the Obamas especially after watching them dance in the end zone like a couple of amateurs. Michelle and Barrack both need to act like they've been there before but I don't think they have it in them.

[Andrew]

While I'd like to see Hillary as veep, I have to agree with the above poster. I have trouble imagining that someone could run a presidential campaign, spend the time and effort required to try and make yourself the leader of the country, then settle for number two. The time for a dream team to assemble was before the primaries, not now. It's just not likely to happen (though I certainly wouldn't mind if it did).

[08vote]

Hillary has been shown on (numerous) video tapes throughout the Democratic primaries, dissing Obama. The most prominent video was the one where she said herself and John McCain were more "qualified" to lead the nation and more experienced on national security matters.

Hillary has left several HINTS that she is bowing out of the Vice Presidency slot. IN CASE THE Mainstream MEDIA WAS SLOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HINTS are they? 1) not conceding and acknowledging Obama Democratic Nomination; 1) Kept saying, WHAT DOES HILLARY WANT, WHAT DOES SHE WANT...." on the evening of June 3, 2008 ; 2) "assissination"; 3) "as far as I know he's not a Muselim"; and other Best Of 2008 Democratic Primary phrases by Hilary and Bill Clinton.