The secret friendship of Hillary Clinton and John McCain

It's one of those things that sneaks up on you in politics, a sense of things happening not quite as you expected. It started in April when our Times colleague Louise Roug called with a quote from Sen. Hillary Clinton.

She'd shaken hands at a factory gate in Toledo, Ohio, then before flying to Texas held a media availability where she said: "Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience to the campaign. I bring a lifetime of experience. And Sen. Obama brings a speech he gave in 2002."

A pretty good zinger that got Clinton into the day's news flow while her plane was heading to an Austin, Texas, rally.

But why would the Democratic candidate mention the Republican at all? Let alone in a positive way as qualified to be president in comparison to a fellow Democrat?

That thought quickly passed in the flood of primaries and news.

But then in the final weeks of the primary season, as the inevitable delegate math closed in on Clinton, she attacked Barack Obama, of course. He was ahead. And she clearly didn't want four more years of President Bush. John McCain, already running for the general election, attacked Obama. And Obama fired back at the Republican.

But neither Clinton nor McCain fired at each other.

Then after the last night of primary ballot-counting, Clinton and Obama spoke briefly about each other. McCain uttered one sentence ...

... about Obama.

And then the Arizona Republican said this about the wife of the only Democrat to be elected twice since FDR: "Sen. Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received.

"As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."

And then a week ago this morning it became clear that the Democratic Party was forcing Clinton to end her bid. On Saturday, Obama went golfing. Clinton and her family dressed as if for a funeral and went to thank their supporters with a grateful speech and, on paper, a hearty, full endorsement of Obama.

But something was missing. Not one word in the speech about the Republican nominee that Obama must now confront for the White House.

As she was speaking, the McCain campaign's new website blog, The McCain Report, posted a special tribute to the losing Democratic candidate, familiarly headlined "Hillary Out," something the Obama campaign didn't fully match for two days.

"Sen. Clinton has really grown on us," McCain blogger Michael Goldfarb wrote. "She ran an impressive campaign ... an impressive candidate ... inspired a generation of women. ... Sen. Clinton also didn't mention John McCain once during her speech. This came as something of a surprise over here, and a pleasant one at that. But it's clear that John McCain and Hillary Clinton respect each other -- and there is a genuine affection for her here at McCain HQ."

The blog post included a photo of McCain and Clinton together on a ship in the Arctic during one of their several journeys as members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. These things do not happen on official campaign websites spontaneously or by accident. Nor does the enemy get accidentally omitted from a major speech.

So The Ticket called a bunch of people who know both McCain and Clinton. It's true, they confirmed, there is a special friendship between them. And it apparently started in January of 2001, when Clinton became the first former first lady elected to public office and walked into the U.S. Senate.

It has always been a gentlemen's club, if not always populated by gentlemen. And the warmth toward Clinton was missing. Until McCain walked up and heartily welcomed the newcomer and showed her around. "They really hit it off," said one friend.

They shared many things, including a candid tongue. Both also have at times been at odds with their own parties. They found they could work together across the aisle as committee members and enjoyed each other's company on fact-finding trips around the world. In Estonia, according to one famous tale, Clinton challenged McCain to a vodka shot-drinking contest, which he readily accepted.

Later, McCain remarked to friends "she was one of the guys," a high compliment among guys.

Learning about their unexpected friendship got us to thinking about a few things. What if McCain and Clinton, both their party's front-runners a year ago today, ended up confronting each other in the general election? Would we have seen a more civil campaign for a change?

According to several sources, including the Atlantic's respected Marc Ambinder, McCain came within a breath of publicly promising last year that his would be a one-term presidency. Aides convinced him it was an unnecessary chip to discard then.

Meanwhile, Clinton appears to be delivering early on her commitment to help Obama, steering her financial supporters to assist him in recent days, though some demur.

She's promised "to do all that I can" to help ensure his election, which sounds good but is practically hard to define. There will be some grand unity event soon. And at the Denver convention. But we'll see about the fall come fall.

The fact is, many of her 18 million supporters may not go for Obama. Wouldn't it be an amazing end scenario to an amazing political season if the working-class supporters, especially women, of the Clinton who so many Republicans love to hate helped elect the GOP senator from Arizona that so many Republicans have their own doubts about?

Such a Republican win, even a narrow one, as unlikely as it seems right now, would erase the present presidential hopes of the usurper Obama and could clear the way in 2012 for another try by that same Clinton, who'll only be 64 then.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits: Associated Press; The McCain Report.

Comments

[Lynn E]

Is it so secret? Hillary said on several talk shows and news shows that McCain is one of her good friends. She gets along very well with Republicans. She would have been the obvious choice for Bipartisanship and has shown it in the senate on a consistent basis. Making friends of your enemies is actually a quality Clinton has shown repeatedly. You'd never know it by the way the media and Democratic party treated her. It seemed to be demonize Hillary and worship Obama no mater what he intentions are and who he hangs out with. The Los Angel es Times is a big critic of Hillary and their headlines often have a slant against her.

[Julie in Burbank]

The Obama Campaign site and web team thank her during her speech and contacted people throughout their network with praise for Mrs.Clinton -- so why are you trying to suggest otherwise, saying they didn't "didn't fully match for two days." That's a lie you obviously devised to make them look like they moved slower than the other campaign -- and that's totally false. As Hill might say? Shame on you Andrew Malcom, shame on you.

[Josh Geller]

Her husband and Newt Gingrich are personally friendly.

Why should this surprise anyone? These folks are politicians: their job is to make people like them. They are all likeable people. Should it surprise anyone if sometimes they like each other?

.

[GEst guest]

this is retarded...so what?? people are friends. a competition is a competition...get over it

[Sphynx]

Clinton won't win in 2012. Regardless of a McCain victory, come 2012, she won't start with the huge advantage she had this time around. There will not be an inevitability before the primary even starts. People don't like Clinton. If McCain wins, I would strongly recommend to anyone who is voting based on Gender, to start campaigning for Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas Governor) right now! Today!

Sadly, I do think the author is right, that the current setup is a hopeful 2012 Clinton administration. I think that is Clinton's goal. It will not happen.

[dave s]

I've never trusted Hillary Clinton and this just proves, to me, that she's not worthy of trust. To abandon what principles she has and cozy up to someone who is (or at least would have been, had she gotten the nomination)her avowed enemy, is the true mark of treason.

Not surprising at all, to see a major political figure in bed with the opposition - or maybe that's what American party politics is all about. If so, then Obama has a lesson to learn, and we're all in more trouble than we think.

[Gerhard Mack]

Right.. shes friends with the guy who made jokes about how ugly her daughter is? That's a bit of a stretch I think.

McCain is just sucking up so he can try and grab some of Clinton's supporters.

[Henry]

I am starting to hate the Los Angeles Times.
Whats wrong with you?
Either you guys are seriously sexists or Obama's worshipers.

Stop this stupidity . Leave Hillary alone.

She would have been the best president ever.

[rachel]

get off of it.Yes she is friends with the man, If he took the time to get to know her then thats great. It didnt change her voting with dems at all. Why should she rip apart a friend just because the dems want her to. You are trying to imply something sinster. Clinton has done and will continue to do what is right. She has her people helping Obama, she's endorsed him, and if she fails to appear at any events with him or campaign for him its because Obama has told her to go away and he doesnt need her.

[Cliff]

She really hates black people.

[David B]

I hate to ruin the era of good feelings here, but I recall back in the early days of the primaries when one of John McCain's older and female supporters asked him--on camera--"how do we beat the b*tch?". McCain didn't speak so eloquently about Hillary's experience or inspiration to women that day. As I recall, he chuckled as though it were acceptable or even funny to deningrate Hillary that way. Perhaps his respect and admiration increased for her as it became increasingly obvious he would not have to defeat her to win the Presidency. He is above all else a Politician.

[Dee]

This is a petty article. It is good that the Senators can get along from both parties. It allows them to get things done.

This was not a secret because Hillary has mentioned it before.

[Ron]

If they are such good friends, maybe he will choose her as his Vice President. I canceled my subscription to the Los Angeles Times when the Monica Lewinski story broke on Page 20.

[CP Cook]

I would have liked to see Hillary in the White House, but given that she does not have the nomination, it is easy to see why John McCain would be a good alternative. I disagree with McCain on Iraq, but it is true that he brings a lifetime of experience that Obama simply does not have. If anybody would care to look at Obama's positions, one would see inconsistentcies. To top it all, Obama is of a doubtful character. I hope that even the most die-hard Democrats that Obama is not good for the US nor the party (think of GW Bush). At any rate, I expect the Democrats to widen its majorities in Congress.

[Joe Bento]

Hilary supporters will come round to Obama when they realize the full impact of supporting Senator Mc War. Sons and daughters heading to Iraq forever? Roe vs Wade being overturned? No support for honoring our veterans nor Jim Webbs GI Bill from the former POW, need for anger management classes? A shot of vodka no matter how strong it was with John Mc Cain does not dull the mind enough to pick him to run our country.

Barack and Roll ladies and gentlemen Clinton supporters Barack and Roll. YES WE CAN!

[Richard]

How about a bipartisant ticket?
McCain President and Hillary VP.

[N.E. ButHillary]

Hillary Who?

[Robert]

WOW! So, two people who work together are friends? People were writing about this 15 months ago. Who cares. This is some of the worst political writing I've ever read. This is the kind of writing that makes me want to support Obama.

[myra woods]

I am, and always will be a clinton supporter. I will not vote for obama. He scares me. I don't trust him. I will be voting for McCain. i am a white female, 57 yrs of age. I feel McCains wife brings a lot to the table. Obama wants to hide his wife.

[Paul]

The Republican party wanted Hillary as the Democratic candidate in the general election because they know she will not win. Hillary comes with baggage, Bill Clinton. As much as everyone liked the man he stone faced lied to every American citizen when he said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman". Nobody likes to be lied to or made to feel naive or stupid. Hillary is a great woman, politician, American and probably a great leader but unfortunately now is not her time. Time will tell if she is the right choice for V.P. it may make or break the election.
thank you

[MoreOfTheSame]

Andrew Malcom is just another bored media sensationalist trying to stir up some stuff. Politicians should be respectful and show some dignity. The media elected NObama and the insecure male population still can't believe that a woman did so well in the primaries.
Big deal, get over it!

[TESA PINCkney]

Well, I have always felt that Clinton was more Republican than Democrat. I noticed the unusual campaigning of the Clinton camp... attack your fellpw Democrat and leave the republican alone, because you need him?????..... I wonder why her supporters are so blind????

[tom]

i have not seen clinton helping obama yet..if she does not and he loses..i will not vote for her in 2012..it was said she was trying to destroy obama..so he would lose and she can run in 2012..its looking like it was true..a vote for mccain is a vote for war with iran..enough of these wars..time to put the money into our own country..let israel fight their own battles.

[ainnj]

"The fact is, many of her 18 million supporters may not go for Obama. Wouldn't it be an amazing end scenario to an amazing political season if the working class supporters, especially women, of the Clinton so many Republicans love to hate help elect the GOP senator from Arizona that so many Republicans have their own doubts about?"

Yes, it would be an amazing end to this political season...and a truly magnificent renewal for this country!

McCain '08
Hillary 2012!

[mrathel]

I think the idea that their relationship is so secret is a bit of a stretch. I think that these two, with their lifetime of political experience, feel less of a need to demonize each other as Democrats and Republicans often do. But I don't see any reason to suggest that anything more than a shared respect for each other exists between the two senators, and one night of vodka shots doesn't prove a coalition against Obama.