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06 Jun 2008 10:31 am

Obama Handles Clinton

I have no idea what was said and would one day love to see a Mike Nichols recreation, but how canny for Obama to go to her house. The symbolism of deference, the crossing of her threshhold, makes for extremely good politics. And since she's the hostess, there are, even for a Clinton, some boundaries of manners. But having aired the idea as a way to bring the party together, I'm now entirely convinced by Clinton's behavior this past month and Obama's cool handling of the last few days that it would be a dreadful idea. He doesn't need her. And she could damage him. George Will explains why:

Surely she, the most polarizing Democrat, is not the only Democrat who can help Obama appeal to the voters who rejected him in Kentucky and West Virginia. And as his running mate, she would nullify his narrative. The candidate embracing the "future" should not glue himself to Washington circa 1993. Someone promising to "turn the page" should not revert to an earlier chapter. Someone whose mantra is "change" should not embrace her theme of restoration...

(Update: it appears Obama did not meet Clinton at her Washington home but merely allowed the press to believe he did.)

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