Closing Time

The one-time Democratic frontrunner: What does Hillary want?

ByABC News
June 4, 2008, 5:53 PM

June 4, 2008— -- In a basement gymnasium at Baruch College in New York City, the one-time Democratic frontrunner and seemingly inevitable nominee asked the question that everyone has been asking: What does Hillary want?

Hillary Clinton did not provide any answers last night and there are still questions today about her immediate future, but the curtains seem to be closing on her campaign.

ABC News' Kate Snow reports that Clinton met with staff at her campaign's headquarters in Arlington, VA this afternoon, just after most of them were told their last day of work was Friday.

Snow reports that Clinton spoke to staff, her core advisers and groups of superdelegates but has not told the staff when she will officially concede the race to Barack Obama. "She is listening. Nothing set," a senior Clinton adviser tells Snow.

Snow reports that Clinton invited all of her campaign staff to come to her Washington home on Friday and that junior staffers were emotional, some were crying. Campaign staff will be paid through June 15th, but their services will no longer be needed after this week, Snow reports.

The Boston Globe reports that at this hour, Clinton is holding a conference call with top supporters and they are expected to "hash out how and when to concede the race to Barack Obama and figure out a way to unify the Democratic Party for the fall."

The uncommitted superdelegates continued to trickle out for Obama today, though to far less fanfare than the ones who declared yesterday. Obama picked up the support of eight previously uncommitted Senators and Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a former White House adviser to President Clinton and friend of Obama.

The fat lady may still be warming up her vocal chords, but the end of the road must be near when one of Clinton's most loyal supporters on Capitol Hill is expressing frustration about where Clinton has left things in the race.

ABC News' Kate Snow reports that Rep. Charles Rangel said he thinks it is time for Clinton to publicly clarify what she is doing and allow her supporters to switch their allegiance to Barack Obama.

"Unless she has some good reasons-- which I can't think of-- I really think we ought to get on with endorsements (of Obama) and dealing with what we have to deal with… so we can move forward," Rangel said in an interview this afternoon. The New York congressman told Snow that since Clinton did not endorse Obama and did not concede the nomination, Rangel said members of the New York delegation were feeling torn about what to do.

"The NY congressional delegation encouraged her to run for President. So we feel some obligation to stay with her as long as we can" to give Clinton some time and space he said. "We just have to have a better answer as to why it helps her to victory… as to why we're not endorsing Obama when the only person left to endorse is Obama."

Rangel also dismissed the notion of putting pressure on Obama to pick Clinton as his running mate. "I think it's a dumb policy to do that – to be telling the person who won what he should be doing."

On to the general!

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain wasted little time in proposing a string of debates in town-hall style meetings across the country, taking place up until the Democratic convention at the end of August.

- Obama spokesman Bill Burton, on receiving the town hall meeting invitation from McCain's campaign via courier.

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- 11:45 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Bristol, VA.

-- 6:00 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Bristow, VA.

As for the Republicans. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 1:45 pm ET: Addresses the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and Florida Press Association Convention, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 10:20 am ET: Speaks at ceremonial groundbreaking of the U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, DC.

-- 11:35 am ET: Photo opportunity with the Houston Dynamo in the Rose Garden.

-- 1:15 pm ET: Meets with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands in the Oval Office.

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ABC News' James Gerber: Rendell Cools on Obama-Clinton Ticket LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain Proposes Joint Town Halls with Obama LINK

ABC News' Kate Snow: Rangel: Clinton Should Get On With It LINK

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