Closing Time
The one-time Democratic frontrunner: What does Hillary want?
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.
"I don't think we need any big media run productions, no processed questions from reporters, no spin rooms, just two Americans running for the highest office in the greatest nation on earth responding to the concerns of the people who's trust that we must earn," McCain told an audience in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ABC News' Bret Hovell reports.
McCain said the idea is modeled after a series of debates that would have been scheduled between President John F. Kennedy and Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater in 1964.
The Obama campaign called the idea "appealing" but suggested a different historical model – the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
"We would recommend a format that is less structured and lengthier than the McCain campaign suggests, one that more closely resembles the historic debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. But, having just secured our party's nomination, this is one of the many items we will be addressing in the coming days and look forward to discussing it with the McCain campaign," said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe."
Obama kicks off his first day of general election campaigning in Virginia, a purple-ish state that went for Bush in 2004 but is on the target list of states the Democrats hope to flip in the fall. The Illinois senator starts the day in Bristol, VA, tucked into the far southwestern corner of the state, just shy of the Tennessee border and in solid NASCAR territory. Obama finishes the day in the more-friendly Northern Virginia region with a large rally at Nissan Pavillion.
McCain hits another fall battleground and delivers remarks to reporters and editors in Florida.
The Kicker:
"You know, you could have just emailed this."
- 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.
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Kate Snow, Eloise Harper, Sunlen Miller and Jennifer Parker: Clinton Says Goodbye to Campaign Staff LINK
ABC News' Jennifer Parker: Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination LINK
ABC News' Kate Snow: Clinton Says Good Bye To Campaign Staffers LINK
ABC News' Emily Friedman: Loosing the White House: Depression Sets In LINK
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
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Roadblock Number One to the Clinton Veep Offer LINK
ABC News' Bret Hovel: The Debate Over The Debates LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton Won South Dakota? LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Jimmy Carter: Whole of Clinton + Obama Would Be Less Than Sum Of Its Two Parts LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Self-Hating Superdelegates and 'Unity in November' LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: BET Founder Johnson Signals Pal Clinton Wants Veep Slot LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Senate Debate Halted While Clerks Read 400-Page Bill Aloud LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain, Clinton and Race LINK
ABC News' Rick Klein and Sunlen Miller: Et Tu, Emanuel? Top Clintonite Backs Obama LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: McAuliffe Yesterday: If Obama Gets to 2,118, Clinton Will Congratulate Him LINK
ABC News' Kirit Radia: Rice Congratulates Obama, Quiets McCain Veepstakes Chatter LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton Vouches for Obama to Pro-Israel Lobby LINK
ABC News' Jonathan Karl: Obama's Evolving Position on Talking to Iran LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: John McCain's Bottom 10 Veep Picks LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama's Bottom 10 Veep Picks LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COMThe Victor and the Vanquished
This campaign is not over yet, there is a loose end that needs to be tied up. LINK
Obama Reaches Out to Jewish Voters
Obama speaks to AIPAC, acknowledges Clinton and reaches out to Jewish community. LINK
McCain Suggests Joint Appearances with Obama
McCain proposes one town hall meeting each week with Obama until conventions. LINK
Whoopi: Hillary's Speech P---ed Me Off!
What did Sen. Clinton say to get Whoopi Goldberg so angry? LINK
Obama's Evolving Take on Iran Meeting
Obama presents new stance on talking to Iran during speech to pro-Israel group. LINK
A Fun Look Back at the Primaries
A look at the highs and lows from the primaries. LINK
Kimmel: No More Primaries
What will Obama and Clinton do now that the primary season has ended? LINK
History in the Making
A look at Barack Obama's historical win. LINK
What's This Mean to You?
See what some American's think of Obama's nomination. LINK
Hillary's Passionate Journey
A look at what brought Hillary Clinton to this point in her life. LINK
Obama Takes the Nomination
Barack Obama wins but Clinton refuses to concede. LINK
The Bottom Line on the Nomination
George Stephanopoulos breaks down the final two primaries. LINK
What Will Obama Do?
Campaign strategist Linda Douglass talks about the Illinois senator's plans. LINK
James Carville on Clinton's Choices
The Democratic strategist gives his take on Hillary Clinton's options. LINK
McCain Starts Things Up
Sen. McCain calls Obama a formidable opponent but says he lacks experience. LINK
Obama Claims Democratic Nomination
Illinois senator thanks supporters and graciously praises Clinton's campaign. LINK
George on Obama's Big Night
Obama: "Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another." LINK
McCain Takes Aim at Obama
Will McCain's strategy against Obama be a winning one? LINK