Obama briefly forgets to urge help for Clinton
It was all part of a careful arrangement: Democrat Barack Obama would get fundraising help from his erstwhile rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in exchange for his help retiring about $10 million of her campaign debt.
But Obama momentarily forgot his part of the deal at a major New York fundraiser Wednesday night, forcing him to retake the stage after he had concluded the event and said goodnight to the audience.
The Illinois senator spoke to about 1,000 donors in a Manhattan ballroom, all of whom had paid at least $1,000 to attend. Many were Clinton supporters until she dropped out of the race last month.
Obama praised the former first lady as tough and smart. “She wore me out,” he said to laughs.
The Democratic nominee-in-waiting then wrapped up his speech and thanked the audience, moving to shake hands along a rope line.
After a minute or so, the music was cut short and Obama returned to the stage.
“This is not the speech part, but it is important,” he said sheepishly, urging the group to reassemble.
“Senator Clinton still has some debt, and I could have had some debt if I hadn’t won. So I know the drill,” Obama said, encouraging donors to use the forms under their seats to make a contribution to help her.
“It’s very important to us, and obviously Senator Clinton will be grateful as well,” Obama said.
AP
7/10/8
Magnolia Tribune
