Dem Primaries: A Referendum on Clintonism

Clinton camp's back-handed Obama-bashing, second-guessing mark jittery DNC

(NEWSER) - A former John McCain strategist described the odd mood in Denver perfectly, Maureen Dowd writes in the New York Times: “Submerged hate.” That would explain the uneasy proceedings, which have been marked more by Clintonian drama than anything else. At a recent new conference, Dowd observes, “Hillary looked as if she were straining at the bit to announce her 2012 exploratory committee.” More»

Issues remain over Hill's campaign debt, role at convention

(NEWSER) - A little more than a month after the joint rally in Unity, NH, the Obama-Clinton relationship is still chilly, writes Howard Fineman, who faults both sides for letting their continuing squabble turn what should be a slam-dunk election year for the Democrats into a squeaker. For someone who’s running partly on the claim that his knack for diplomacy will heal the world, Obama has done surprisingly little to reach out to his former rivals. More»

Obama needs her, and besides, he doesn't really have a choice, Politico says

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama would be wise to put Hillary Clinton on his ticket, write John F. Martin and Jonathan Harris in Politico. Here's why:

• Obama has no choice. He needs Clinton’s Catholic and blue-collar supporters, and he’ll be pressured to include her for the party’s sake.
• He may dislike Clinton, but that’s irrelevant. Picking her will show he really can overcome divisions and be a true uniter.

Divisive changing of guard looms if Clintons lose grip on party

(NEWSER) - With Barack Obama headed toward the Democratic nomination, the Clintons' long reign over the party looks likely to end, the New York Times reports. That could lead to a bold new era—or a divided party that Obama can’t reconcile. “It’s going to create an upheaval,” said one Democratic organizer. “The Clintons and their allies have been running the show for 16 years.” More»

'Philanthropic dynamo' took '05 donation from shady Internet firm

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton's strong public stance against the crackdown in Tibet flies in the face of her husband's past fundraising ties in China, reports the LA Times. At the crux is a 2005 speech the former president gave for which he received an undisclosed donation to his charitable foundation—from Internet giant Alibaba. More»