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Richardson Offers Olive Branch to Clintons

Commerce gig seats him next to rival Clinton

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Dec 3, 2008 4:01 PM CST

(Newser) – Bill Richardson appeared to make a peace offering to the Clintons today in his speech accepting Barack Obama's nomination to be Commerce secretary, writes Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post. Richardson, whose relations with the power couple turned icy after he endorsed Obama in the primaries, objected to the term "team of rivals" in his speech because "rivals implies something harder edged and less forgiving."

Notes Cillizza: "The Clintons—particularly Bill Clinton—are well-known for their long political memories, and Richardson knows that fact better than most. His 'water under the bridge' pronouncement today is rightly seen as an olive branch offered to the Clintons as he prepares to serve alongside Hillary Clinton in Obama's Cabinet."

Richardson extended an olive branch to the Clintons during today's nomination announcement.
Richardson extended an olive branch to the Clintons during today's nomination announcement.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
The Clintons may still hold resentment against Richardson's early jump onto the Obama bandwagon.
The Clintons may still hold resentment against Richardson's early jump onto the Obama bandwagon.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Obama made his commerce secretary announcement two days after picking Hillary Clinton for secretary of state.
Obama made his commerce secretary announcement two days after picking Hillary Clinton for secretary of state.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Dec 3, 2008 9:30 PM CST
Lest you forget,this is the Obama administration,not the Clinton admin.
cornelison
Dec 3, 2008 8:36 PM CST
Message to the Clintons; You claim that you have good leadership skills. Establishing a tone of goodwill towards Gov. Richardson will give others an example of meaningful team work. If President-Elect Obama can "bring you into the fold" you can do it as well.

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