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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 CAMPAIGN MEMOIR 
22

Bill Sank Hillary's VP Chances: Plouffe

Clinton was still in contention in June: new memoir

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(Newser) – The Obama campaign seriously considered Hillary Clinton for vice president, but ultimately the perception that her husband was "too big a complication" combined with bad memories from the primary campaign to sink her chances. Barack Obama “said if his central criterion measured who could be the best VP, she had to be included in that list," writes campaign manager David Plouffe in a new memoir, The Audacity to Win.

Clinton was on a list of six possible running mates as late as June 2008, Plouffe writes. Still, then-candidate Obama told him, “I think Bill may be too big a complication. If I picked her, my concern is that there would be more than two of us in the relationship.” Plouffe kept his mouth shut but was befuddled. “My view is that any serious consideration was somewhat surprising given all the complications and the toxicity during the primary campaign.”

David Plouffe, campaign manager for Barack Obama.
David Plouffe, campaign manager for Barack Obama.   (AP Photo)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., at a campaign event in Unity, N.H., in June 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., at a campaign event in Unity, N.H., in June 2008.   (AP Photo)
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We had initially received a lot of advice from many of her supporters to pick her, though this "advice" was perhaps more accurately described as subtle pressure. Their fervor was abating a bit every day, though.
- David Plouffe

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22 comments
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DeniseVB
Oct 29, 09 12:47 PM CDT
Just when I thought the Dem primary war was behind us....why a book like this, now? Reply
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+6
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Cprizzle
Oct 29, 09 1:05 PM CDT
I agree. It doesn't seem to serve a purpose other than to be destructive.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
tomodachi
Oct 29, 09 1:33 PM CDT
Why? Capitalism can be a very ugly thing... too often it only cares about how much... and doesn't really care about why now.
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Netstorm2k9
Oct 29, 09 2:39 PM CDT
@ tomadachi- you're describing greed. Capitalism isn't greed. Capitalism works when the practitioners exercise restraint. Unfortunately modern society is not about restraint.
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0
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ultramarine13
Oct 29, 09 3:01 PM CDT
Who doesn't go for a book deal like this?
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+1
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