Obama, Clinton Camps Spar on Records

Clinton was still in contention in June: new memoir

(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. More»

Now Dowd wants to play him at Scrabble

(NEWSER) - Turns out Tom Friedman played golf with President Obama last month—and fellow New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd isn't ashamed to admit she felt "a twinge of envy." Dowd's happy that Obama finally invited a woman to join him on the links this weekend, after catching heat over all-male basketball games and the "frat-house atmosphere" of White House meetings. Caught up in the spectacle of our first black president, "it took quite a while for anyone to accuse Obama of being exclusionary." More»

Secretary of state puts Iran, N. Korea on notice

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton made her first Sunday show appearance as secretary of state today, vowing “there would be retaliation” against Iran if it attacked Israel, and that Washington might return North Korea to its state terror list. Clinton, speaking on This Week a year to the day after she ceded the Democratic primary to her current boss, said she's “honored” to serve former rival Barack Obama, who she now says is “absolutely” able to handle a 3am call. More»

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton will accept Barack Obama's offer to become secretary of state, the Guardian reports. The president-elect's team does not anticipate problems arising from an ongoing examination of the records of Bill Clinton's foundation, clearing the way for Obama's fiercest primary rival to embody his stated ambition to assemble a bipartisan administration. More»

What's the etiquette for a mixed-gender ticket?

(NEWSER) - In 1984, Walter Mondale had a strict "hands-off" policy with running mate Geraldine Ferraro, never even putting his palm on her back when they waved to crowds. Two decades later, times have changed: John McCain and Sarah Palin have been embracing on the campaign trail, forgoing handshakes for a series of somewhat stiff hugs. But etiquette for female politicians remains delicate, reports the New York Times. More»