June 24, 2008
Posted: June 24th, 2008 04:30 PM ET

From

RIVERSIDE, California (CNN) - On the day Hillary Clinton returned to the Senate for the first time since abandoning her presidential bid, her Senate Republican colleague John McCain said Clinton will probably come back to her day job with greater political clout.

“I think, if I had to guess, that the fact that the she ran an honorable and incredibly long and dedicated campaign for the nomination of her party would indicate to me that she would probably return to the United States Senate with enhanced prestige and enhanced influence,” McCain told reporters at a press conference here.

He also praised Clinton for her work on military matters since joining the legislative body in 2001.

“I think that Senator Clinton has already attained a position of leadership in the United States Senate,” he said. “She works hard at her job. She is a very important member of the Armed Services Committee and I have worked together wither her on a variety of national security issues.”

Filed under: Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain


carrie obama   June 24th, 2008 9:30 pm ET

@ darth vadik
im def singing along
dream on,dream on,dream on
Obama for ever

carrie obama   June 24th, 2008 9:29 pm ET

shut up mcsame
i had alot of respect for you,
but u have lost it

A unknow black man from Canada help blogged 4 Obama since primary.   June 24th, 2008 9:10 pm ET

Yes we can use his name now in a possitive way from both party.

One person have to win, Obama name which affiliate with 3 senate and house rep helped them win their election.

I am proud that everyone is agreeing to affiliate with Obama cuz he is a good man. God be the glory.

God Bless America and one day I will be recognised with status.

Amen.

Jerry from Oregon   June 24th, 2008 9:05 pm ET

honorable fight? is McCain high? i would not call her 3AM ad an 'honorable' tactic when it says your party's opponent is more qualified that your opponent from your own party who could well be the eventual nominee.

But she did, eventually, bow out gracefully and promised to campaign vigorously for the Senator from Illinois. This action will give her a higher standing in the Senate as fellow Democrats acknowledge that she lost a hard campaign, but she sucked it up and worked for a democratic victory.

Bishop   June 24th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

I've come to realize that Obama supporters are much smarter sounding on these post, hmmmm......

Independent Voter   June 24th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

Here is a change I can believe in: that the DNC is not run by a bunch of entitled male insiders who are scared to death of a strong highly intelligent woman. Women are supposed to be home sorting their socks, I guess.

I won't vote Democrat because I don't want to see a continuation of Howard Dean and the pre-selected look-how-liberal-we-are-selecting-a-black-man nonsense. Who cares if he knows anything? It's all about us, not him.

Women in power positions are all afraid to be linked with the idea that they have overcome sexism. "Oh, sexism? I hardly noticed." SURE.
Pelosi is the biggest hypocrite of them all. Now there's a person who's in it for herself alone.

Obama will come and go, but the DNC is forever. I refuse to reward these self serving creeps. John McCain recognizes Hillary's contribution to the Senate, and that's light years beyond any Democrat male is capable of. Thank you, John McCain, for being the Real Thing and not being afraid that if you say something complimentary about Clinton you will somehow weaken your own position. A man with real self confidence is not afraid to acknowledge the contribution of others even if they're women and even if they're of the opposite party. Finally – a grown-up.

Brian in Syracuse NY   June 24th, 2008 8:59 pm ET

That's funny, just four months ago the Republicans were all dissing Hillary and piling on her. 18 million votes later, and the Right has changed its mind.

Bishop   June 24th, 2008 8:58 pm ET

What a kiss-up!!!!

Comedy Central   June 24th, 2008 8:56 pm ET

Many officials in Congress on both sides have commented over the years how hard Hillary has worked at her job. I have never heard anyone of them comment on how hard Obama has worked at his Senate position.

rachel   June 24th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

Its funny how obama supporters can say in the same sentence how much hillary and barack are the same on important issues and then bash her. Just stop everybody knows what mccain is doing but obama supporters are making it no better.

Hate to break it to you   June 24th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

Although tha's gracious of McCain to say that about Hillary, but however she needs to state he is wrong for America. True, I'll give him some credit for reaching across the table on issues, afterall, that's what we need to get things done, but still he can't do the job for what America needs right now. I say if we were a waring country fighting all the time yes, but we want peace at this time and we don't need his tactics in causing more problems for America.

lampe   June 24th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

Allyou bambi supporters make me sick. Oh she picked on bambi,she said mean things about him. For your information this was a political race not a love match. All of you keep talking trash about Sen. Clinton,you are really just pushing us right into Sen. McCains lap. At least he has some respect for Sen. Clinton. As far as Bambi supporters saying you vote for him, now and we will vote for Sen. Clinton in 2012or2116 I would not take your word on a stack of bibles,and if people are dumb enough to put their safety in the hands of a man who can not decide what change really is, we may not have to worry who will be running in 4or8 years we may a hole on the face of this earth with bambi in charge. HRC supporter now a McCain supporter.

Ron   June 24th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

Thomas

7 of 10 comments are sour grapes. Simple grudges their canidate did not win. No consideration to what the nation needs to get back on its feet. I hope that you do not have any sons for McCain to send to war

Dem for McCain   June 24th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

McCain has always been complementary of Hillary. They have an interesting and unique friendship.

McCain '08

Florida Voter   June 24th, 2008 8:43 pm ET

No, No, No this Florida Voter (Hillary Clinton supporter will never vote for Obama.

Ron   June 24th, 2008 8:39 pm ET

How would he know jet setting with his wife and her company jet

Toot   June 24th, 2008 8:34 pm ET

Senator McCain recognizes a true leader and lady when he see one. It is a shame that the other Senator only throw people under the bus.
Thank you Senator McCain!!

Tommy Hussein in St. Louis   June 24th, 2008 8:10 pm ET

Well, for all of you who are jumping on McCain's case, he was probably just answering somebody's question. What he says sounds logical, and if it really does turn out that way, then good for her.

Donna   June 24th, 2008 8:05 pm ET

I guess it took him a while to see what a great job she did...oh yeah, he NEEDS HER SUPPORTERS to help him win since REPUBLICANS aren't too thrilled with him being the nominee!!

Brian   June 24th, 2008 8:02 pm ET

"Yes I am for Hillary now and forever, but I am afraid the DNC is making me vote for John McCain. Go there now and register."

Way to make Hillary's job harder, her work would have to clear a presidential veto. Why can't you be honest and admit your selfish?

S. Shay   June 24th, 2008 7:58 pm ET

You know it's a sad day for the Repugs when there nominee has to resort to pandering to the supporters of a candidate he once called evil and said her daughter was ugly. And to top it all off he has NO policies that should appeal to people who once supporter Hillary.

That's like Barack pandering to Mike Huckabee's supporters.

This is borderline psychotic.

Perusing-through   June 24th, 2008 7:54 pm ET

"…more clout in the Senate…" . . . . . now that is understatement.

unions are not stupid   June 24th, 2008 7:53 pm ET

Hey listen Democrats! Mc Cain is a tool! we had a GE already and Obama won this thing here is just icing for the cake the GOP is not thinking about November. They are thinking about 2012 when Jebb Bush will be the nominee against Obama. They are getting rid of Mc Cain once and for all right now they know there is no way he can win and they are making sure of it! If they don't do this we are seeing the end of the GOP as a whole there Ideas are 40 years out of date they have no way to be able to recruit new member because today we have Google and u tube and the information super highway has cut the effectiveness of there propaganda nonsense.

J.C.   June 24th, 2008 7:42 pm ET

It sounds like McCain might consider her for his VP. Interesting!

But at least one candidate of each ticket should know some economics. McCain said he doesn't. Hillary said she doesn't believe in economists and she ran Titanic finance for her campaign. She did not ask us before she lent her own campaign millions. Now she asks us to help her pay for it. We take out a loan. We have to pay for it. Where is Hillary's personal responsibility? I am not going to trust my taxes in her hand.

McCain/Hillary will be a nightmare ticket.

Daniel Wagle   June 24th, 2008 7:34 pm ET

I don't think all the "lies" that Hillary supposedly told actually hurt Obama in the least. Both Obama and Hillary misspoke on many occasions, which they are liable to do when they speak all the time- even Obama cut her slack on this. Just think if she had dropped out in February. Obama would not have campaigned nearly as much all over the country, which would not have gotten to know him nearly as well. All the campaigning that he did in Pennsylvania, for instance, according to polls will actually help him in the fall. Going through the primaries showed him where he was weak, such as with blue collar workers, and where he was strong, such as white collar workers. Much of her "mudslinging" was really meant to help him prepare for the inevitable Republican attacks. For instance, questioning his national security credentials and readiness prepares him for when the Republicans question him on this- he could prepare by surrounding himself with experience and persons with these credentials. I think he has been thoroughly vetted by the long, hard process and he will be stronger for it. There was enormous sexism expressed by the media, but I do believe it actually may have helped her, because it tended to galvanize female voters- just as racism galvanized black voters for Obama, such as in the special congressional races. I even know a black woman who complained about how the media treated as a dog because she was female.

dan   June 24th, 2008 7:28 pm ET

maybe the junior senator can get some experience so next time if she decides to run she wont run her campaign into the ground.

Glad this unqualified junior senator wont be near the oval office.

58 old white ladies for OBAMA   June 24th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

YEA BUD, SHE WILL MAKE YOUR SHORT STAY

THERE A LIVING NOTHING.

annie   June 24th, 2008 7:23 pm ET

To Roger from CA – None of Hillary supporters are stupid enough to believe anything good about obama. To Heather the only mudslinger is obama.

annie   June 24th, 2008 7:19 pm ET

McCain should have Hillary as his VP

Tyrone   June 24th, 2008 7:15 pm ET

A Nightingale Sings In Berkley Square

So sorry to tell you, but we know that YOU ARE NOT A HILLARY SUPPORTER!

YOUR COMMENT "SHE BEAT OBAMA EVERY WHICH WAY"!

Please Nightingale, I hope that you sing better than you think!
Which school did you go to? Hillary lost in sooooooooo many ways, that no logical thinking person would make the comment you did!

A.J. Edge   June 24th, 2008 7:13 pm ET

I wish HRC would not campaign for Obama until she becomes the VP on the ticket.

Ambrose Smith, Borrego Springs, California   June 24th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

Wonder how McCain would behave if Clinton was the nominee? He kniows he needs to keep his trap shut if he wants those Hillary votes. Don't want to hurt their feelings.

Sorry Mac. Ain't gonna happen. You may get a few here and there from the fringe, but most women think you are kind of a jerk.

BROOKLYN   June 24th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

She should have been the President.

BIGGEST MISTAKE WE HAVE EVER MADE...

Now we are in for four years of speeches diverting us from ALL of the mistakes...

BIG MISTAKE.

American Patriot   June 24th, 2008 7:06 pm ET

No she wont

Hillary is a Builderberg Group Member and that is a Felony under the Logan actand CNN will not report on it and probably will not post this.

The people like myself are becomming very aware of the illegal activity these candidates are involved in, it is the ERA of Corruption we are now in.

No matter who wins, we all lose.

Ron Paul was the only person that made sense and the Media was instructed to shut him down.

There is no Democracy left in this country, it is a POLICE state.

People are moving out of the U.S. at a higher rate than any time in history.

That should tell you all something.

boered1   June 24th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

I cannot wait until she has shut up and gone back into suckling off the taxpayers teat in NY and the rest of us do not have to hear about her again. Hey Cl8inton News Network I know oyu cannot hardly stand to report real news when you can talk up the clintons like theywere important but how about coming out and telling everyone the truths you kept hidden during your failed attempt to get hillary the liar on the ballot? How about Peter Paul? How about the money taken by the Clintons for CAFTA, or the money laundered.. errr paid to Bill from russia.. come one if you are still going to cover the clintons how about doing it truthfully for a change and show everyone what those who have bothered to look beyond the vagina have seen the liar hillary was always unfit to be president..
but than i do not suppose CNN will post this the never do

Texas Trail Dog   June 24th, 2008 6:58 pm ET

SHE NEEDS TO STAY RIGHT THERE IF SHE DESIRES TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AGAIN. BUT THEN AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OBAMA. NO DEMOCRAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE OFFICE EVER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TWO DECADES UNTIL THE PEOPLE CAN FORGET WHAT OBAMA WILL DO IN HIS FOUR YEARS. SO EITHER WAY SHE WILL COME UP A LOSER. BUT, ONE THING IS FOR SURE HILLARY AND BILL DO NOT HELP THIS MAN. DON'T LISTEN TO PELOSI SHE IS A SERPENT WHO SPEAKS WITH A FORKED TONGUE. HILLARY DO YOU NOT REMEMBER WHAT SHE WAS DOING DURING YOUR PRIMARY RUN. TRYING TO MAKE YOU QUIT FOR MONTHS. SHE IS NO VICTIM OF SEXISM. IF SHE WAS NO ONE WOULD PUT HER DO NOTHING TAIL AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. THERE IS ENOUGH OF US PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA OR THE ONES WHO HELP HIM.

Glenn   June 24th, 2008 6:49 pm ET

McSuck-Up pandering again. Only it isn't working. Voters are clearly showing their preference for Obama. The more the McShame campaign, so-called Christian evangelist Dobson, and the GOP attack Obama the greater the lead for Obama. If McBush was smart, which he obviously isn't, he would learned when the Clinton campaign smeared Obama the most he began to pull away and never looked back. Poor McDumb!

Monica for Obama in Indiana   June 24th, 2008 6:48 pm ET

NO more about Hillary. She is a done deal. I don't trust her, Bill or McCain. America, we need to become praying people.
Something ain't right here.

Go get Um, Obama 'God and your supporters are on your side'

Brandon Hillary Democrat for Mc Cain   June 24th, 2008 6:47 pm ET

Hillary and John are friends behind the scenes....thats enough for me to judge his character not lets see resumes Obama vs Mc Cain experience... hmmm

We love you Hillary
Give em Hill on the Hill !!

INDEPENDENT FOR Obama   June 24th, 2008 6:47 pm ET

CHICANO ART, ARIZONA ................I T hink McCain should ask Hillary to be his VP. She would not accept but it would be a signal for Hillary people to continue their rebellion against Obama and the emerging democratic leadership.........HE would not ASK her ............MAYBE he should ask you such a smart GUY ...........HRC would not accept or think about it .........SHE is a TRUE DEM

Joe - Chicago, IL   June 24th, 2008 6:46 pm ET

McCain, I sure hope your base understands you're not giving honest praise. Nothing spins up conservatives more than the mention of the Clintons. I think you should offer her a VP spot and Obama can ticket up with Huckabee and we can leave all the voters completely confused on what ticket stands for what. I mean why bother campaigning on the issues, since the signature issue of both parties is getting elected.

Nova from NV   June 24th, 2008 6:45 pm ET

Thank you John McCain for your kind words. You will have many of the Clinton supporters' votes since the DNC don't think they mattered.

Carol, San Luis Obispo, CA   June 24th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

She would have kicked his sorry campaign all over the map. By the time HRC finished debating him, he would need someone to administer oxygen.

Debby   June 24th, 2008 6:41 pm ET

Nice of McCain to commend his rival. I don't think Hillary will be an attack machine against McCain.

CAN"T BE FOOLED!!!!!   June 24th, 2008 6:39 pm ET

JOHN McCAIN...........think, if I had to guess, that the fact that the she ran an honorable and incredibly long and dedicated campaign for the nomination of her party would indicate to me that she would probably return to the United States Senate with enhanced prestige and enhanced influence,”McLIAR THIS is what YOU Call PANDERING FOR HER supporters............NO WAY !!!! ..........I need some BOOTS

NO McBush

Ardnuas   June 24th, 2008 6:38 pm ET

Don't believe ANYTHING McCain says..... he voted with Bush 95% of the time... He will say and do anything to win ( ANYTHING)
Obama/Biden08

malabar   June 24th, 2008 6:36 pm ET

Hillary changed the world. Obama changed the world. Spouting hateful juvenile comments about either one of them is sad and pathetic.
I don't think the average person could handle the pressure these politicians face.
Thank you to all those Hillary haters for making her even more legendary with all the attention given her!!!

Haloalani   June 24th, 2008 6:36 pm ET

The bushmen should send McCain a fruitcake for advocating a Democrat.

OH Please   June 24th, 2008 6:29 pm ET

Dear Mr McCain so will you when you head back to the senate in November >>.God Bless your Senate Votes

William, from Cali!   June 24th, 2008 6:29 pm ET

What!............... is he that desperate........... for that, "Bitter people; gun clingers, Obama hating" vote? Who is he kidding?......... She should be, his VP!

Vivienne   June 24th, 2008 6:28 pm ET

I wonder if HRC is going to attack John McCain the way she attacked Barack Obama. This is going to get interesting. If she doesn't attack her "good friend" and talk about him like a dog because of the lame policies he is putting forth I won't know what to think. There isn't much of a difference between her own policies and Baracks policies. Yes, this will be interesting.

Mike Maddox   June 24th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

The desperation that I'm seeing from this man is almost disturbing...

UMMUKHULTHUM   June 24th, 2008 6:25 pm ET

with all the lies she said?

Ula Nejad- Sacramento Ca   June 24th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Hillary will be prepared second time around. She will be the next "Iron woman of America". The Senate will give her the final touches.

FactCheck   June 24th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

The GOP is in such sad shape when their presumptive candidate can't even take the spotlight away from the DNC's runner up. Please McCain, drop out and let someone with a clue run this thing. Paging Mr. Huckabee... please pick up.

Roger from CA   June 24th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

Hillary: If you are sincere in wanting Obama to win, you need publicly (and convincingly) to make a statement thanking Sen. McCain politely for all the nice things he says about you, BUT making it clear that you fervently believe the Sen. Obama would be the best choice for our country's President, you bear NO ILL WILL towards Obama, and that all of your supporters from the primaries should understand that ONLY a President Obama would protect the rights and fight for the goals that you and they hold dear.

You have to stop McCain from continuing to play his insidious game of kissing up to and bamboozling your disappointed supporters.

CHICANO ART, ARIZONA   June 24th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

I think McCain should ask Hillary to be his VP. She would not accept but it would be a signal for Hillary people to continue their rebellion against Obama and the emerging democratic leadership.

David W   June 24th, 2008 6:21 pm ET

McCain: SluuuuuuurPah! – Straws empty

diziz31   June 24th, 2008 6:19 pm ET

Better there, than on the corner (facebook, YouTube) begging for money for a lost Presidential campaign. Hillary, can now obtain it (money) from special interests. What a great scheme oops plan. Clap, Clap, point

Drew, Central FL   June 24th, 2008 6:17 pm ET

"And I come back with an even greater depth of awareness about what we have to do here in Washington," she said. "So many of the concerns that people have expressed to me over the course of this campaign are ones that they can't individually solve. They can't even really take it on just at the state or local level."

"Anyone who voted for me has very little in common with the Republican Party," she said.

Thursday night, Obama and Clinton are set to meet with key donors in Washington. The next day, the two will appear jointly in Unity, New Hampshire — a small town on that state's western border where the two candidates tied in the January primary.

"This is going to be a symbolic event that I hope will rally the Democratic Party behind the nominee," she said.

Democrats '08

R.I.F.   June 24th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

And if Obama was back in the senate and Clinton was still in the race he would be praising Obama and applauding the efforts he made to advance race in America to pander to his voters and would be bashing Clinton.

McPander '08

Enlightened Voter   June 24th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

Mcwar, stop trying to pander for her voters. Her campaign was anything but honorable. She lied continuously, squandered her voters money and was too negative. But then I guess in your case it takes one to know one.

big ed   June 24th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

All McCain and his supporters did was to prove to me beyond any doubt whatsoever that McCain and the Republicans have nothing good to offer this country. They have no solutions to any of the real problems facing us on a daily basis. All they have are what I'd call psychotic urges to bomb entire populations out of existence.

obama for 2008 obama for 2012
Hillary 2016 hillary for 2020

Travis   June 24th, 2008 6:15 pm ET

This will be a first......she's done nothing for the Empire State so far. Why would she start now.

The only work she'll do is sit there on the internet looking to see how many fools have given her money to pay off her debt.

The Clinton legacy will be summed up in one word "IDIOTS"

independent   June 24th, 2008 6:14 pm ET

good,let her be your vp,and we can vote you all out ,together!

Thomas   June 24th, 2008 6:12 pm ET

7 of the 10 tickers right now are about Clinton....

Desiree   June 24th, 2008 6:12 pm ET

There's a whole lot of sucking up going on here.

yns   June 24th, 2008 6:07 pm ET

NOW... you want to commend her! She has been great all along! You were just too blind to see it!

Heather   June 24th, 2008 6:04 pm ET

With all the mudslinging she did, only someone like McCain could call hers an "honorable" campaign.

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square   June 24th, 2008 6:04 pm ET

Hillary proved she was a fighter. A real alpha person not a beta glove wearing sand bagger.

Hillary was the real deal. She won the mid west and the east coast. She beat Obama every which way.

The only way Obama won was my minority rules that permitted the DNC to hand pick a male over our female candidate. i pledged my support for Hillary and backed it up with cold cash.

Yes I am for Hillary now and forever, but I am afraid the DNC is making me vote for John McCain. Go there now and register.

Darth Vadik, CA   June 24th, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Hillary will come to Obama,
We love the Clintons,
And I understand that her followers are hurt,
but they are coming to Obama,

McCain?
yeah right, the crypt keeper.
Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on, (yes Aerosmith song, sing it with me)

TRUTH   June 24th, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Buttering up the other side McCain, just so you can get her voters? Her voters need to read up on your voting record regarding women's rights.

No Comment from True Democrats   June 24th, 2008 6:00 pm ET

No comment!!

Comments have been closed for this article

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