WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama talked by phone Monday morning, representatives of both sides said, as the Democrats sought to quash rumors that Clinton holds a grudge against the man who knocked his wife out of contention for the party's presidential nomination.
Obama called Clinton and they spoke for about 20 minutes Monday morning, the Obama campaign told CNN.
Clinton wants to campaign "with and for" Obama after the hard-fought primary campaign between Obama and Hillary Clinton, Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said. Clinton "renewed his offer to do whatever he can to ensure Sen. Obama is our next president."
Watch: Obama, Clintons: Hard feelings?
Obama "had a terrific conversation with President Clinton and is honored to have his support in this campaign," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said.
The chairman of Sen. Hillary Clinton's unsuccessful presidential bid, Terry McAuliffe, said Sunday the former president was angered by media reports suggesting he did not plan to actively support Obama in the general election.
"He was angry that these ridiculous stories were out here, and these supposed close friends of the president - none of the close friends ever got called," McAuliffe said, referring to anonymous sources quoted in some stories. "What happens, a lot of time, is people like to pretend they're close so they can tell the reporters that they're close, but, you know, they're just talking."
McAuliffe said he spoke to Bill Clinton on Sunday morning. The former president recently returned from a trip to Europe.
Obama and Hillary Clinton appeared together Friday in Unity, New Hampshire, where the former first lady said of her ex-rival, "we may have started on different paths ... (but) today our hearts are set on the same destination for America ... to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States."
The two had met the night before at a gathering of Clinton's biggest political donors, at which Clinton delivered the maximum legal donations to Obama's campaign from herself and her husband and Obama and his wife, Michelle, donated the maximum to Clinton's campaign - which remains mired in debt.
But some analysts read bitterness into the fact that Bill Clinton did not appear at either event and had made no personal comments supporting Obama since his wife conceded the nomination. Instead, the former president released a statement through a spokesman saying he "is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do" for Obama.
McAuliffe said Bill Clinton merely was waiting in order to avoid taking the public's focus off of Obama and Hillary Clinton's joint appearances.
"Any time that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama speak, it's going to be big news," McAuliffe said. "They wanted this out of the way first. Now that that's over, they will speak. And I'll bet you they speak within the next 24 hours, 48 at the most."
He also joked at rumors that the ex-president remains angry at Obama from the Democratic campaign.
"This man doesn't stay mad," he said. "He can get mad for 24 hours. It's his Irish ancestry."
From CNN Politics
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I hope Obama told him to Suck it up & get onboard, or there won't be a position for Bill.
Who cares about Bill!!! He's a moron!!!
Is time to start getting serious before I get serious...
Candy we need more info! This is like the political teaser not the political ticker!
Thats what I'm talking about!
The beginning of more good things to come!!
Surely this is our time.
With democrats rapidly uniting together, November looks better.
Go Obama.
got to be the shortest CNN story in History...
For the sake of your legacy, Bill, come out and help him win. If you can help pull this off, history will remember you not just as a wonderful president, but also as a patriot who put his personal feelings aside for the sake of the country. Help us win and help us stop the war, poverty and injustice. We love you , Mr. President.
Bill, dont waste your time with Obama!
Bill, come out and help him win. If you can help pull this off, history will remember you not just as a wonderful president, but also as a patriot who put his personal feelings aside for the sake of the country. Help us win and help us stop the war, poverty and injustice. We love you , Mr. President.
In order to get elected, Barack Obama has to embrace Bill Clinton, unlike Al Gore, who lost because he distanced himself from Clinton.
That's nice. Now let's win this election!!!!!!!
thats awesome, this drama was getting old...
OK
And so......?
What could BO possibly say?
"Sorry I degraded your wife, and attempted to tarnish your legacy"
NOT GOOD ENOUGH BO
Care to share?
What is all the hoppla about Bill Clinton and Barak Obama at odds ? - If they are, it really is not more important than Barak Obama's relationship and support from Al Gore. That is the person Barak needs the most at this point in the game, because the economy is going to drive this election cycle like a Mac truck.
mr bill is finally coming around..........
marching towards unity
obama/clinton 08
Bill has finally beaten out his wife for the VP spot.
He's been trying all along.
now the media can move on and start taking about what the americans people care about like health care, bringnig the war to an end etc
It should be clear to President Clinton; Mr. Obama is in the drivers' seat and should not give in to Mr. Clintons' whims...support from all high-end democrats are needed at this critical time in order to achieve victory for the democrats in the Fall...any deal making, if any should be judged on its own merit.
One great President to the next great President.
Dumb. Who cares? The media, that's who. This race has already been decided – Obama will be the next President. The media wants to keep viewers and readers glued to its stories through the summer and fall, though, so we're led to believe this race is close. Hardly. People want change, and they won't get it with McCain.
Who cares.....neither one knows the meaning of Patriotism, integrity or honesty. Wake America
Bill Clinton is a puma !!!
Nobama.