(CNN) - A source close to Hillary Clinton insists the former presidential contender never pushed Barack Obama’s campaign to allow her supporters to place her name into nomination at the Democratic convention, and approached his team only when her camp grew “worried” over news that rising resentment among her most loyal supporters might lead to chaos in Denver.
The source describes negotiations between the Clinton and Obama campaigns as “collaborative and friendly” since she suspended her presidential run. But the source said recent talks had been focused on the logistics of campaigning for Obama.
“When [the primary campaign] was over, we sat back and waited to see what would happen,” says the Clinton adviser. “But the voices grew louder about what could come down at the convention, all those kinds of realities started to take place, the reality of what outside groups had in mind, the rumblings.
“More and more groups started to pop up. So we said ‘We are worried we are not going to be able to control it, that it might ruin the convention. What should we do about it?’”
The Obama campaign responded that Clinton’s name should be placed into nomination, says the aide. The source says that Clinton’s own suggestion at a recent fundraiser that putting her name in nomination might be “cathartic” for her supporters was merely a hypothetical response to a question.
The explanation comes amidst some complaints within the party that the Clinton camp has been out of line in its “demands.” Clinton’s supporters have also come under increasing criticism – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told one interviewer this week that the loyalists had been “less than gracious.”
Clinton herself is sending a letter to her superdelegates Thursday relating the decision, and the importance of unifying behind Obama while at the same time honoring everyone who participated.
The Clinton adviser said Clinton will cast her vote for Obama at the convention, and urge her supporters to do the same. Asked how Clinton, a superdelegate, would record her vote for Obama, the adviser said the actual details had yet to be worked out. It is also not clear whether the vote on Clinton’s nomination will be a voice vote or an electronic one, an option that has been raised in discussions.
From CNN Politics
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Clinton and her supporters are a disgrace to the Democratic Party.
Not that it matters anymore, but I dont believe much of what comes out of her mouth since Bosnia.
We are doing this in order to find out exactly how many stupid people there are going to be at the Democratic National Convention.
she never openly pushed for the compromise, your not guilty unless you get caught,
It's real simple Hillary. All you have to do is politely decline having your name up for the nomination and endorse Obama. This is Hillary backtracking to make herself seem less selfish. Unless she politely declines, then there is nothing she can possibly say that can justify the statement her "adviser" just released.
Hillary Supporter for Obama.
Time to Unite Baby.... Unite against McSame
OBAMA '08
If she meant all she said about supporting Barack, she should do it with honesty. so that America and the world see her as a credible and sincere person. This is the only way The Clintons will have their respect back......The world is waiting to see her in her true colour.
I am sure the Obamabots with still find a way to blame this on Hillary.
If these supporters were so 'loyal,' they would honor her wishes and support the Democratic nominee. Instead, they're just Republicans and attention hounds facilitated by worthless media outlets like CNN.
I'm an Obama supporter. When I heard news of this, it made me happy. This is an honorable move for both the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
Thanks DNC this is the best present Hillary's supporters could have ever received!!!!
Come on, give me a break. Hillary wanted this, and even if she didn't ask for it personally, she had her surrogates do it for her so it wouldn't make her look bad. Bill probably had a sizable hand in it, too.
And if anyone believes THIS, I'm sure they'd also be interested in some great corner lots in the Everglades.....
BARACK ON!
All I have to say is I want a 1932 repeat ! If you don't know what I'm talking about do a little Election Year Research
"We are worried we are not going to be able to control it"
So now the Democrats want to control the votes rather than give voice to the people?
yeah, right...Senator Clinton is "plum surprised" that her supporters are so insistent. Could that be because she has not "campaigned her heart out" for Senator Obama? I don't buy it. I think she is lovin' it.
Hillary Clinton should be the presidential nominee. If not, she should be Obama's running mate as v.p. If you want a Democrat for president, include Hillary. Obama can not win without her.
This is outrageous. The Clinton campaign should be very ashamed and
Hillary Clinton will surely not win any points for this one. She is behind this farce all the way.
If she really wants to unify the party behind Sen. Obama then I think she should formally end her campaign not just suspend it. Then no one can ask to have her name in the hat at the caonvention.
I'm not at all surprised she didn't push for a roll call at the convention. If she wanted that she wouldn't have suspended her campaign. She desperately wanted to be president but she will not allow her ego to take down the Democratic party, unlike John Edwards with his potentially ruinous October surprise.
I wonder who pushed for Michelle Obama speaking at the convention?????????????? And why in the world bring here to the front and center?
HILLARY IS BEHIND THIS DRAMA! IF OBAMA IS DEFEATED IN NOVEMBER, I WILL BECOME AN INDEPENDENT VOTER.
THIS DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, THAT HILLARY IS PUSHING, IS WHAT ONE EXPECTS FROM REPUBLICANS!
I'm just angry that the democratic party leaders played favorites practically handing the nomination to Obama. Well, time to vote for McCain because it is payback time!
enough already, this is getting silly. Who cares if she did or didn't. Game over. She gets that.
Senator Obama is really a good man, will make a great President and is trying to do what is best for the Democratic Party Senator Clinton and her supporters should count themselves as blessed because I don't believe a lot of presumptive nominees would have let her name be put in nomination and I do beleive if the roles were reversed that she would not have let his name be put in. "She never pushed for convention compromise" – iif you believe that I have some swamp land in Alabama that you can built some high rise condos on. Maybe she didn't but she did not stop them from doing so