(CNN) - Even as Hillary Clinton praised the newly-minted Democratic presidential ticket Saturday, some in her circle are furious Barack Obama did not appear to give the New York Democrat serious consideration for the No. 2 spot, or even ask for her consultation on the matter.
"Set aside that Obama said she'd be on anybody's short list, set aside anybody's feelings on whether she was deliberately snubbed and the pros and cons of whether it should be her," a former Clinton strategist told CNN's Candy Crowley. "Focus on the politics of it and you have about a quarter of Clinton loyalists still not joining the caravan…for God's sake, not to even make a show of taking her seriously is flatly stupid."
A top Clinton advisor also told CNN they were "outraged," over how the process was conducted.
"You can't put [Obama VP vetters] Eric Holder and Caroline Kennedy on an hour plane ride to Chappaqua just to check the box? They should have done it just for the optics," this person said. "Barack never even said to her, 'Here's how I envision the job'– not one discussion with her about [the position]."
"They thought her supporters were mad before? They are really mad now," this person also said. We knew it was never going to happen but you would have thought they might at least make a show of it."
Former Clinton strategist Paul Begala echoed similar frustrations on CNN Friday night.
"I think there are a lot of Hillary voters who are going to say, 'Hey, wait a minute, man You said you were going to put her on the short list. You know, you didn't even vet her. You didn't call her. You didn't seek her advice,'" Begala said. "By the way, he didn't seek President Clinton's advice either. He's actually the guy who I think picked the best vice president in American history. You would think maybe you would sort of check in with him."
Meanwhile, two sources familiar with Obama's VP search tell CNN's Roland Martin Clinton was very much under consideration, and it's wrong for anyone to suggest that she wasn't.
(CNN) – Barack Obama accidentally introduced his running mate Joe Biden as the next president of the United States Saturday, a slip-of-the-tongue the McCain campaign is calling "Freudian."
“Barack Obama sounded as though he turned over the top spot on the ticket today to his new mentor, when he introduced Joe Biden as the next president," McCain campaign spokesman Ben Porritt said. "The reality is that nothing has changed since Joe Biden first made his assessment that Barack Obama is not ready to lead. He wasn’t ready then and he isn’t ready now.”
Another McCain aide told CNN Obama "slipped with the truth that his own experience is too underwhelming to be president."
The slip-up came earlier Saturday as the Illinois senator introduced Joe Biden for the first time as his vice presidential candidate, saying "The next president," before quickly correcting.
(CNN) – The Obama campaign has succeeded partly through astute, unprecedented use of the Internet. But some of the most obvious Web site domain names for the Obama-Biden ticket might not actually belong to the campaign anytime soon - if ever.
After hearing about Obama's selection for his number-two slot, anyone who tried to surf to obamabiden.org was re-directed to an eBay page selling that domain name for a starting bid of $100,000.
As of 6:30 p.m. ET, there were no bids listed.
The same seller lists 15 similar domain names up for sale, including obama-biden.com, obama-biden.org, and obamabiden-08.com.
Obama and Biden greet supporters in Illinois Saturday. (AP Photo)
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Joe Biden made his debut Saturday as the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Biden, the senior U.S. senator from Delaware, invoked Abraham Lincoln in the 16th U.S. president's home state.
"President Lincoln once instructed us to be sure to put your feet in the right place and then stand firm," said Biden, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, whose working-class roots and foreign policy experience Democrats hope will help Obama. "Today in Springfield I know my feet are in the right place and I'm proud to stand firm with the next president of the United States of America, Barack Obama."
(CNN) – Barack Obama formally announced Joe Biden as his running mate Saturday.
"I’ve searched for a leader to finish this journey alongside me, and to join in me in making Washington work for the American people. I searched for a leader who understands the rising costs confronting working people, and who will always put their dreams first," Obama said. "A leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world, with our security and standing set back by eight years of a failed foreign policy. A leader who shares my vision of an open government that calls all citizens – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – to a common purpose. Above all, I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be President."
"Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I’ve found that leader – a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency – Joe Biden. "
Watch the event on CNN.com/Live!
Related: Obama introduces Biden as running mate
(Full Obama remarks after the jump)
(CNN) – Barack Obama has added his "harshest critic" to the Democratic presidential ticket, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a fundraising e-mail to supporters Saturday morning.
The e-mail was sent hours after the McCain campaign released a television ad highlighting an August 2007 Democratic primary debate during which newly-named Obama VP Joe Biden said the Illinois senator was not ready to be "commander-in-chief."
"Senator Obama's choice in a running-mate once again brings up his questionable judgment when faced with making major decisions," Davis wrote.
"Senator Biden has long been a leading critic of Senator Obama's lack of foreign policy experience. He's criticized Senator Obama for his lack of leadership and judgment on Iraq, Afghanistan and his commitment to meet unconditionally with the leaders of rogue states," he also wrote.
(CNN) – The Obama-Biden ticket will formally debut Saturday, but supporters will have to wait until after next week's Democratic convention to see the two men campaign together again.
Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglas confirms Biden will not accompany Obama on his upcoming tour of battleground states, which include stops in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Montana over the upcoming days.
(CNN) - The 2008 Democratic presidential ticket will formally debut in Springfield, Illinois Saturday, and the heat and humidity there does not appear to have dulled supporters' enthusiasm, CNN's Rachel Streitfeld reports.
A large near-capacity crowd has already gathered and the line for the press entrance has stretched down an entire block.
Catch the entire event on CNN or CNN.com/live
UPDATE: David Blanchette, a spokesperson for Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, tells CNN's Jessica Yellin he thinks at least 15,000 people have turned out in Springfield awaiting the Democratic ticket.
(CNN) – John McCain has called Joe Biden to congratulate him on being named Barack Obama's running mate, two GOP sources tell CNN's John King.
It was a "short conversation" and "very pleasant," a McCain aide in Arizona said.
"It was a brief phone call, they've known each other for many years, they are good friends," McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds also said.
McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker declined to give further details.
"It was a private, personal phone call," she said. "Senator McCain welcomed him into the race."
DENVER (CNN) - In cyberspace, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign once had its own Web address where the Delaware senator made his own case for why he should be the Democratic nominee.
Type in Biden’s Web address now, and Barack Obama’s presidential campaign Web site appears, featuring a request for visitors to "Take a minute to share a personal note welcoming Joe to our movement for change.”
Of course, in return for that personal note, well-wishers are greeted with a slightly less personal appeal for campaign cash.
From CNN Politics
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