Clinton and Edwards Private Meeting

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Clinton and Edwards Private Meeting

James Joyner | Tuesday, January 22, 2008

A report from CNN’s Candy Crowley and Mike Roselli that Hillary Clinton and John Edwards bumped into one another in the green room after last night’s debate is the top story on Memeorandum at the moment.

What were they talking about?

Hillary Clinton and John Edwards met privately backstage following a very contentious Democratic presidential debate in this coastal city, sources with both campaigns confirm to CNN. The meeting took place in the Edwards campaign green room.

One of the sources said the meeting happened by chance and the conversation consisted of light chatter. The source added that Clinton did jokingly take a jab at Edwards about his beating up on her during the debate. In fact, the real fireworks were between Clinton and Barack Obama.

An Edwards source noted that it was not surprising the two senators met backstage. “That happens back there,” said the source, who said it has happened “more often” with Obama. “It’s tight quarters – we’re all on top of each other.”

The question is — with only two weeks before Super Tuesday — what else was discussed?

A secret pact to hand the vice presidency to Edwards if he dropped out and supported Clinton? The whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa, perhaps? Something more devious? Or, maybe, it was indeed just a routine happenstance of the sort one might expect when two candidates are following one another around the country.

Idle speculation is more fun, of course, and it’s hard to figure what Edwards is still doing in the race at this point. But I’m going with the “happenstance” explanation for now.

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Tags | Campaign 2008, James Joyner, Media Barack Obama, Blogs, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, NATO

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Comments

"we’re all on top of each other.”

....awe GROSSSSS.....

Posted by markm | January 22, 2008 | 11:35 am | Permalink

A secret pact to hand the vice presidency to Edwards if he dropped out and supported Clinton?

He would do more to stay in the race, to pull votes from Obama or act as an attack dog to keep Hillary "above" the fray. I don't think he's pulling much from Hillary, and I don't think his supporters would vote for Hillary if he told them to. Then he could support Clinton once he can throw a useful number of delegates her way in exchange for a VP pick. But I'm still not sure Edwards would want to try playing second-fiddle again.

Posted by Michael | January 22, 2008 | 12:17 pm | Permalink

Maybe Edwards is offering Clinton the VP job when he wins the nomination.

Maybe Clinton is offering Edwards the VP job when she wins the nomination.

Maybe Edwards is offering her legal services.

Posted by Christopher | January 22, 2008 | 12:38 pm | Permalink

The two are meeting to decide on the name of the new secret police units they will be forming after the election.

Posted by John425 | January 22, 2008 | 01:09 pm | Permalink

I don't think he's pulling much from Hillary,

That would make sense, but looking at exit polls it doesn't seem to be the case. Then again a lot of the democratic primary voters are behaving weirdly. Kevin Drum has been harping on this a while.

Posted by Tlaloc | January 22, 2008 | 01:12 pm | Permalink

First of all, HRC does not "bump" into someone and carry on a conversation. She is absolutely controlled and scripted in everything she does in her political world.

But, somewhere down the road, if this democrat primary season remains close, HRC and Bill will need J. Edwards on the inside of their tent, pissing out, not on the outside, pissing in.

After all, this woman never goes out into her constituency and "bumps" into her supporters. Why does she find a political opponent worthy of a casual conversation.

Posted by Eneils Bailey | January 22, 2008 | 01:43 pm | Permalink

it’s hard to figure what Edwards is still doing in the race at this point

Don't be silly. He's just where he knew he would be at this point.

He's working the plan.

Posted by B K | January 22, 2008 | 02:28 pm | Permalink

First of all, HRC does not "bump" into someone and carry on a conversation. She is absolutely controlled and scripted in everything she does in her political world.

So much for Hillary being the paranoid one.

Posted by Tlaloc | January 22, 2008 | 05:50 pm | Permalink

"Yes, I'll iron your shirts."

(its anybody's guess which one said it)

Posted by rodney dill | January 22, 2008 | 06:37 pm | Permalink

I have to actually agree with you, Tlaloc. All of the candidates certainly live scripted lives, but yes, anyone can bump into anyone. And even I, a far right conservative, still belive that Hillary is in fact actually human.

Posted by Christopher | January 22, 2008 | 07:40 pm | Permalink