WASHINGTON - Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama interrupted their presidential campaigns on Wednesday to return to the U.S. Capitol where they shared a rare laugh together — at the expense of Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Kennedy, the Democratic Party’s leading liberal and one of its most popular yet polarizing figures, endorsed Obama last month for their party’s presidential nomination.
Yet Clinton enjoyed sweet revenge in Super Tuesday’s nominating contests when she defeated Obama in Massachusetts.
“A big sigh of relief when he endorsed you,” a smiling Clinton told Obama, prompting Obama and Kennedy to join her in hearty laughter.
Just the fact that Clinton and Obama acknowledged each other sparked interest since they seemed to avoid each other last week when President George W. Bush delivered his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.
Clinton and Obama returned to the Senate in a failed Democratic bid to pass an economic 
stimulus package somewhat bigger than the one approved last week by the House of Representatives.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the leading Republican presidential candidate, did not bother to return to Congress. Republican aides noted that a “nay” vote by McCain was not needed to defeat the Democratic measure.
His Senate office spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield did not explain why he missed the vote, despite his plane landing an hour before the vote began. “His absence would not have affected the outcome, as he would have opposed cloture,” she said.
Such a vote could draw criticism on the campaign trail since the Democratic measure would have expanded proposed tax rebates to include retirees and disabled veterans. And Clinton’s campaign wasted no time issuing a statement blasting him.
“By failing to stand up as the deciding vote, John McCain let our families down,” said her spokesman Phil Singer.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua Roberts (Clinton leaving the Senate after the vote); Rick Wilking (McCain at a news conference earlier in Phoenix).
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5 comments so far
So the official message from the McCain camp is that one vote does not make a difference. I guess I will just stay home this November.
- Posted by AndyHello Andy,
As an American living in post Communist Europe, i see the scars of communism every day. While i respect your right to believe Hillary and Obama promote family values, or the moon is made of cheese, your comment shows you didn’t bother to read much about the candidates. Barack Obama has a documented history of voting “present” on so many bills, which is no vote at all, so that he can say he was there, but not wanted people to know where he stands. I guess you think the money the democrats propose for the stimulus package, over 100 Mill will just come from the same account which Hillary proposed 1 Million for a Woodstock Museum.
- Posted by Salt AgentAndy’s point is spot on!
- Posted by Mike RHello Salt Agent,
100 million is less than we spend on a lean day in the Iraq war, just to put things in perspective. The stimulus package is probably no more than a bandage on a gaping wound brought on by deregulation and lack of oversight of the often predatory practices of our financial institutions. But if we are going to initiate this money giveaway (on an election year) why not include a few classes of people who could probably use it as much as anyone?
- Posted by Martin BattilanaA good laugh is indeed needed in this country at this time. I think the Barack Obama & Ted Kennedy team will provide more than a few. In fact their new playbill hints at some ‘classic’ moments!
- Posted by Didereauxhttp://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/16224/ 2875710880102238172S600×600Q85.jpg