Clinton, Obama Supporters Discuss Combined Effort to Win in November

[madfloridian]

The two campaigns have already made a deal with the DNC to raise money together for the general election.

It looks like the efforts are continuing to work together for November.
Dean has been working on this issue since February.

Rival Camps Plan Inevitable Merger

The gathering, held at the Ritz-Carlton residence of Jim Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at which former Treasury secretary Robert Rubin was honored. But the guests were well aware of the symbolism as they sipped cocktails and admired the views of the Potomac River and the Washington Monument. The event honoring a prominent Clinton supporter was held at the home of an Obama backer and co-hosted by another, former senator Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.).

"The people there had all picked sides," one attendee said. "There was a sense that there is an obligation to lead by example."

While there was little outright talk of how the primary campaign would end, guests confirmed that DNC Chairman Howard Dean set the tone with a speech in which he emphasized that despite the protracted nomination fight, he is already instituting a plan to combat McCain.

The message was clear, according to one attendee, who said, "You don't go anywhere anymore where there isn't a sense that this is over and this is about how people behave over the next month."

More of what is going on.

We're all thinking about November," said Robert Zimmerman, a New York public relations expert who is a top Clinton fundraiser. "We are starting a dialogue together. I've made it clear will be welcome to come on board. They've said the same to me."

Zimmerman, who is also a Democratic National Committeeman, said Dean has been a central figure in starting to bring the two camps together. Dean is organizing a May 31 fundraiser in Manhattan honoring Al Gore. The event is being chaired by Orin Kramer, one of Obama's top fundraisers, and by Maureen White, a longtime party fundraiser who has been assisting Clinton. Last week, the Democratic National Committee announced that both campaigns had signed a "joint fundraising agreement" creating a fund in which donations to each candidate could be pooled with contributions to the party and then used during the general election.

McCain as the nominee has this kind of agreement with his party as well. I guess they had to go ahead and work it out since we still have two running.

[mystieus]

1. I like this topic. continue

[ekwhite]

9. I like your sig. Continue. N/T

[Adelante]

2. I guess I missed the "joint fundraising agreement" news

I knew Obama had made an agreement with the DNC a few weeks ago.

[madfloridian]

6. Yes, he did. Hillary's fundraisers came on board last week.

Here is the Tonight video, Dean talked about it then a little.

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=54e10c10-3304-462a-9dc4-18ac5137c123

[Pushed To The Left]

3. K&R! We need more threads like this one!

The Democrats who truly care about the issues will stick together to defeat McCain!

[papau]

7. If you feel O smeared Hill and won't follow through on ":just campaign talk" w/o Hill -?

[grantcart]

4. they are softening up the troops

only a couple SDs announce in the last 2 days maybe they have a script.

[caseycoon]

5. K&R I'm glad to see this! n/t

[madfloridian]

12. I am glad to see someone giving Dean a little credit.

He has tirelessly worked behind the scenes while having people protest outside the DNC and scream at him.

I could never have kept my cool if I had been treated like that.

[Gore1FL]

8. Great News!

I look forward to this autumn.

[medeak]

10. Thank you Mr. Dean k&r

[madfloridian]

11. Dean to Tampa Monday for a fundraising sit down dinner with both camps.

I gotta give him credit, he has courage. Some of these folks ain't calmed down much yet. Kudos.

Obama, Dean set to appear in nation's largest swing state next week; delegate situation unresolved.

TALLAHASSEE | Signs are everywhere that Florida will return to center stage in presidential politics next week.

Howard Dean will be in Tampa on Monday evening where the Democratic National Committee chairman will combine fundraising with a sit-down dinner with Florida Democrats to try to soothe hard feelings left after the national party refused to recognize the state's primary results.

Having not campaigned in the state for more than 250 days, Barack Obama will launch a three-day campaign swing in Florida on Wednesday, including a large rally in Tampa and a rare appearance, for a Democratic candidate, before a conservative Cuban-American group in Miami later in the week.

.."The event is being hosted by Tampa lawyer Bill McBride, a Clinton supporter, and Frank Sanchez, a Tampa businessman and adviser to Obama.

Some Democrats said Dean's appearance is an indication that the event is not just a fundraiser for the national party. 'It's more of a ‘Let's all sit down and begin the healing process so that we can all come together in November to defeat John McCain,' ' said Ana Cruz, a Democratic consultant in Tampa who is supporting Clinton. 'It's really an opportunity for folks to kind of vent a little bit and tell the chairman how we feel and then move forward.'

Sanchez said there is no specific agenda for the gathering but he said he would be 'surprised' if the delegate issue does not come up. 'I view this as just the beginning of getting our party together,' he said.