MSNBC (Andrea Mitchell): Clinton advisers claim "She knows she has maximum leverage right now"

[sabra]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

<snip>

*** What’s next for Hillary? Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, close advisers say that Clinton needs a few days to decompress and that she will be in DC tonight hosting an 89th birthday party for her mother, Dorothy Rodham, at the Clinton home. They also tell Mitchell that despite any disclaimers, she DOES want to be on the ticket. It is an issue they would have to explore face to face. No meetings now planned. Obama told her last night he would be available on her timetable. Why is she not conceding, given the reality that he has secured the nomination? A close friend and adviser said: "We were going flat-out until last night. We poured everything into winning South Dakota. Now she needs some time to decompress." Another said: "She knows she has maximum leverage right now." The Clintons clearly believe that Obama needs her supporters -- and that they can continue this dance for at least a few more days, despite pressure from party leaders to get it done.

[Max_powers94]

1. I almost want to say a bad word but I am not

[EFerrari]

9. Here's a picture to remind us what this was about in the first place.

Let's hang in there. :)

[lapfog_1]

2. Obama needs to simply wait this out

until she becomes irrelevant. At most a week.

When he has 2210 delegates, that will be it.

[polpilot]

5. Hillary's like someone picking their nose in public. Best to ignore it.

[sharp_stick]

11. I don't think he'll wait her out nor do I think he should

If he can somehow bring her and her advisors on board it will look a lot better than simply letting her drift off into obscurity. I don't believe the hype of the people voting for mclame instead of Obama because they're pissed but no doubt the media will hammer that line like a drum right up until the election always raising doubt at the end of a story about Obama.

I also think that Clinton is a big asset as an insider and this can be used to great advantage in the general election. On board she will deliver her supporters to the polls and could possibly help turn this election into a big win instead of a squeaker.

All IMO of course

[lapfog_1]

26. She needs to be onboard...

and she had the perfect opportunity last night to demonstrate that.

Unfortunately, she chose a different path.

[sharp_stick]

29. I agree with that

her attitude has to shift and I hope it happens soon, I really would like to see her take a key position in this election yet.

Obama seems to be willing to wait for her the steam to stop coming out of Terry McAulifes (sp?) ears before pushing her but I don't think that will last long.

The longer Clinton holds out the less the chance that she will have a serious role in any campaign.

It's a long time to November and I hope Clinton realizes that all but her most extreme supporters will be plenty cooled down by then with all the shit John McCain will spew onto them. Democrats will realize pretty quickly what McCain really stands for and a vote for him or the withholding of a vote for Obama will seem less palatable.

[Boo Boo]

24. Exactly right. She has maximum leverage right now, so wait. Simple. /nt

[CatsDogsBabies]

3. Her leverage will begin decreasing rapidly starting now

and eventually there will be no reason for her supporters to remain with her since she is no longer running for any office

[Triana]

4. SO Ms. Narcissist ADMITS to holding her party hostage, offering ultimatums...

....(you include me on the ticket or I'll join your enemies to DESTROY you!), and everything else we suspect her of.

Good. We have confirmation now.

[TornadoTN]

12. That's exactly what she's doing

Why others can't see this and part ways with their love for her is disgusting.

[Blue_Roses]

6. Chuck Todd was talking about this last night and while he did say she had "leverage"

it was only this week. It will wain very fast in weeks to come.

[yodermon]

7. Her "leverage" reminds me of shrub's "Political capital"

i.e., ya ain't got none.

[still_one]

8. She is not only alienating Obama supporters, but as California and other states

are showing, support for Clinton is fading, and the more divisive she becomes, the more she will become irrelevent

[Abacus]

10. She had leverage before Ohio and Texas

now she only has sour grapes.

[high density]

13. Few days?

Lame.

[BeyondGeography]

14. She had more leverage one minute ago than she has now

and a minute from now she will have less.

[truebrit71]

15. The problem for her is that "leverage" loses value every hour...

...the more SD's keep flocking to the nominee the less and less her "leverage" means.

(I think it's a bullshit argument to begin with...what they really mean is "extortion" not "leverage" and the truly sad thing is that 90% of the fervent HRC voters will do what is right and back the nominee in the fall..so her leverage/threats are, in fact, almost meaningless...)

[Lucky 13]

16. "leverage" = Hostage negotiation

Give me the VP slot or say goodbye to 18 million voters!!! Wahhahahahahahaha

[dkf]

17. Well I highly doubt he is going to pick is VP anytime soon.

So having maximum leverage now is not good timing.

[SeaLyons]

18. Hillary has earned whatever perceived leverage she may

have. She earned the love her supporters have for her. She deserves 100% respect and gratitude from this party. She will bring the party together and help Obama win the GE, whether she's on the ticket or not.

She is heroic. She is the strongest woman on this planet.

[stillcool]

21. She has earned what she is getting..

and I do not owe her 'my' respect. And I certainly am not grateful for what she has done to our party.

[SeaLyons]

25. "what she is getting"?

not sure what you mean. The MSM does not guide all of us.

You may not be grateful today for your misguided perception of what she has done to our party, but you will be on election day. You most definitely will be.

Go celebrate Obama's win. Try to wean yourself off of Hillary bashing. You can do it.

[stillcool]

30. What does the "MSM" have to do with this?

the words and actions of Hillary Clinton are her own. No one puts words in her mouth. She is responsible for how she has run her campaign. She is responsible for her scorched earth strategy. She is responsible for her refusal to acknowledge the "Democratic Party Nominee". You may watch the 'media' soap operas but do not assume that others do as you do. I have not listened to those actors in years, and why would I have to? I can read the highlights here. Hillary Clinton is the Junior Senator from New York. No more no less. The November election will be ours to win or to lose, not Hillary Clinton's.

[SeaLyons]

31. you can't do it, can you....

but you'll be able to stop in time. I have faith in you.

[stillcool]

32. Please put your faith elsewhere...

I have always had an aversion to liars.

[SeaLyons]

33. No aversion to name calling I see...

[stillcool]

35. link?

[JackORoses]

27. It is a slap in the face to truly strong women to claim Hillary is above them

She has lied and manipulated her way to the position she is in,
and it is a wonderful thing that she will go no further.

Her Selfishness was on display center stage last night.
It gave the Country one last chance to see the major mistake they have avoided making.

[SeaLyons]

28. history will disagree with you.....

[LTR]

19. She has nothing

Hillarymania will fade within a month. Her supporters will wake up to reality.

She needs him more than he needs her.

[NJmaverick]

20. All about her, it's crystal clear to any rational person

she cares about NOTHING but herself.

[frylock]

22. just like lieberman

[CoffeeCat]

23. Ohmy....wow...holy buckets...

Just how delusional can one person be?

She just can't let go of the notion that she's somehow the Queen Bee--totally in control
of space and time.

I'm just stunned. Stunned.

And hey, Hillary--supporters are not a weapon for you to wave around like a loaded gun, "See
what I have!!! Fear me!!!". Yes, you have supporters Hillary. Are you actually stupid
enough to believe that they'll be in lockstep with you, as you swirl down the drain, embarrassing
yourself?

Obama is building a coalition. Democrats. Republicans. Independents. Together we'll change
politics and the world. Either your supporters will be on board. Or they won't.

What a disservice you to do your supporters--by treating them like objects that give you "maximum leverage."

Classic. Textbook. Narcissist.

[Cali_Democrat]

34. When a hostage taker is holding a gun at someone's head

you can say they have maximum leverage at that point.