Obama Secretly Meets With John Edwards

Posted by Paddy , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 6:52 AM on February 18, 2008.

The plot thickens....

Sen. Barack Obama "paid a secret visit to his former rival, John Edwards, in quest of his endorsement on Sunday," The Politico reports.

"The meeting in Chapel Hill, N.C., where Edwards lives, is the latest effort by Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to win 'the Edwards primary' -- the heatedly sought endorsement of the third-place finisher in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination."

Like Clinton's visit earlier this month, Obama managed to pull off his without the notice of the national press corps. However. WTVD-TV claims to have video of the visit which it will air later today.

Mark Halperin explains why Edwards' endorsement matters.

UPDATE:

Obama has said not to expect much out of the meeting:

"I don't think there's any imminent news," Obama told CBS affiliate WISC-TV this afternoon. "We were exchanging views, he was giving me some thoughts, and obviosuly he's gonna be a big force in the Democratic party for many years to come."

Campaign officials would not specify whether the meeting included a promise of an Edwards endorsement.

Also, AP reports tonight that Clinton has been wooing the Edwardses more effectively:

People close to the Edwardses, speaking privately, say they have been torn about whom to support. The former North Carolina senator is concerned that Obama may not be ready for the presidency and that his health care plan is inferior. But Edwards was highly critical of Clinton - her policies, her ties to special interests and her character - during his campaign, making it more difficult to support her now.

The couple has been impressed with Clinton, who has more effectively courted them since the 2004 vice presidential nominee dropped out, people who talk to the Edwardses say. Obama has been less attentive, they say, and some of those close to the Edwardses have been annoyed that Obama has continued to ridicule him for once saying his biggest weakness is that he has a powerful response to seeing pain in others.

Still, since Edwards has left the race, Obama often praises him in public. This week he told Wisconsin voters that Edwards will "be a major voice in the Democratic party for years to come, and I want him involved and partnering with me in moving this country forward."

Tagged as: clinton, obama, edwards

Paddy is a regular contributor to Cliff Schecter.com.