Cheat Sheet

Marc Ambinder has more details on the much-discussed Obama-Clinton meeting this morning. The meeting was private, without Rahm Emanuel in the room, and was not a formal interview. Its purpose was to discuss “ways they can work together.” The rumors originated with New York Democrats, who are already angling for their preferred candidates to replace her as senator. In Washington, people are saying Obama wants Clinton in his cabinet more than Hillary wants to be in it—by accepting the post, she gives up her power base, loses her seat forever, and loses her voice on domestic policy. Why might Obama want Hillary? According to MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, “to get her out of the Senate. Just ask George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter what it was like to have a once or future presidential rival in the Senate serving as a one-person Roman tribunal.”