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Hillary Clinton roll-call vote unlikely at convention

Dan Janison | dan.janison@newsday.com

August 4, 2008

In the end, it would make little sense to push a symbolic roll-call vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in three weeks as some suggested - especially since she's now due to deliver the keynote address, several of her home-state supporters said last week.

"It would be unnecessary and distasteful," said one New York Democratic operative. "It would backfire. She'd be seen as dividing the convention. She's very much been taking the high road on unity."

A veteran Clinton-campaign aide added Friday: "From what I can tell, the Hillary world is pretty resigned to her not being the vice-presidential candidate. An interesting question, in retrospect: Why would she have made a deal with [Barack] Obama to help relieve her campaign debt if she was going for VP?"

"Now you'll probably see her be overtly and hyperactively supportive, being the visible good soldier, trying to squash negativity or disunity and make up with the left, the African-American world, and other places she's got making up to do," the backer said. "And you'd presume Obama makes it, but if he doesn't, that might mean she could come back there in the future."

Some dissent from hard-core Hillary supporters has been voiced, and any demonstration in her favor at the convention site in Denver would draw media attention. Her prime-time speech on day two is expected to paste over the hard-fought differences of the primary fight that divided the presumptive nominee and the runner-up over Iraq, health insurance, and "change."

"I don't think it was ever a realistic option to place her name in nomination," added a top Long Island Democrat. "Ultimately, it was a matter of how she'd repackage the brand."

WHISPERED DOUBT: Some Clinton-turned-Obama New Yorkers privately expressed distaste for the prospect of seeing Obama tap as his running mate Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, whom they consider light on national-security credentials.

GUV-GUYS GO TO TOWN: Was that really Gov. David A. Paterson's top aide, Secretary Charles O'Byrne, and Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Michael Balboni among the handful who were seated at the exclusive 11-table Rao's restaurant in East Harlem Thursday night? Even Madonna and Lance Armstrong are said to have been turned away from the famous eatery, which gained a morbid cachet five years ago when someone was shot on the premises.

NEXT ON LINE: In the no-fault world of political consulting, losing big just leads to the next gig. New Jerseyan Mike Duhaime now is deputy to top John McCain campaign honcho Steve Schmidt. Duhaime last directed the Titanic-like presidential voyage of Rudy Giuliani.

BREAST-FEEDING BILL: State Senate Health Committee chairman Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) made it known he wants to assuage a medical group's concern before backing a proposed "Breast-feeding Bill of Rights."