[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/26/art.clinton.plane.gi.jpg caption="The Washington Post reports that some of Clinton's top advisers will be absent for Obama's speech on Thursday."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton is expected to be a cheerleader for party unity when she takes the stage tonight in Denver, but there may be less there than meets the eye. Reports are that tensions continue to run high between the Clinton and Obama camps.
The Washington Post reports that some of Clinton's top advisers will leave town before Barack Obama accepts the party's nomination on Thursday night – that includes Terry McAuliffe who was Clinton's campaign manager.
One Clinton supporter who is staying on for Obama's speech says it would be unrealistic to expect that there wouldn't be tension between the two groups... and that the convention is a good chance for the two groups to bond – which is hard if you're leaving Denver.
Two longtime Clinton backers who are leaving early have excuses: one says it's for his daughter's weekend wedding and the other for an overseas business trip.
Nonetheless, the Democratic Party is probably not as unified as Barack Obama and many others were hoping it would be at this point. Obama was forced to address reports that Hillary Clinton was never even vetted to be his running mate, saying he did in fact consider her. Meanwhile, John McCain is now out with his 4th ad using Hillary Clinton's words from the primaries against Barack Obama. The infamous 3 A.M. ad is back with the announcer intoning, "Hillary was right."
This is not the way the Democrats drew this up.
Here’s my question to you: What message does it send when some of Hillary Clinton's top advisers plan to skip Barack Obama's acceptance speech?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
James writes:
No one will ever accuse the Clintons and their inner circle of having any class. The supporters leaving town are consistent with their track record over the years.
Yvonne writes:
Jack, I'm not sure what it means, but I know what it means to me. If Hillary's supporters can't support Barack Obama now, I will never support Hillary later.
Susie from Washington writes:
It sends a very appropriate message. This should have been Hillary's year – Obama is an inexperienced interloper supported by a bunch of people with stars in their eyes.
Peter from Brevard, North Carolina writes:
They realize that they won't get any high profile jobs in a Clinton White House.
Rob from Denver writes:
Are they really going to walk out? It's an interesting rumor, but so much of this rift between Obama and Clinton seems to be blown out of proportion by the news media and talk radio simply trying to fill up air time with something controversial. Until Obama's speech on Thursday, your question is moot, Jack. But we love ya anyway!
Alex from Sacramento, California writes:
It's sad. It's like children not staying for the cake at a birthday party. Sad.
Dylan writes:
Jack, The question is not so much "What message does it send" but more, if Hillary was the one making the acceptance speech, would a family wedding or a business trip pre-empt it?