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(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Candidates Return to Senate Day Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) — Suddenly, unexpectedly, they were together, in a place where aides dare not follow. Eager to talk? Perhaps. Or maybe nowhere else to turn. Whatever, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton sat down for a quiet little chat Thursday on the Senate floor, colleagues, as well as rivals in a historic race for the Democratic presidential nomination. She spoke animatedly, gesturing with her hands. He leaned in to listen, occasionally nodding his head and replying briefly. Her cell phone rang. But because life does not imitate campaign commercials, it is not red, and on this occasion, evidently conveyed no news of a crisis. She silenced it and slipped it back into her pocket. After three or four minutes, he gave her a friendly pat or two on the back, a classic senatorial gesture signifying nothing of consequence. They each smiled, and rose. ___ If anything of consequence was said, it may never be known. Maybe they talked about airplane food. Or perhaps that red phone campaign commercial she ran in the primary in Texas to call into question his readiness to serve as commander in chief. Or their agreement, announced during the day, to debate in Pennsylvania. But instinctively, the rest of the room left them alone. Normally, the Senate floor is a noisy, crowded precinct during a vote, senators milling around, moving quickly from one brief conversation to another. But in this case, as if by unspoken order, fellow lawmakers stayed well away from the two. The only exception was Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota. Johnson has used a wheelchair since suffering a brain hemorrhage more than a year ago, and happened to be in his chair not far from where Clinton and Obama chose to sit. Moving was out of the question. Instead, he stared intently at his Blackberry, manifestly manifesting no desire to eavesdrop. It was easier to guess what was going on earlier, when Obama spoke at greater length, with Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, or later, when Clinton and Stabenow chatted. Florida and Michigan have both been stripped of their delegations at the Democratic national convention for holding primaries in violation of party rules. Nelson and Stabenow have been active in trying to find a compromise that will allow their states to participate in the convention. So far, no arrangement has emerged, although suggestions for a mail-in primary in Florida appear doomed. ___ The occasion of their attendance in the Senate was an annual event in which dozens of amendments relating to the budget are debated and voted on in a single day. Because the Democrats control 51 seats, to 49 for the Republicans, controversial subjects can produce close votes, and party leaders summon the presidential candidates back to Washington. Not only Obama and Clinton, but also Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, was present during the day. In fact, their presence resulted in a rarity at one point, a 50-50 vote on a procedural motion that obliged Vice President Dick Cheney to break the tie. McCain left early for a fundraiser in Philadelphia, with plans to return later in the evening. And for all the campaign talk about differences on issues like health care and trade, Clinton and Obama were in agreement on all the votes that came up during the day. ___ In contrast to the hushed tones of his conversation with Clinton, Obama was clearly audible several hours later when he walked into the chamber to vote against an amendment designed to embarrass him. It was sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado, who said he wanted to demonstrate the extent of the tax increases that would be needed on middle-income families to pay for all of Obama's spending proposals. "Three of these amendments could be offered, but I am going to offer only one," Allard said earlier in the week, referring to campaign proposals outlined by Clinton and McCain. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said the proposal was "beneath the dignity of the Senate," and that Democrats had refrained from trying to embarrass McCain in the same way. With even Allard voting against it, the proposal was defeated 97-0. But not before Obama strode into the chamber to cast his vote. "Hey, Allard, you working this hard?" he said in a voice loud enough to be heard in the galleries that ring the floor. "Vote yes," replied Allard from across the chamber, making a thumbs up gesture. Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.
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#1. To: robin (#0)
Back on the chain gang.
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