Rudd meets Clinton, offers help

Herald Sun ^ | 1 April 2008

[Aussie Dasher]

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has offered US Democrat presidential contender Hillary Clinton help with her campaign as the pair met in Washington before she headed to Pennsylvania to fight for her political survival.

The New York senator took time out from her heavy campaigning schedule to meet Mr Rudd after he delivered a foreign policy speech to The Brookings Institution this morning Washington time.

He is likely to speak to Democrat front runner Barack Obama on the telephone - he is already in Pennsylvania and a meeting couldn't be arranged - some time today and will meet Republican nominee John McCain tomorrow.

Senator Clinton arrived at Brookings surrounded by security and was immediately led into a side room for the private meeting, which ran for about 40 minutes.

As they posed for photographs following their discussion, Mr Rudd extended an offer of assistance to the woman he calls a "good friend".

"Let us know if we can help with anything," he said.

She expressed her appreciation for the offer.

Senator Clinton may be hoping some of the warmth and goodwill surrounding Mr Rudd's visit to the US might attach to her campaign, which is flagging behind the growing momentum of Senator Obama.

The pair will next go head to head in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

[Aussie Dasher]

Just a few short months in the job and Rudd is already embarrassing us. Bring back John Howard!!!!!

[coloradan]

Interesting that foreign government agents are offering to help a candidate for federal office.

[Aussie Dasher]

That’s what I thought. Rudd should pull his bloody head in!

[sinanju]

Fair is fair. After all the Clintons gave so much campaign advice to Boris Yeltsin and (who was running against Bibi?) back in the nineties.

[Andy from Beaverton]

What a relief! I thought Ricki had turned to the dark side.

[naturalman1975]

While I disagree with Rudd’s politics (obviously) what he is doing is little different from John Howard stating that Obama would be a problem as US President, or as President Bush speaking out against a Latham Labor government. The precedents have been set on both sides.

[Enchante]

"Let us know if we can help with anything," he said.

Shrillary: "Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, you can announce at every press conference for the next few months how awestruck you are by my brilliant grasp of international affairs and my wealth of impressive experience across dozens and dozens of countries. You can discuss how moved you were to hear my first-hand descriptions of dodging sniper fire on that tarmac in Bosnia, wrestling a peace deal out of the contending parties in Northern Ireland, and also how I most certainly would have prevented or stopped the genocide in Rwanda if only Dick Cheney had not sent Halliburton into the wrong continent at that time....... Oh, and you can mention that everything Bill Clinton knows he learned from his wife, who is so much smarter and greater and more internationally experienced than he can ever hope to be."

[Enchante]

"Let us know if we can help with anything," he said.

Shrillary: "Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, you can announce at every press conference for the next few months how awestruck you are by my brilliant grasp of international affairs and my wealth of impressive experience across dozens and dozens of countries. You can discuss how moved you were to hear my first-hand descriptions of dodging sniper fire on that tarmac in Bosnia, wrestling a peace deal out of the contending parties in Northern Ireland, and also how I most certainly would have prevented or stopped the genocide in Rwanda if only Dick Cheney had not sent Halliburton into the wrong continent at that time....... Oh, and you can mention that everything Bill Clinton knows he learned from his wife, who is so much smarter and greater and more internationally experienced than he can ever hope to be."

[tubebender]

LOL exactly my thought...

[Aussie Dasher]

I’ve never seen anything quite so blatant, though...

[HardStarboard]

Saw Rudd on C-Span today speaking to the Heritage Foundation.

My first impression was; "this guy's a slick smooth lefty in the mold of Clinton"....and low and behold, he offers them support. Arggggg!

What's the chance of Howard making a comeback? How long is the Prime Minister's term?

[HardStarboard]

Saw Rudd on C-Span today speaking at Brookings.

My first impression was; "this guy's a slick smooth lefty in the mold of Clinton"....and low and behold, he offers them support. Arggggg!

What's the chance of Howard making a comeback? How long is the Prime Minister's term?

[Aussie Dasher]

He’s up again in 2010, maybe earlier. He’s a slickster alright...

[paudio]

I think it’s a bit different. The previous leaders only offered their assesment on what might happen if certain leader on the other country was elected. Here, Rudd was offering to coordinate their efforts—my understanding is that he would be willing to lend his advisors, etc., to get Hillary elected. Wasn’t there any law that is against foreign involvement in political campaign? Although IIRC, the SCOTUS allowed an international student to be a volunteer.

[aliquando]

Now that’s funny! I don’t care who you are.