Hero indeed.
Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) received a hero’s welcome home in the Senate Wednesday as he returned to vote on the budget a day after he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination over his colleague Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.).
Obama strode into the chamber shortly before noon, led by Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and headed to the desk to cast his vote in favor of the Democrats' budget. He did not make it far, though, before being greeted by a bevy of members wanting to share a handshake, a hug and a few laughs with the new Democratic standard-bearer.
(snip)
Obama did not converse with any Republicans, and their presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), also missed the vote. However, while on the floor, Obama talked extensively with one of McCain’s most important advocates, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee.
Lieberman approached Obama for a handshake and a word, and Obama immediately pulled Lieberman into a corner where the two could talk privately.
For five minutes the two men engaged in what appeared to be a serious discussion, each wearing somber expressions and emphasizing their words with gestures.
After a few minutes, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), sitting a few feet away with Schumer, shouted to Obama to keep his voice to a minimum and pointed to the gaggle of reporters assembled at the ledge of the press gallery.
Wonder if it had anything to do with this morning's headline?
.jpg)