Clinton and Obama in the Playground

Here's a nice and telling article from The New York Times about the relationship between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In fact, this article goes very well with the political cartoon that Leah posted below. The article discusses how the two, once friendly to each other senators, now barely speak and try to avoid contact but watch each other very carefully. It also compares the Senate floor to a playground. Here is an excerpt:

Mrs. Clinton, of New York, and Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut came first, laughing and smiling as they made their way to the Democratic side of the aisle. A few paces behind was Senator Joseph R. Biden of Delaware, who quickly joined the other two in a light moment. (Earlier, Mrs. Clinton and Senator John McCain , an Arizona Republican, had been trading warm banter near the front of the Senate floor, which takes on the air of a schoolyard during marathon voting sessions like these.)

Mr. Obama entered the Senate floor alone. He glanced at the other three, pulled out his Blackberry and paused for a few seconds before walking to the third row and taking a seat next to three freshman senators. As the evening passed, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton each spoke with several Republicans in the room and to nearly every Democrat -- except each other.

It has got to be awkward for those two! Their schedules are so similar that they really can't avoid each other. Nice to see that Hillary, Joe, and Chris can still chill together on the Senate floor!