President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down for a rare joint interview on “60 Minutes”. The one-time rivals laughed, joked, finished each other’s sentences and talked warmly of their strong friendship. And while they both brushed off questions about 2016, the joint interview was an obvious signal of solidarity as Clinton exits the national stage and contemplates a run for the White House.
Of course, with President Obama embracing Hillary Clinton in this way, where does that leave Vice President Joe Biden? No doubt he’s enjoying a resurgence — tasked with high-profile assignments like gun safety and achieving a sort of cult status unlike anyone in American politics. So what does he think of his boss sitting down with the one potential candidate that could clear the field should she decide to run for the presidency?
President Obama loses a key Senate ally: Iowa’s Tom Harkin says he won’t run for re-election, following Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Harkin’s exit opens up a real toss-up situation in the Hawkeye State — if the Republicans can capitalize. Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley might well be the early favorite on the Democratic side, but Republicans will likely have to endure another soul-searching primary between a mainstream member — Rep. Tom Latham — and a far-right conservative in Rep. Steve King. If King wins the nomination, he might be considered too extreme for a Senate seat in a state like Iowa.
Harkin’s exit, along with John Kerry’s likely confirmation as Secretary of State, eases the path for Republicans looking to win control of the Senate.
Immigration Reform: A bipartisan group of Senators has reached agreement on a blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform. President Obama heads to Las Vegas tomorrow to reveal his own ideas on immigration.
The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward goes inside Chuck Hagel’s nomination as Defense Secretary — and why President Obama picked him.
Hardball staff