We hate to start the day off with bad news, but we must give a shout out to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died last night after suffering an aneurysm this week.

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I can't believe I'm going to say this, but looking at the political landscape, Hillary Clinton is the most practical choice for Vice President.

Adding her name to the ticket would unite and energize the remaining Democrats who are slow to warm up to Senator Barack Obama. A recent poll of convention delegate showed that nearly 30% would like to see Mrs. Clinton as VP, by far the largest bloc. With the former First Lady on the ticket, all evidence points to united party and a Democratic victory in November.

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Hillary Clinton's supporters may get their wish!

Upset over their candidate's loss in the primary, die hard Clinton backers have been pushing for the Senator to be officially nominated at Democratic National Convention next week.

Mrs. Clinton's never directly addressed the issue, but did speak of a "catharsis" earlier this month.

Now, Marc Ambinder passes along word that Clinton and Barack Obama's teams may have come to a surprisingly smooth agreement.

And it could end up helping Obama.

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Things could get sticky at this month's Democratic national convention!

Senator Hillary Clinton told supporters that she would not rule out having her pledged delegates heard at the nominating event, which should be all about Barack Obama.

I happen to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their voices were heard and their views respected. I think that is a very big part of how we actually come out unified.
…
Because I know from just what I'm hearing that there's incredible pent-up desire, and I think that people want to feel like, 'OK, it's a catharsis, we're here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Sen. Obama.' That is what most people believe is the best way to go.

We're not sure presumptive nominee Obama agrees…

Potential Obama anger aside, the candidate and Clinton released a joint statement yesterday and vowed to work toward a stronger Democratic party, "We will ensure that the voices of everyone who participated in this historic process are respected and our party will be fully unified heading into the November election."

See the video of Clinton's remarks after the jump…

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Barack Obama's gay team just got a face lift!

The Senator's presidential campaign announced yesterday a "significant expansion" of their national and grassroots LGBT teams, particularly the addition of new Steering Committee co-chairs members, like Tammy Baldwin. Like many other on the list, Baldwin once backed Hillary Clinton, but this week pledged her support to Obama.

Clinton looms large in the press release, and the campaign's hoping to get their gay ducks - or is it geese? - in a row ahead of the convention later this month:

Over the last few weeks, dozens of members of Clinton’s committee have joined the Steering and Policy Committee, and the committee will continue to grow between now and Election Day.
…
Also, grassroots leaders who held leadership positions in both Obama and Clinton’s primary campaigns have joined to lead the national grassroots mobilization of LGBT voters. Obama Pride will build upon the work that started in the primary [and] Obama Pride will organize networks of activists in all fifty states who are committed to identifying, registering and turning out lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters for Barack in November.

A total of five people have joined Obama's gay steering committee, including Baldwin, black gay activist Mandy Carter, former Task Force board co-chair Marsha Botzer and Texas-based Jesse Garcia. A former member of Clinton's queer steering committee, Garcia had this to say about the general election, "On every issue facing the LGBT community, John McCain promises a third Bush term. He’s promised to appoint judges to the Supreme Court like Scalia and Alito, and we can’t afford that."

Read the entire release after the jump…

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Tammy Baldwin came out swinging for Barack Obama today.

The lesbian Congresswoman from Wisconsin released a lengthy statement emphasizing her support for the Democratic presidential hopeful. Baldwin, who endorsed Hillary Clinton during the primary season, obviously wants to appeal to people who are still weary of Obama - or perhaps still committed to Clinton. Said Baldwin:

…The primary season is now over and, like Hillary and millions of other Democrats, Independents, and many Republicans, I am proud to support the candidacy of Barack Obama for President. Endorsing Barack was not a difficult decision and it is not based on party affiliation alone. Rather, it is based on my concept of what the promise of America means and on the stark differences between the two candidates.

For me, the promise of America is a commitment to our collective well-being, rather than each struggling to get his or her own. The promise of America is embracing our democracy and protecting it and working to make it operate even better on behalf of the people. The promise of America is in pushing, prodding, and testing our democracy to make it flourish, not chipping away at its very foundation in pursuit of a political agenda or personal gain.

If elected President, Barack Obama will move us forward charting a new, hopeful, progressive course, while John McCain would keep us mired in the failed policies and divisive politics of the status quo.

Baldwin then launches into a scathing comparison of Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain.

For example, McCain wants to keep troops in Iraq "indefinitely," hopes to stack the Supreme Court with conservative judges and maintain "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." These are all things that Obama would prevent or oppose - and with which Baldwin whole-heartedly agrees, concluding:

I am working to elect Barack Obama President, not because I’m toeing a party line, but because we share a commitment to equality for all Americans…I am working to elect Barack Obama President because he dares to believe in and work for ‘one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’

And the home of the brave!

Check out the complete statement. Count how many times Baldwin reiterates that she's not backing Obama because he's a party peer.

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George Michael, a little known pop star who loves pot, has taken to offering political advice:

British pop star George Michael has a tip for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama — team up with former rival Hillary Clinton.

Michael, 45, touring North America for the first time in 17 years, told fans during a concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden that "I know you guys all need a change."

He admitted he doesn't know what kind of change Obama would bring if elected, saying that after "months of watching CNN" he still does not know what Obama or Clinton stand for.

Quite the persuasive political operative you've become, George.

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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared today in Unity, New Hampshire, their first public appearance together since Clinton suspended her campaign earlier this month. Describing her former rival as an "unstoppable force of change," Clinton urged her supports to back Obama, obviously, saying, "To anyone who voted for me and is now considering not voting or voting for Senator (John) McCain, I strongly urge you to reconsider." The Senator went on to equate McCain with George Bush, In the end, Senator McCain and President Bush are like two sides of the same coin, and it doesn't amount to a whole lot of change. If you think we need a new course, a new agenda, then vote for Barack Obama and you will get the change that you need and deserve."

Obama took the stage soon after, again stressing the need for - you guessed it! - unity. The Senator also stressed the importance of Bill and Hillary Clinton's respective roles in his campaign:

We need them. We need them badly. Not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come because that's how we're going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party. And that's how we're going to bring about unity in America.

Talking Points Memo spliced together some highlights from today's event, which we've included below. Meanwhile, the politicos appeared together last night to woo Clinton donors over to Obama's team. And apparently with mixed reviews.

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