There are still the usual caveats, but apparently, Senator Clinton has decided to serve in President Obama's cabinet as Secretary of State.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state, making her the public face around the world for the administration of the man who beat her for the Democratic presidential nomination, two confidants said Friday.[...]

Mrs. Clinton came to her decision after additional discussion with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy, said one of the confidants, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation.

Mr. Obama’s office told reporters on Thursday that the nomination is “on track” but this is the first word from the Clinton camp that she has decided.

“She’s ready,” the confidant said, adding that Mrs. Clinton was reassured after talking again with Mr. Obama because their first meeting in Chicago last week “was so general.” The purpose of the follow-up talk, he noted, was not to extract particular concessions but “just getting comfortable” with the idea of working together.

All right, all you Clinton-haters: get control over yourselves.

Hillary campaigning with Democratic Senator Bill Stachowski (D-Buffalo). In the background are Antoine Thompson, Joe Mesi, Bill Stachowski and U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins.

We're seeing something happen these days that's a welcome change from cycles past: Democrats reaching out to our contenders for legislative seats and putting their muscle, and their name, behind the young blood.

For example, Hillary Clinton, not a woman with a particularly open schedule these days, has endorsed - and campaigned for Eric Massa, Dan Maffei, Brian Foley, Kristen McElroy, Don Barber, and others up and down the food chain. Similarly, Governor Paterson - the subject of much grumbling in the political class in the summer due to his attempts to play nice with Skelos - has raised money for Dollinger, Foley, Addabbo, and others. All of this is announced in a daily stream of email releases.

What could bring our normally fractious Democrats together like that? Bright red oozing billows of blood in the water, for one thing; the other side has never had a weaker bench or a worse environment. This is the endgame, the final battle for New York; and I think we're going to win.

From New York One:

Senator Hillary Clinton, in an interview on NY1's "Inside City Hall," said that since city voters have shot down the proposal to extend term limits twice, their voices should also be taken into consideration.

"It is disturbing that voters voted twice, so I think that the City Council and the mayor have to first go through the hearings they're holding and try to figure out what they will do," said Clinton. "They have the legal authority to make the change that they are considering. But I really am just going to watch from the sidelines now because this is really an intense local debate and the people of New York City should be heard. They should have every opportunity to express themselves. And that's what I hope happens."

Bravo, Senator. You Rock. Let the people vote.

It is no consolation that Hillary says that given the secrecy of the Bush Administration, "we do not know what we do not know". That's not good, that supposedly our US Senators do not know what is exactly at stake in all of this.

That's why we need to stop the vote and give people time to take a closer look at details.

BTW, it looks like Hillary's push to help people in foreclosure was derailed.

Per an emailed press release, Senator Clinton is lending her megawatt star power to Don Barber's campaign in the 51st District.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) threw her support behind Don Barber (D-Caroline) in his run for a seat in the New York State Senate (51stD). Clinton praised Barber's campaign for taking on the special interests and battling for the middle class.

In her statement, Clinton said, "Don Barber is a farmer who knows how to protect our precious environment. He's a businessman who knows how to revitalize the upstate economy. He's running a vibrant, grassroots campaign and taking on the special interests that have blocked health care reform. I know Don Barber will put the interests of middle class, working families first. His voice is sorely needed in the New York State Senate. He has my full support."

Barber thanked Sen. Clinton."I deeply appreciate this support and recognition from Senator Clinton. I am honored to add her endorsement to our list of supporters. This shows the depth and breadth of the excitement our campaign is generating."

Last week Barber added The League of Conservation Voters' endorsement to a sheaf of endorsements that includes Citizen Action, Democracy for America, The Working Families Party, The United Auto Workers, The Sierra Club, The Communication Workers of America, as well as numerous office holders and unions.

On the web: Don Barber for Senate

Last night, Hillary Clinton delivered the speech of her career, unified her party and kicked off the general election campaign in one fell swoop.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love. And whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.

(APPLAUSE)

We are on the same team. And none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future, and it's a fight we must win together.

(APPLAUSE)

I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches, advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights here at home and around the world...

(APPLAUSE)

... to see another Republican in the White House squander our promise of a country that really fulfills the hopes of our people. And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months or endured the last eight years to suffer through more failed leadership.

(APPLAUSE)

No way, no how, no McCain.

(APPLAUSE)

Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president.

It's on.

If you can spare the half hour required to read it, point your browser to the web site of The Atlantic, and go read their inside account of how Hillary Clinton's team, to sum it up, lost her the nomination. If you work on or are interested in campaigns and how they succeed or fail, you can't afford to not read this piece, and the associated internal documents from her campaign.

Here's a key quote from a strategy memo by Mark Penn:

If we double perform with WOMEN, LOWER AND MIDDLE CLASS VOTERS, then we have about 55% of the voters.

Just a thought: if your plan for winning a primary relies on winning 55% of the voters, you have no margin of error. Which, as it turned out, is exactly what derailed the once all-but-inevitable campaign and Presidency of Hillary Clinton.

In Starrett City, Brooklyn, and in front of a few hundred adoring residents, Hillary Clinton was in fine form today. She was at a rally, to support the passing of a bill by Democrats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which seeks to preserve affordable housing initiatives in the country. Congressman Ed Towns, who has introduced legislation that specifically deals with saving the affordability standards of the Starrett City housing development, was also on hand to speak to the concerned residents. Starrett City is the largest development of its kind in the nation. For the past two years or so, the residents have been embroiled in a battle with the old-owners, who were intent on selling the complex to a group of speculators.

Mrs. Clinton was given a rousing welcome by the mostly female audience, and was fired up as she demanded President Bush sign the bill into law. She spoke well of Barack Obama and his presidential bid, projecting that she was presently a strong supporter of his effort. Standing with her (beside congressman Towns) were Brooklyn’s ebullient Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblyman Vito Lopez (the county leader of Brooklyn’s democrats), Congressman Anthony Weiner, plus the district leaders of the 40th AD and some tenant activists of the development. Notably absent was the council member for the area: Charles Barron.

Hillary Clinton has been somewhat scarce since the end of the democratic presidential primary, and that’s expected, I guess. After all, she had a hard fought primary and a tough and emotional loss. As an ex-candidate who lost, I can vouch for the sense of let down and failure after a political race. It“aint” easy folks. It can be very deflating. It’s like “Preparation-H” for one’s ego and self esteem. People who are courageous enough to run for public office need to be commended and applauded, more so than ridiculed. Most people underestimate how tough it is to run for public office.

Well, it has been almost two months since the primary season ended, and I believe that Mrs. Clinton will be returning to the limelight soon enough. On Monday morning (10:30a.m.) of 28th July, she will be visiting Starett City, Brooklyn. And for those of you not familiar with the ancillary issue, let me tell you that the tens of thousands of tenants, who live in this large housing complex, have been nervously dealing with a landlord intent on selling the sprawling property to some speculators. The future is still precarious for these folks.

For some time now Congressman Ed Towns, Councilmember Charles Barron, Senator John Sampson, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and other elected officials, have been battling this issue, in hope of stopping any sale whereby the future tenancy of the residents aren’t guaranteed in a positive way. Starett City -which is the largest affordable housing development in the nation- was put on the auction block in 2006. HUD and other state and city housing agencies successfully blocked the sale then.