Clinton, Obama in Convention Negotiations

Backers of likely U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and defeated rival Hillary Clinton say they are negotiating to avoid a convention clash.

Negotiators for Sens. Obama, D-Ill., and Clinton, D-N.Y., are scrambling to find a compromise over talk that some Clinton’s backers will offer her name in delegates’ roll-call vote for the party nomination, The Washington Post reported Friday. Such a move could embarrass Obama and highlight fractures within the Democratic Party, the report said.

Clinton has said she won’t challenge Obama as the party’s nominee after a long struggle during the primary election. Clinton confidante Cheryl Mills is working with Obama campaign manager David Plouffe to reach a convention compromise, both sides told the Post.

Convention organizers have decided that Clinton will speak Aug. 26, which is two nights before Obama’s scheduled acceptance speech. The Post quoted an unnamed Clinton associate as saying the speech will be “forward looking” and will address her historic campaign to be the first woman U.S. president.