Democratic presidential rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama yesterday spent long, agonizing minutes on the Senate floor failing to acknowledge one another.
Reporters rushed to the usually empty Senate gallery as first Mrs. Clinton and then Mr. Obama ambled onto the floor to vote on a flood-insurance reform bill and schmooze with colleagues.
The lawmakers were tending to their day jobs while waiting for the polls to close in the West Virginia primary, where voters were expected to hand Mrs. Clinton a lopsided win.
Mrs. Clinton of New York took up a spot just to the left of the Senate president’s dais, barely budging as she held court for fellow senators. Reporters in the gallery directly above had to crane their necks far out over the railing to see her.
At one point early on, Mr. Obama of Illinois was just six paces away, before heading up an aisle to accept handshakes, backslaps and fake tummy punches from Democrats eager for face time with the party’s likely nominee.
Mr. Obama spent a long time in conversation with Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat and one of his party’s remaining uncommitted superdelegates. Mr. Obama has a planned campaign trip to Michigan today. Mr. Obama also chatted up wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia Democrat.
Mrs. Clinton spent much time bonding with fellow female Democrats, Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Dianne Feinstein of California and Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland — all of whom have endorsed her.
Finally, after 17 minutes had passed, Mr. Obama broke free and walked purposefully toward Mrs. Clinton, who was talking with uncommitted Sen. Ken Salazar, Colorado Democrat. Mr. Obama touched his rival’s elbow, shook her hand, exchanged a brief pleasantry, touched her elbow twice more and walked on.
c Christina Bellantoni contributed to this report.
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