Bill, Barack seek unity over a pizza

Barack Obama went to Unity, N.H., to make peace with his former rival for the Democratic nomination — but to make peace with her husband, he went to Bill Clinton’s Harlem office.

The two men met over a lunch of sandwiches, flatbread pizza and salads from Così on Thursday, the same day the presidential campaigns suspended activity to honor the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Obama was in New York City to visit ground zero.

{mosads}Speaking to reporters afterward, the former president said he will hit the campaign trail on behalf of the Democratic nominee even though he was the cause of much of the tension during the long and bitter nomination battle.

Clinton said he will start campaigning for Obama as soon as he is done with work on the Clinton Global Initiative.

“We’re putting him to work,” Obama said, a few hours before he and GOP rival John McCain walked down into the pit where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

Clinton, when asked how frequently he would be campaigning for Obama, said that he has “agreed to do a substantial number of things, whatever I’m asked to do.”

The former president also was asked his thoughts on the state of the campaign. He responded that he thinks Obama will win, and win “pretty handily.”

“There you go,” Obama said. “You can — you can take it from the president of the United States. He knows a little something about politics.”

Clinton was often at the heart of the Democratic nomination battle’s most contentious moments as he came to the defense of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). The first two days of the Democratic National Convention were dominated by questions about the level of Clinton’s support for his wife’s formal rival.

Spokesmen for Clinton and Obama put out a joint statement following the lunch, noting that while the two men did discuss the election, they “mostly talked about how the world has changed since Sept. 11, 2001.”

“Sen. Obama praised the work of the Clinton Foundation around the world and President Clinton applauded Sen. Obama’s historic campaign which has inspired millions around the country,” the statement read. “They also spoke about what the next president can do to help make the economy work for all Americans, as it did under President Clinton, and ensure safety and prosperity far beyond the coming election. President Clinton said he looks forward to campaigning for Sen. Obama later this month.”

— Sam Youngman

Stock for Sen. Biden withdrawal rises

Intrade, which took bets on whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) would abandon the GOP vice presidential nomination, is now taking bets on whether Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) will be the one to leave the race.

The odds of a withdrawal by Biden, Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s running mate, are 13-1, and they’re rising, according to the online betting website.

Conservative bloggers have been favorably comparing the bounce Republican nominee John McCain has received since picking Palin to the bounce Obama got from choosing Biden. They’re noting that Biden himself has said that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) might have been a better choice.

— Walter Alarkon

So much for sentiment and souvenirs

A search on eBay, the online auction site, reveals that some delegates and attendees at the Democratic and Republican conventions — in the words of the Grateful Dead — prefer the moment to the artifact.

A foray into the website reveals a number of people selling their credentials — Democrats look to be going as high as $35 while one Republican is offering a full set for $76.

A sign from the Democratic convention hall in Denver that says “Michelle” was put up at an asking price of $49.99, and one Republican delegate put a gift bag up for $27.99.

And for the most dedicated political memorabilia seeker: an authentic 2008 Republican National Committee Convention parking pass for $9.99:

“One Mint Condition Parking credential issued by the United States Secret Service for the 2008 Republican National Convention which took place in St Paul Minnesota September 1-4, 2008. This credential enabled a vehicle to park on the RiverCentre ramp located next to the Xcel center. You will be lucky to see any more of these as they were only issued in very small quantities to individuals with an official function at the Convention. This is an authentic document and has a Secret Service hologram on it as well as a map on the back. Buyer pays shipping. Please e-mail me with questions. Serial number may be different.”

Act now while supplies are relevant.

— Sam Youngman

What’s in a name?

The Secret Service’s code name for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is “Denali,” reports The Washington Post.

Denali is also the name for a national park in Palin’s home state. The code name for her husband, Todd Palin, is “Driller.” In addition to being a champion snowmobiler, he has worked as an oil production operator.

Sen. Joe Biden’s (D-Del.) Secret Service code name is “Celtic,” according to Marc Ambinder. That’s likely a reference to Biden’s Irish heritage.

In case you were wondering, Barack Obama’s code name is “Renegade,” Michelle Obama’s is “Renaissance,” John McCain’s is “Phoenix,” and Cindy McCain’s is “Parasol.”

— Walter Alarkon