American political writers John Heliemann and Mark Halperin claim in their book, GAME CHANGE, that Mr Clinton made the call to the late ‘Lion of the Senate’ Ted Kennedy, on the day after Mr Obama won a key primary in Iowa (2008).‘He phoned Kennedy and pressed for an endorsement, making the case for his wife. But Bill then went on, belittling Obama in a manner that deeply offended Kennedy,’ they wrote.
‘Recounting the conversation later to a friend, Teddy fumed that Clinton had said, ‘A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.’ ...After Kennedy sided with Obama, Clinton reportedly griped, "the only reason you are endorsing him is because he's black. Let's just be clear."
The top Democrat in the US Senate was also in hot water over racially insensitive comments he made during the 2008 campaign about Mr Obama that are quoted in ‘Game Change.’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid describing the then Senator Obama as ‘light-skinned’ and ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.’
Thanks for the clarification. It’s important that we get it right.