Partial Transcript of Emaunel's Interview at New Yorker Conference

Transcript of New Yorker's Ryan Lizza and Rahm Emanuel:

Ryan Lizza:  …Rahm is one of the most coveted politicians in America because he is an undeclared superdelegate.  I counted today and there is only 217 of you guys left.

Rahm Emanuel:  It's an exclusive club.

R:  and I also think you have the distinction, there are people that know the Obama's better than Rahm does, there are people that know the Clinton's better than Rahm does, but I don't think there's anyone in American politics that knows both the Clinton's and Obama's as well as Rahm does.

RE:  Which is why I'm hiding under my desk.

(Laughter.)

R:  … Your quote to the New York Times recently was, “the way the loser loses this primary will determine whether the winner wins in November” you said.  So let me ask you, hasn't Hillary Clinton lost this race?

RE:  Well, um, next question.(Laughter.) Anytime there was a two part question, President Clinton used to say let me answer the second question first, the first question second, because he didn't want to handle the first question. Look, I think we have a presumptive nominee. What Hillary does in the next month, I think is important.   And everybody wants the end of the movie before they go see the movie.  If she spends her time contrasting with Senator McCain, drawing distinctions that help the Democratic Party, that's productive.  If it's done in another way, that's not productive. I do think, and the reason why I made that comment, if you look at history, when Ted Kennedy in 1980 continued, grabbed Jimmy Carter's hand and said he's the winner, walked off stage and allowed the primary to continue past the primary – or, Regan in '76 to Ford – allowed that primary to really go on past the primary – that event, or the fact that there was not a single event that had closure, and then allowed the nominee to take on the general election, effected the ability of both Ford and Carter to move on in their respective campaigns.

And so I do believe, given that how long this has lasted and what has happened, that in many ways everyone will want to focus on the general election – our nominee and the general election.  The loser and how they lose will have a big influence on whether the winner can actually go on and take on the general election and get ready for that process.

****
(bit later)

RE:  The most important thing to Senator Clinton, is Bill Clinton's advice… and she will listen to that.  My guess what is happening is that there's a series of phone calls going on, people offering advice, being synthesized and think how she's gonna calculate  how she wants to continue at this process.  And where does she have an opportunity.  I don't think at this point, just taking a look at the facts you have, and those are a stubborn thing, at this point Barack is the presumptive nominee.   At this point.   Hillary can't win but something could happen that could effect that Barack could lose the nomination.  That's really where you are at this point. There's both in this at this point, but Barack has kind of a (gestures “lead”)