Obama, Clinton use lawyer to move to unity

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- A high-powered Washington lawyer is helping Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton work through several issues to unify the party for November, spokesmen say.

Robert B. Barnett, who has negotiated multimillion-dollar book deals for several clients -- including Obama, Clinton and her husband, Bill Clinton -- is working to help the two presidential primary rivals merge into a unified front for the November general election, The New York Times reported.

"They were allies before they became competitors in the longest Democratic fight on record; they're re-establishing their relationship," said David Axelrod, chief strategist for the Illinois senator's campaign. "I expect that they will unify around the things that they both care about. They both have an interest in working closely together."

Obama topped the number of delegates needed to win the Democratic presidential nomination June 3. Days later, Clinton suspended her run to be the Democratic standard-bearer, pledging her support for Obama.

Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign chairman, said the New York senator's supporters have been asked to help Obama win the White House.

"Hillary is 100 percent behind making sure that Barack gets elected president," McAuliffe said. "We're instructing everybody, 'Let's get on board, let's win this election.'"