Friday, May 9, 2008

I've Got Your Vice President Right Here...

Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama. Campaign 2008.

Obama: “Obviously she'd be on anybody's short list”

Reuters reported Thursday, Obama is open to Clinton as his Vice President.

Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday did not rule out selecting rival Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential running mate if he ultimately defeats her in a race in which he has an almost insurmountable lead.

"There's no doubt that she's qualified to be vice president, there's no doubt she's qualified to be president," Obama told NBC News.

In a CNN interview, he said he had not wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination, but when he does, he will start going through the process of selecting a running mate.

"She is tireless, she is smart. She is capable. And so obviously she'd be on anybody's short list to be a potential vice presidential candidate," said Obama.

According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released last week, a majority of both Obama and Clinton voters say they would favor a so-called "Dream Ticket" involving both candidates.
The most interesting part of this to me is:
According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released last week, a majority of both Obama and Clinton voters say they would favor a so-called "Dream Ticket" involving both candidates.
I'll say that ONE MORE TIME (emphasis added.)
According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released last week, a majority of both Obama and Clinton voters say they would favor a so-called "Dream Ticket" involving both candidates.
A majority say they would favor a so-called "Dream Ticket."

Huh.

Not on this blog. *cracks up*

But then, GNB READERS DO NOT REPRESENT either the
  • Democratic Party or
  • General Election voters.
We (at GNB) are much more the future/technological side of the Netroots Party.

Many of you hate Senator Clinton. Or at least, her politics. (Frankly, it's kind of hard to tell with some of you.)

I don't think Clinton would take the VP slot if offered, and I don't think Obama will make such an offer. We talked about this yesterday in How Clinton Might Leave.

That said, discuss:

a) the election pros/cons if Clinton is on the ticket.

Having Clinton on the ticket shores up the Hispanic and women's vote, as well as the older white poor, working-class and middle-class vote. Yes, it gives the Hillary-haters something to get angry about, but frankly, the right-wing who were going to be angry in the general election at Hillary, were going to be going nuts already at having an African-American heading up the ticket. Overall, I think it's a boost, and ensures a win.

b) the signal it sends about business as usual politics v the transformation of politics as usual.

This is the biggest problem, by far in my view. It ties Obama to the past, instead of the future. On the other hand, being President isn't about the person at the top, so much as it's about the team around you. I'm MUCH more interested Obama Cabinet choices than I am about his VPOTUS choice. The Cabinet runs the country, day to day. The Vice President goes to funerals.

c) if Obama can just wait it out, or if power politics call for him to put an end to this now.

I don't know what her price is. I gave you my speculation yesterday, and doubt it's the Vice Presidency. However we've got this Reuters article all alone out there, and Senator Obama himself talking about Senator Clinton and the VP slot, so I'm posting up.

DOES THE SITUATION (Clinton's almost 1700 delegates) require Obama to act, or can or should he wait it out? Remember... the point is to win the nomination, not to purge the party of the Clinton's, attack the DLC, strike out against the Blue-Dogs, or all that jazz people get so hepped up about. Obama's intent here is to win the nomination, and go on to win the Presidency. That's it. Everything else is gravy.

Got it?

a) pros/cons of Clinton being on the ticket,
b) "politics as usual" v. Obama's current campaign, and
c) does the situation (the politics) require Obama to make a VP offer?

Discuss. (Play nice please.)