Search
Clinton as Veep?
Bloomberg News, citing CNN, reports that Team Clinton is supposedly talking to Team Obama about a joint ticket.
U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is in formal talks with Senator Barack Obama's campaign about becoming his vice presidential running mate, CNN reported, without citing anyone specific.
The two Democratic campaigns are talking about ways for Clinton, from New York, to drop her bid for president that may include joining the Illinois senator's ticket, CNN reported. Talks are in a ``very preliminary'' stage and are described as ``difficult,'' the network said.
What's puzzling about this idea is this: support her, or not, but Hillary Clinton is a very shrewd and talented political savant. She has to know that the Vice Presidency has as much power and influence as the President sees fit to allocate to the office; certainly less than does, say, a Senate Majority Leader.
Hillary won't settle for anything less than a co-presidency
You can be sure Hillary will not accept anything less than a co-presidency. This would be the Dream Team, and she will insist on being a full partner, not an associate.
It won't work out. Hillary
It won't work out. Hillary Clinton's own personality will be in conflict with Barack Ombama's. Look what she has done to Chuck Schumer, even though she is the junior senator. Chuck has to rely on Sunday nights to get his face on TV.
Do the (electoral) math
First of all, does anyone really think Barack Obama wants Clinton on the campaign trail this fall? I mean Bill.
Second, does anyone really think Hillary Clinton wants to be Vice President?
Third, Obama doesn't need her. Despite her rhetoric about getting this demographic or that, if the election were held today Obama would defeat McCain all by himself, thank you very much. Not that polls mean anything five months out -- after all, if the polls taken five months ago were accurate, Hillary Clinton would be squaring off against Rudy Giuliani. But with McCain saying the stupidest things, and Obama (unlike Gore or Kerry) perfectly willing to call his Republican opponent out -- not to mention the deteriorating conditions in Iraq and the worsening economy -- it almost doesn't matter who's on the ticket with him.
Fourth, Obama will probably pick Ohio governor Ted Strickland. That delivers Ohio. Add the fact that Strickland has been a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton, and many of her other supporters come on board, like Evan Bayh and several folks in Pennsylvania. Even if Bayh can't deliver Indiana, we can put Pennsylvania in the blue column, and there is almost no reasonable electoral math that gives McCain a victory. Even if McCain wins Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada and Virginia, he still only gets 266 electoral votes.
(For the record, my math is based on giving Obama the following: CA, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA & WI. N.B.: If Obama also wins CO, IA, NM, NV & VA, he doesn't need OH or PA.)
Please forgive me
I know that the news cycle's about 90 minutes these days, and I've had 28 hours, but what a difference a day makes.
And, FWIW, I agree with Dan's math almost completely, assuming Strickland is tapped (my question mark is CO). And I've been assuming that for at least the last couple of weeks.