Ted's Blog
Intriguing possibility: HRC is blackmailing Obama for the VP spot. She could be saying, "I will fight on until the bitter end (this summer) unless you give me the VP spot. You better believe I will keep attacking you until you give in and of course, it's in your best interest."
Obama is probably saying to himself, "Do I risk having this monster in the race another few months or do I bow down to her demands. Even worse - If I bow down to her now, what will it be like if she's my VP and has to take orders from me?"
I wouldn't put these types of tactics above the Clinton campaign. They love playing this type of "Washington Politics." And to get a VP nod would still be a huge victory for HRC. She would be the first female VP and she could use the position to leverage a future WH bid.
step away from the fray and play out each scenario...
Posted: Sat, 05/10/2008 - 19:16.
and you get:
if Hillary takes the 2nd spot, assuming reelection of Obama 2012, 69 years old when she's eligible to run a primary campaign again. She'll be president of the Senate in a mostly ceremonial role without the ability as an elected congressperson to write new legislation. She would be unable to serve on committees or sponsor bills, and her role in the Obama administration would be exactly as much as Obama would let her play. Roleplay Hillary for a second and think "I'm Hillary -- would I accept being put on ice for 4-8 years?"
Now let's think as Obama for a bit. He has been taking shots from Hillary since it was over 3 months ago, even now as the superdelegates are breaking his way in an inexorable march. Hillary continues to bite and claw at the MI and FL delegation, which is, by most accounts, unlikely to break her way with the Rules Committee. This truculence is effectively preventing party unity efforts. Yes he could buy her off to be quiet, but that's really not his style. His style has been to sidestep her attacks by mostly ignoring her. Also, he would be seen as caving if the quid pro quo were viewed as a reward for the aforementioned noisemaking. I think he announces victory on May 20th after superdels and pledged dels push him into position, and he announces his Veep candidate (not Hillary) in late June.
If I'm wrong, I'll have to swallow any vomit that makes it past my uvula.
Bad idea
Posted: Thu, 05/08/2008 - 13:36.
I think Obama would be silly to take on Hillary as VP. It would run counter to his "new kind of politics" shtick, and disillusion his supporters greatly, while not doing a whole lot to placate hers. The personal animosity in the Obama/Clinton camps is such that I think Clinton supporters would still resent Barack. Hillary would be smarter to shore up a good, productive 4 years in the Senate and run again in 2012.
Full disclosure: I don't like either one and am voting for McCain.