Time Magazine sent up the trial balloon yesterday—Bubba wants Hiallry as Obama’s VP—and the Times picked up the story today.
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.
A majority of Dems polled (55%) support a joint ticket. I don’t see how Obama can not at least offer the slot—she did get 16 million votes—especially with Bubba’s pressure. A few months ago I thought Hillary would turn down a VP slot, seeing how she spent 8 years as Bill’s de facto co-Prez. But now it seems she may take it, probably to both ensure her universal health care legacy and as the best bet for winning in 2016. Man, Obama-Clinton would be something…
UPDATE 12:35pm: Both Clinton and Obama camps deny CNN report.
TAGS: Barack Obama, election, Hillary, Hillary Clinton, joint ticket, NATO, New York, obama, Politics
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May 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
De facto co-Prez? She didn’t even have a security clearance for foreign policy talks. After the only real work she was given (health care, picking an AG) blew up in Bill’s face, she was a pretty traditional (if visible) first lady.
The only benefit to putting H on the ticket would be shoring up Democrats, which really isn’t a problem for O to begin with, no matter what the poll numbers say. Please pick Jim Webb.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I don’t think you’ll find a person who worked in the Clinton White House who would agree. Read any book on the era and the quotes from Morrs, Gergen, Stepho, Blumfield, Begala etc say she had unprecedented access and power. Sure, maybe in Bill’s second term she was less “visible,” but still directed the Whitewater and Starr legal strategy…or the biggest thing in term 2.
The major benefit from putting Hillary on the ticket is having America’s number GOP hate machine out in full force.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Books. I’ll take my gut feeling over the reality-based community any day.
I had to read that last sentence twice, but I actually agree completely. The more people hate on Hillary, the more votes she gets, especially with women. Did she win New Hampshire, or did Chris Matthews win it for her? On the other hand, it’s not just the Rush Limbaughs who hate her. That’s a lot of male swing voters you’d be giving up, when the chicks will probably take the Dems anyway. I still want Webbie.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
David Gergen’s 300 page book on every President from Nixon to Clinton spends 26 full pages on a Clinton “co-presidency.”
I think she’d make Obama unbeatable.