Hillary really has no right to expect Obama to take the VP slot

[George_Bonanza]

Obama leads in every meaningful category on the road to the nomination, and in such a close race as this, that's a big difference-maker. In fact, Hillary is the perfect VP candidate: pugnacious, with an ability to draw in demographics that Obama has some trouble with. The thing is, if Obama becomes the VP candidate, then he loses his biggest asset, which is his ability to energize: nobody gets excited over a VP. But Clinton as the VP doesn't lose her policy-wonkishness just because she becomes the VP, and if anything, the fact that as VP she won't have be the charismatic energizer will work to her favour. You see, the perception will be:

Obama/Clinton = Obama's charisma + Clinton's substance

Clinton/Obama = Clinton's charisma + Obama's substance

Which looks better? To me, there's no logic or fairness in a Clinton/Obama ticket at this point. The only argument that Clinton can make is that she's older, and therefore, deserves a shot before Obama. Sorry Hillary, we live in a meritocracy, not a Fixodentocracy.

[stop the bleeding]

1. Obama has said this is not a possibility nt

[Lucinda]

4. No he didn't. He said it was "premature" to talk about it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4972896&mesg_id=4972896

"Obama was asked by a television reporter, "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?"

And the freshman Illinois senator replied: "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

[Georgie_92]

5. He said we will not see him on a vice ticket.

[Lucinda]

6. I posted a direct quote from Obama.

[stop the bleeding]

7. Thanks wlucinda

From your link:

"Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

[Lucinda]

12. Yep. But the "it's premature" part that is what's telling.

It was his first response, and happened before he went on with the normal candidate " you know, I’m running for president.." answer.

[stop the bleeding]

13. yeah I see your point from the post below and I see where you're coming from

:D:pals: in the end we're all still liberals at the end of the day.

[Lucinda]

15. I'm a Dem first, the supporter of a particular candidate second.

Even though I can get caught up in the nonsense at times. :hi:

[JackORoses]

22. he meant that it is premature for Hillary to be talking about it.

Not premature for him to say that he would not be VP.

[Lucinda]

24. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this.

:)

[goclark]

30. That is exactly what he was saying!

I am learning how he compiles his thoughts ~ he always tries to take the high road to get his point across.

She comes right out with her vile words and I see right through her too.

[babylonsister]

8. Barack Obama rejects VP idea

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/obamasays-novp.html

Barack Obama rejects VP idea

Campaigning in Casper, Wyo., Friday night for the 12 delegates to come out of Saturday's DemocratBarack Obama campaigning in Casper Wyoming March 7 2008 for the Democratic caucuses where he rejected the idea of accepting the vice presidential slot on a 2008 Democratic ticketic county caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama refused the notion of becoming the vice presidential candidate on this fall's party ticket.

Obama was asked by a television reporter, "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?"

And the freshman Illinois senator replied: "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate. You know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

Many Democrats have long thought of Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama as a dream ticket, offering both the first serious female candidate and the first serious African American candidate for the nation's top two political offices.

[Lucinda]

9. He says the same thing in your link. It's premature. Then he hedges it.

[babylonsister]

10. My quote is the same as yours, which wasn't there when I first

read your post. Maybe your initial interpretation was different.

[Lucinda]

11. I altered my post after I went to your link. :)

IMO He answered truthfully. It's premature. I think he would consider it. Clinton would as well.

Then he made the "candidate" statement that he wasn't about the VP slot. It probably should have been his FIRST and only response, but his impulse is to answer directly. Then the candidate kicks in.

[babylonsister]

14. I don't know if he would consider it, and at this point, why should

he when he's ahead? I think it's more than tacky for both Clintons to gang up on him with this. Someone needs to ask Clinton how she feels about the VP spot, though I doubt that would happen. It wouldn't work with his looking towards the future conviction.

I've also heard the Clintons want the meme out there to appease voters in PA, that they really have no intention of this ever becoming reality.

I guess we'll see.

[Lucinda]

21. I think it's because there really is sound argument

for Hillary at the top of the ticket if there is no big change for one of them in the next few priamries.

Mario Cuomo said in an interview with Wolfie that they are both great candidates but Hillary is more problematic for McCain because he can't damage her on Iraq which is about all they have got in this cycle. I think that, combined with her wins in most of the "must have" states, might be a tipping factor for the SD's if there is no major change soon.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/03/05/tsr.cuomo.interview.cnn


As far as the Clinton's floating it for the next primary voters, that's quite likely. The same thing happened on the Obama side in Iowa when Biden was floated as a possible SOS, and Edwards as AG right before SC.

I can see the merit of a combined ticket. But we've got a few weeks, that's an eternity in politics. :)

[babylonsister]

27. Sound argument?

:rofl: Definitely depends on who you're asking! ;)

[Lucinda]

28. Mario Cuomo is very well respected in the Dem Party. If he's saying this in public

it's being discussed privately as well.

[babylonsister]

29. I too like Mario Cuomo, but that doesn't mean

he's right. Just imagine what Dodd, Kennedy, Kerry, etc., are talking about.

[Lucinda]

32. They are making the case for Kerry. :) Cuomo'd been pretty neutral in the whole interview

until the comment was made.

I'm just saying the discussions are happening.

[dkf]

2. She's trying to minimize him and make him smaller

Don't let her play her mind games with you.

[Adelante]

3. That's right

It's a tactic to damage Obama and nobody should be falling for it.

[Donna Zen]

25. Ah yes, we've seen this one before

In this case this is also a tactic to try and bring some African American back into the Clinton column.

Personally, I don't think that she would ask him if she somehow pulls this out. Also, considering that a Clinton presidency would mean that Bill would run anything that she wasn't, her vp needs to be a much weaker person. Maybe Bayh.

[babylonsister]

31. Can you imagine being a VP under Clinton?

With big dawg in the background? Might as well be looking for a eunuch. I do see Bill overwhelming anyone.

[paperbag_ princess]

16. one advantage to a Clinton/Obama ticket is

16 years ....there is a much better chance imo of a 16 year rule with Obama as VP. Others might disagree obviously.

[JackORoses]

23. I'll take 8 good years of Obama immediately, please

Sorry, Hillary isn't getting her way this time.

[Diane R]

17. Neither. Obama doesn't need Hillary; she would hurt his ticket.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. She would just drag him down.

Anyhow, he would do better with a running mate with really solid foreign policy credentials, like maybe Biden or Webb. Despite the obnoxious Red Phone at 3:00 A.M. ad and her fluffing of John McCain, Hillary hasn't any more of that than Obama does.

[yourguide]

19. Hillary has no right to even suggest

he should take the VP spot considering she's behind in states, delegates, and popular vote.

[Vinca]

20. Why is it being discussed as Barack as her VP? No one is suggesting

she might be his VP. He is, after all, ahead.

[SKKY]

26. Fixodentocracy?????

:rofl:

[OhioBlue]

33. Hillary doesn't want Obama as VP

it is all part of the Clinton game. They are trying to portray her as the inevitable nominee again, trying to win favor with his supporters and trying to minimize his success.

They got the buzz going and the media bit again.

[bain_sidhe]

34. I do NOT want Clinton as v.p.

As I said over at TPM just a little bit ago, I'm sick and tired of seeing qualified women forced to play second fiddle to younger, less experienced men who are brought in to be "the boss" by virtue of their dangly bits. Then, to add insult to injury, they're expected to train the dangly-bit possessor to be as good as they (women) could be at the job.

Often they've had to put up with it because they need the job (been there, done that, TWICE), or for other compelling reasons, but I can't see why any woman would *voluntarily* put herself in that position.