No one has mentioned the "Obama steps aside" scenario ...

[Alhena]

I realize that this may be viewed as near-heresy by some Obama supporters, but hear me out.

What if we get to the convention in Denver and Obama has been consistently trailing McCain by 10 points or so states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia and Missouri? Yes, I know we all expect and hope that this will not be the case, but what if it is? Is it conceivable at this point that Obama would consider telling Hillary "ok, you can be at the top of the ticket" and I'll be the VP?

Simply considering Obama's objective political interests, I think that would be the smart move for him. You only get one shot at the presidency these days, and if Obama loses to McCain in November, then he will wake up the next morning having basically reached the peak of his political career, except maybe a Secretary of State position. If he lets Hillary take the top of the ticket, however, then he will either be Vice President elect or he will be the presumptive future nominee of the Democratic party. Either way he will be a major player and a guy whose best years are still ahead of him.

This all assumes that the polls are strongly against him in the states I mentioned, as they are right now. I hope and expect that will change over the course of the summer, once Obama becomes the presumptive nominee. But if the polls in these states don't change then I don't think it would be at all unreasonable for Obama to considering letting Hillary have the top spot.

I think the main obstacle to this is personal- Hillary has been so cynical and destructive in this campaign that it would be very hard for Obama to step aside. And those considerations may carry the day, but Obama is a young guy and I don't think the scenario above is unthinkable. He would have much greater chances of winning in a year where he had the entire Democratic party behind him from the start and where he had years of experience in an office like VP to fall back on.

[NYCGirl]

1. No one can tell this far out what November will bring. Personally, I predict

Obama will win easily.

[Yes We Did]

4. We are showing up 3-1 to vote compared to the repugs.

They hate McCain. Obama will stomp him.

[Cha]

32. Obama's not going to be

stepping aside..we won't let him.

[Vinca]

2. It's not near-heresy, it's heresy. nt

[Alhena]

9. I'm just fearful of Obama being a has-been if he loses ... and we all know

that this is shaping up to be a difficult year for whoever gets the nomination, since Hillary has poisoned the well so much.

[democrattotheend]

13. I agree

I'd rather Obama run for VP now and run for president again in 4 or 8 years than get the nomination and lose in November and never get another chance.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. No

Obamism isn't an organized religion. Yet.

[TNOE]

3. Based On What I Saw Today - - -

at lunch time - driving across the state on an errand:

Barrak Obama bumper stickers - 12
Hillary Clinton - 0
Anyone But Hillary - 1
McCain - 0

[democrattotheend]

11. Where?

[TNOE]

15. I have a stalker from

another board - I will PM you

[buff2]

16. it's a wonder you didn't wreck your car

gawking at bumper stickers. :rofl: I don't believe you. What a crock.

[TNOE]

26. Ummmm - you don't have to "gawk"

when the cars are right in front of you and pass you by.

Oh yea, I also saw 1 Bush/Cheney 04 sticker. It was on a red junky van.

Believe what you want - its your funeral - and its over.

I pay attention to bumper stickers - it can serve to keep one somewhat "informed" and "aware".

[azmouse]

5. I don't think the SD will allow this to go on all the way to Aug.

They will make a decision on a candidate by June so that our nominee can start campaigning.

[movonne]

28. I sure hope it is before June...I want to get back to fighting mc cain..

[RichardRay]

6. Actually, I did...

about three weeks ago. And I still believe he'd do it if he perceived it as the best choice. At this point, though, he's starting to dig in, too, so I don't know how much longer I'll believe that.

[TheWraith]

7. Those numbers won't hold. Nobody's paying attention to the general election right now.

So poll numbers of Obama versus McCain aren't exactly 100% reliable. When people start actually scrutinizing and comparing the two, McCain can be counted on to start self-destructing. Hell, he can barely keep it together right now when he's got no opponent.

[democrattotheend]

8. Under your scenario, I think it's the best option

But in exchange, Hillary has to agree not to run again in 4 years if they lose. Seems more than fair if Obama is standing down despite having more delegates.

If they can make that deal, it's a win-win for Obama. Either he becomes VP and gets to run again in 8 years when nobody will question his experience, or he will be the frontrunner for the nomination in 4 years, when he has 4 more years of experience in the Senate under his belt.

[Blarch]

10. Is this sarcasm ?

[Hugabear]

12. Honestly, I think Obama is our best chance against McCain

Obama is much more likeable, more charismatic. Let's face it, both Gore and Kerry were strong candidates, but had the charisma of a wooden pencil (Gore seems to have lightened up quite a bit since '00). Do we really want to run a candidate with such a strong negative rating as Hillary?

IF - and that's a very strong if - the scenario above plays out, AND Hillary is leading McCain in those same states by a comfortable margin then I would imagine that Obama might bow out. However, I just don't see that happeneing.

[buff2]

14. If BO cared about this country he would bow out now.

If he is our nominee he will get his ass handed to him in Nov. All he is doing is helping the GOPerverts win another Presidency. It's shameful.

[Alhena]

17. No way- there is a long time for his support to grow in crucial states

even I don't think he should consider this before the convention. But by that time, he will have had a long time to assess the political dynamics.

[jgraz]

22. Remember, you're talking to a Hillary supporter here

They still think she should have won the nomination based on a poll from last October.

[Window]

30. Hubris! Hillary supporters act just like her. LOL!

I am embarrassed for Hillary and Bill...what they've become.

[jgraz]

19. Yes, the first viable AA candidate, who currently has an insurmountable delegate lead

should just bow out and hand the reigns to the nice white lady.

That won't tear the party apart or anything... :eyes:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

18. Why would anybody mention it???

He's ahead for God's sake. :rofl:

[Dogmudgeon]

20. "Hillary has been so cynical and destructive in this campaign ... "

Seriously, where do you guys get this stuff?

The main output from Team Obama (which now dominates this forum upwards of 8:1) is a non-stop flow of verbal diarrhea about how evil Hillary is. Not one bit of substantive evidence is offered. If Hillary so much as uses a verb improperly, it's an outrage of historic proportions.

Meanwhile, not one word of criticism of Obama is allowed to pass without twenty posts of ridicule, outrage, and hatred directed toward The Evil One, assumed to be the actual architect of the attack. Discussion of actual issues just doesn't happen. If this is supposed to be the campaign of Hope and Unification, we're in a lot more trouble than we think.

I know that you are keen to win the nomination. Malicious gossip and tale-telling isn't the way to do it.

--p!

[jgraz]

24. Let me draw you a picture

[Dogmudgeon]

31. You forgot the URL

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Otherwise, all you're doing is lying. The very thing you claim Hillary does.

Spreading malicious and false rumors is not a good way to win elections, no matter how much irony you think you're using.

--p!

[Rubiconski2009]

21. Hillary needs to retire, there is no 3rd term.

Obama is the first intelligent leader with great ideas and good judgment that this country has seen at the presidential level since JFK. We have the opportunity to have an outstanding president, and hillary needs to move out of the way.

[Hippo_Tron]

25. Polls before the convention don't mean jack shit

Al Gore went from 20 points down before the convention to a dead heat after the convention. By your logic he should have dropped out before the convention and given it to Bill Bradley.

Voters make up their minds in September and October. Only political junkies really pay attention before that.

[backscatter712]

27. Not gonna happen.

Why should he step aside? He's winning.

[FARAFIELD]

29. Obama would never take the second first of all

And we cant win Missouri OR Florida second of all. Just win OHIO OR New mexico, Colorado and IOWA and its over. Why waste time in FLorida, the legislature already fouled it for us anyhow, and bitches like Debbie Wasserman-Slutz are going to make sure LESS dems vote. Lord if you think we can win Florida you are dreaming.