Obama Doesn't Have The Control Over VP Selection You Think He Does

[tritsofme]

Obama simply does not have enough delegates to control the convention.

He will barely have enough support to secure the nomination for himself, and his strength among many of the superdelegates that put him over the top is very weak.

That means that a Clintonite, or Clinton herself will be the VP nominee, should the camp choose as such.

There is an entire ballot and round of voting on the convention floor for the VP slot, and they are under no obligation to bow to Obama's will.

This means that the slot belongs to Clinton, or one of her allies should she choose to pursue it.

Whether you like such an idea or think its fair is irrelevant.

[texastoast]

1. Doesn't matter whether I like it

She will vastly increase the chances of losing the election for the Dems.

But I've know Dems to be stupid stupid stupid.

Sure hope the Clinton camp hears the big pop before the convention.

[democracy1st]

2. what a bunch of bs you should be ashamed of spreading such lies

[tritsofme]

3. Point out one lie please.

Thanks.

Do you know how a nominating convention works?

[democracy1st]

31. no you don't know how it works,he doesn't whip her butt in a primary and then she says i'm the VP

whether you like it or not,that complete bs. If he wants her to be VP he'll decide.

[tritsofme]

36. I don't think anybody whipped anybody's butt in the primary.

If you think that, you are delusional.

If she wants it, its hers. Bottom line.

[democracy1st]

38. STFU

give him some credit,it's not about her it's about this country. And he did whip her ass

[tritsofme]

43. I give him credit. He's won. But Hillary supporters that make up half of the party will not STFU.

Not today, or ever.

[cbayer]

4. You are technically correct

You are going to get a lot of people posting who tell you that you are wrong, but you are not.

On the other hand, I am not sure they would do it if he were strongly opposed (which I doubt he would be).

[kimmerspixelated]

5. BUT,BUT,BUT

What about that rumor that Edwards wanted his old headquarters back? I don't have a link, but it was discussed here by an informed source. Maybe Edwards KNOWS he's the chosen VP-regardless of what he says he wants! No,No, Nanette, I mean, Hillary!

[onenote]

6. a bit overstated

I agree that Obama does not have the same level of control over the delegates that will vote for him to be the presidential nominee as has traditionally been the case in prior conventions. His margin of victory will come from a number of superdelegates who may have some relationship with/respect for/loyalty to HRC as well. If enough of those superdelegates, and the delegates pledged to HRC were willing to go to the mat in supporting a Clinton bid for the VP against whomever Obama selected, they might be able to win. More likely, even if they couldn't defeat Obama's selection, they could make things so messy that Obama might be inclined to avoid a food fight and select HRC.

The caveat is that this is all contingent on their being enough SDs who would buck Obama's choice. Its like a game of chicken. Some might be inclined to do so, but may elect not to because they don't want to make the nominee appear weak, which could be the result if someone other than his choice is forced on him.

So, bottom line, its all speculation at this point as to whether HRC could actually demand and get the VP nomination.

[tritsofme]

8. If Hillary makes backroom noise that she intends to contest the VP nomination

Obama would be a fool to bring the fight to the convention.

The only logical choice is to acquiesce to her demands to ensure an all smiles, confetti, and balloons convention.

I agree with you though, we are all shooting in the dark, we have no idea what is actually going on behind the scenes.

I am just trying to make a point that he has much less power than many Obama supporters imagine.

[4themind]

39. It's a possibility but perhaps not a probability.

She may not force her self unto the V.P. ticket at the convention for similar reasons to not trying to win the whole thing at the convention(if she decided to concede). If she fails in either case(although the relative chances may differ), she will still reap very similar scorn and damage to her legacy. She'll be incurring similar risks to her legacy for a lesser reward (although perhaps a higher probability of attaining it but this can't be known a priori) So even before the question of obama being foolhardy if he does not accept the demands, one can also ask if it would be foolhardy for her to "make noise" in this environment.


While we're going with hypotheticals, what if obama threatens the superdels immediately to drop out if they do put her on the ticket, that if he can't choose his own ally in the white house and for his election campaign he's not willing to put his career on the line by shooting for the presidency and He's the one that actually has to get in the ring in this fight. In that case the superdels may have the same hesitancy to lose him from the ticket than their eagerness at putting him on it. But in the end we'll see, and you're right in that this is a possibility.

He could also call her bluff and say he'll accept as long as she undergoes the same vetting process as everyone else, then have amore reasonable case to make the superdelegates if she refuses (and I have a feeling she would for some reason...)

[slick8790]

7. That's bullshit.

Obama has complete control over his VP selection. After he clinches, the SDs will keep coming, and give him dozens if not hundreds more delegates to add to his lead. She has no bargaining chips here other than her threat to keep the race going.

[tritsofme]

9. Its nice that you think that.

But Hillary is an extremely powerful force at the convention if she chooses to be.

[KittyWampus]

42. no, she isn't. Bill and HIllary have pissed off enough Democrats they've poisoned their own well

just like Delay and K-Street.

Even the Corporate heads got sick of the GOP extortion.

[TexasObserver]

10. WRONG!! He will control the convention.

Hillary's delegate total peaks today. After today, she will steadily lose delegates to Obama.

[tritsofme]

12. SD movement from Clinton to Obama after today is soft and risk free.

She retains significant clout among those SDs should she commit to securing the VP nomination.

[dems_rightnow]

16. They won't challenge Obama's selection at the convention

It would be foolhardy. If he wants here she's in, if not, she's a Senator.

[tritsofme]

20. It would be foolhardy for both of them.

If she made noise that she was considering going to the convention to campaign for the VP nomination, he probably wouldn't try to stop her.

[rock]

11. You're wrong

That's exactly what I thought (ducks) :)

[Straight Shooter]

13. I don't think any nominee gets to "choose" their running mate

Reagan despised ghw bush, got stuck with him.

Gore got Lieberman, which was by all measures a group decision to balance the ticket.

Remember Quayle? WTF was that all about? :)

Cheney picked himself for bush, very clever bastard that he is.

Kerry and Edwards? Oil and vinegar. Or, in their case, vinegar and oil.

Look at McCain, he's probably going to get stuck with Romney, and by all accounts those two do not get along.

Obama is quite malleable to those who are in charge, and he will go along with whatever they say if he thinks it will help him get elected. I'd say Axelrod will have a lot of input, and some of the power brokers behind the scenes, no doubt some of whom we are not even consciously aware of on our political radar.

[polichick]

14. This is now Barack Obama's party - the Clinton era is over!

[susankh4]

15. Yeah. Right. "Barack Obama's party."

No. It is our party. And, as such he must bow to our will. Half of us are Clinton supporters.

[polichick]

17. Get over yourself bitter Clinton supporter.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[polichick]

28. What I initially posted is true - the Clinton era is over...

You're the one who responded like an asshole - Obama doesn't have to bow down to you or your candidate.

[susankh4]

30. He doesn't have to win the election either.

It's his call.

[polichick]

33. The few bitter ones like you who don't come around will be far outnumbered...

...by indies and Republicans.

[texas_indy]

18. Keep dreaming. Obama will get a VP he wants, not one forced on him by the HRC psycho cult... nt

[Hippo_Tron]

19. They might try to push him but I don't think they will buck his choice

If the super delegates hijack the convention from Obama they are basically handing the election to McGramps and they know that. That's why Hillary's "just in case" scenario is ridiculous unless something comes out within the next week. After two months of campaigning, the super delegates won't switch nominees all of a sudden.

[vaberella]

21. True, but it wasn't Obama who was touting Sebelius

It was Pelosi and currently Wes Clark and a few other people in power.

[billyoc]

22. He appoints the vetting committee, though.

Thanks for stopping by, Hillary, we WON'T be keeping your application on file.

:rofl:

[tritsofme]

29. All that really matters is the first ballot at the convention for the VP nomination.

Vetting committees don't have votes.

Delegates do.

[billyoc]

41. The vetting report will be disseminated far and wide before anyone get anywere near a first ballot

for VP. Nice try, though.

[JimGinPA]

24. Maybe Not The Most Stupid Post Of The Day - But In The Top Three

[JVS]

25. She has less control over the delegates than he does.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. I Said That Weeks Ago. If She Wants It Badly Enough, It Will Likely Be Hers.

Personally, I'd love to see it. Would be the best ticket we could have at this point.

[Heathen57]

45. A Clinton VP ticket would insure just a 4 year term.

Her ego is such that she would be trying to undermine everything he does. Add to that Bill pushing his nose into policy (to lend his 'experience') and nothing will get done.

They are both on opposite ends on how to achieve the goals of the Democratic Party. Hillary is DLC and aligned with the rich and with big business. She wants to act tough and extend the Iraq war into Iran.

Obama is against the continuing the war, and thinks the common people should have as much pull in Congress as the Special interests that Hillary is so fond of.

IMHO, Hillary as VP would be the WORST thing for Obama, for the Democratic Party, and for the nation.

[JackORoses]

27. Obama is the one who Nominates his VP

No matter how Miss Pissybritches weeps and moans, she has no say in this.

[tritsofme]

35. Delegates on the convention floor have the final say.

It would be in Obama's best interest to not fight Clinton if she is determined to secure the VP spot.

[JackORoses]

44. delegates vote on the VP nominee, but they do not determine who is up for the vote

It would be in Hillary's best interests not to fight Obama if she wants any future in Democratic Politics.

[Gore1FL]

32. He has enough control to pick whomever he wants

A floor fight over VP would simply be ridiculous.

[tritsofme]

37. It would be ridiculous.

Which is why the mere threat of such a fight would force Obama to acquiesce.

[Gore1FL]

40. I haven't seen him back down to her in the past.

[hokies4ever]

34. Can I come over and visit your lala land alternate universe?

:rofl: