Hillary Clinton faces bright and uncertain future

[Writer]

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0547098420080605?virtualBrandChannel=10112&pageNumber=1

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - What does Hillary Clinton want and what will she get -- other than, perhaps, returning to the U.S. Senate where she's a bona fide star?

The answer may emerge soon as the failed Democratic presidential contender gets ready to finally concede defeat -- amid signals she might like to be the vice presidential running mate of presumptive White House nominee Barack Obama.

"The clock is ticking," said Paul Light of New York University's Center for the Study of Congress. He said she must quickly end her presidential campaign or face party backlash.

"But if she withdraws gracefully, she will have an enormous range of opportunities," Light said. "She could eventually become a Senate leader or end up on the Supreme Court."

Others have suggested she might want to be New York governor -- or make another run for the White House in 2012 if Republican John McCain defeats Obama in the general election.

(more at link)

[iamjoy]

1. She Needs To Forget 2012

If she sounds like she is leaving the door open for 2012, it will backfire big time.

There are already Obama supporters convinced Hillary is going to deliberately torpedo his chances this time around so she can go up against McCain in 2012. If Obama doesn't win, and Hillary is talking about 2012, this sentiment is going to grow stronger and spread to more moderate minded Dems. That could be enough to destroy her in 2012. Anyway, no one likes an "I told you so".

She is better off seriously doing everything she can to help Obama get elected. If he wins, people will forget her stubbornness throughout the primary, they will admire her tenacity. Some of the campaign tactics she used in the primary that raised eyebrows will be recast as good, because they took the "green" Obama and made him "battle ready."

If she plays nice during the general election season and throws her lot in with Obama, she will pretty much be able to pick her next move. Hillary is a intelligent woman, surely she's smart enough to realize that she will have more power with Democrats in control (even if it isn't her) than under a McCain presidency.