It seems Barack Obama has scratched Hillary Clinton from his list of possible running mates. He should rethink his situation. Few potential picks help him at all. Hands down, Hillary helps the most.
Some say Clinton would undermine Obama's big 'change' theme; that he should seek a fresh face among governors; or if he looks to the senate, it should be to someone like Indiana's Evan Bayh, he of the eternally fresh face. It's good advice -- for John McCain. Barack needs something else.
In times of deep foreboding, people value experience as much as a reformist spirit. Obama's vulnerabilities are few but the charge of inexperience, even coming from the crowd that gave us George Bush, is one. So no governors or Washington ingénues; the smart move is to shore up the weak flank.
Chris Dodd could do it, or perhaps Joe Biden, but no one telegraphs experience like Clinton. No First Lady, no Chief of Staff and, before Gore and Cheney, no vice president learned so much in the White House. For sixteen years she has lived at the epicenter of American politics. Some deny it, but everybody knows it.
Mere familiarity means almost as much as experience. The change Obama outlines in his speeches is incremental, but the change he embodies is profound. Faced with that and a general foreboding of the future, people crave the reassurance that comes with a known commodity. Next to Hillary, all the rumored picks are but strangers.
If polls are your thing, note that tapping Clinton widens Obama's thin lead in every one. Among older women Obama runs behind Al Gore and John Kerry. It's the single demographic in which he has the best chance to shore up his position, and an obvious way to do it.
Obama must also do some work among so called Reagan Democrats and low middle income whites, especially in the rural Northeast and Midwest. In the primaries, the appeal to these folks of the feisty little gal from Wellesley and Westchester surprised us all.
Some attributed her late surge to race. It's a cynical dismissal of her and of small town and white working America. What really happened is this: after two or three near-death experiences Hillary finally fired pollster Mark Penn. She then made a more detailed, populist pitch to an ailing middle class desperate for remedies. It worked, almost well enough.
Obama must ponder swing states like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida. In each one he's at or near a statistical dead heat. When he was losing these states to Clinton his people said that in November he'd offset them with wins in the South and Southwest.
Both ideas -- Dixie leading this particular charge, Obama beating McCain on McCain's home turf -- land somewhere between wishful thinking and outright fantasy. Does anyone in Obama's camp believe them? Does someone there see the sense in honoring the consensus choice of the states he lost then and now must win?
Consultants care too much for polls and outdated ticket balancing. When Bill Clinton tapped Al Gore, another middle aged white guy -- moderate, Baptist, from a neighboring state no less -- he defied conventional wisdom. But their chemistry was perfect. Bill brought out Al's personality; Al brought out Bill's principles. Together, they looked like the future we had once imagined.
Obama/Clinton would be a lot like Clinton/Gore; a match of two gifted and like minded people; a charismatic charmer, an earnest wonk; change and experience. Together, they look like the future millions of Americans, not just women and minorities, have been imagining for what seems like forever.
The raps on Hillary are Republicans hate her and no one can manage Bill. She says the haters aren't voting Democrat anyway and she more than anyone knows how to counter their attacks. Of late, Obama's campaign shows need of such skills. As for the mindless chatter about Bill, suffice to say it underestimates three people: Bill, Hillary and Barack Obama.
As Republicans try to gin up a third straight presidential culture war, Obama seeks to switch topics to the economy. He hasn't got much traction yet. With her star power and connection to the most successful economy policies in half a century, Hillary more than anyone can help him do it.
Picking a vice president signals judgment and leadership. Obama must lift his sights high. We know he's one cool customer. Now is his chance to show magnanimity, wisdom and the political skill to unite and reenergize a whole political party.
The case for Clinton rests above all on two points. One, she earned it. Marginalized, broke and nearly broken she battled her way back to a virtual tie. Imagine the feelings of Obama supporters had he fought back to within half a point only to be sent packing.
Most important, Hillary Clinton is a woman of remarkable ability and the most qualified person for the job. With Obama and Clinton, Democrats would say to the nation: We offer you the very best we have. Now go pick a future.
With Hillary as VP, Obama has my vote.
Loins don't like to be told what to do, so my bet is that we're all going to be surprised!!
If Hillary is not vice president, I want to see an open opportunity for another woman in 8 years -- someone who, like Barack, may not be well known right now. I liked one suggestion: Choose an elder statesman (or stateswoman) as VP who will be too old to run in 8 years, but who would be capable as president should the worst happen. That will leave the slot open for someone really great to emerge.
Sharon Toji
So you know how we feel.
.While Hillary as VP choice might help get Obama elected, then what? Even Gov. Rendell, an ardent Hillary supporter, said it would not be a good matchup. She would be too much of a distraction for Obama and I'm sure he doesn't want Bill looking over his shoulder second guessing him. Besides Hillary will be running again in 2012. Shw already has the domain name locked down. Obama needs a VPwho will help him govern as well as get the White House. IMHO
If your Article proposed a workable solution to the Bill Clinton presence - then the rest of your proposal made sense. Come back with some ideas that BC would agree to . If you can't - go and find another day job.
This is nothing short of hysterical in light of the Atlantic revelations that came out today online.
Needed immediately, kool aid rehab.
LOL!
If she gets the offer and declines, we may never know it.
Al Gore.
He said publicly that he would do anything asked of him to elect Obama. OK, hold him to the promise. Be his running mate. It would be such a bold, positive move, it would be shocking and leave McCain speechless. You play it this way: My campaign is about change, and Vice President Gore is going to change the image of the job in the Obama administration. Instead of a figurehead, he will be tasked with a moon-shot style challenge: to elminate America's dependency on foreign oil within eight years.
Or something like that.
Do it. It's a no-brainer. And like I said, all you have to do is hold him to his pledge.
A Cabinet position maybe or as you suggest some type of energy independence/climate change czar.
And If he finds out after the election that Obama wasn't sincere in giving him real authority over what he cares about, he can always resign.
Don't overthink it. Just hold him to his promise.
It's all about conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom said Obama would have no chance of getting the nomination, Hillary was a lock. Conventional wisdom says Gore would never accept the VP post. But Gore made the offer to do anything asked of him.
Going outside the conventional wisdom would yield so much more positive momentum than any other running mate. There are plenty of expert, conventional-thinking opinions on why this WON'T happen. Try and convince me it isn't a great idea.
Better yet, convince Obama that he should do it.
You forget Eleanor Roosevelt.