For Hillary

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.

Comments

[ChezMJ]

SPOT ON!!!

With Hillary as VP, Obama has my vote.

[CSNS56]

I totally agree with Curry and think his points are right on the money. After reading Stein's article that the RNC caused people to believe there was a conflict between O and Hill, I find the MSM's cons for Hill making no sense at all, now. Do they really have the inside track on who O is going to pick? I don't think it's going to be anyone on the short list. As far as a soultion for Bill, well O can make him an ambassador to keep him busy. However, I seriously don't think it would be a bad idea to have him around.

Loins don't like to be told what to do, so my bet is that we're all going to be surprised!!

[SharonToji]

I'm determined to vote for Obama, but I'm afraid I'll be holding my nose, especially if he chooses one of the mediocre men who have been mentioned. And I'd like to point out to those who say that Hillary couldn't even come up with a winning campaign that she came very close. This was a virtual tie, when you consider the numbers involved. Obama won by very little. Yes, he did win, so he gets the prize, but Hillary has earned the vice presidential slot, and it would make a historic, and I think, winning ticket. As for Bill, the Obama supporters seem to have forgotten what a popular president he was, and how popular he was until they started bashing him in order to get the nomination. I don't think that ambition can be faulted in a presidential candidate. If you don't have it, you probably shouldn't be running. Hillary and Bill, Barack and Michelle, all have it and then some. It's probably a tie.

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

[Democrab]

What "big change?" Are they still trying to sell that old sack of potatoes? Anyway, I donated to the DNC yesterday. More and more of us "Clintonistas" will continue to get on the Obama bandwagon. We are aware of the egregious alternative after all.

[Taratrue]

Not me. For the first time. No money from me.

[suzyku]

Obama does NOT need hillary, she is a detriment. She has now shown, via posted campaign emails, that she is NOT ready to lead, she is NOT able to make important decisions, she could NOT even manage her own campaign! I hope it's NOT hillary!

[gigi09]

What is so appalling is that you people seem to believe that Obama cannot win without the Clintons. I would rather Obama lose this election on his own rather than to be forced/manipulated into putting her on the ticket, which it is our opinion that he would certainly lose if she was there. The republicans are like hungry wolves waiting for the Clintons. I do believe most of the Hillary/HELLRaising JERKs are really republicans try to get her on the ticket so they can throw their dirt on Obama...guilt by association with the CLINTONS. There are enough Africans Americans out here that hate the Clintons and would stay at home Nov 4th and in 2012, if she is on the ticket! The ONLY victory that the Clintons will receive is that would have shown the world that they are two egotistical, self-serving, crooked, racist maniacs, thereby destroying their own warped legacy. Obama 08!

[Taratrue]

So, are you saying if Hillary was the nominee you would not vote for her and in turn help McCain win??

So you know how we feel.

[filo]

Bill:
.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

[carlsonloggie]

I and my wife are Obamicans. If Obama chooses Hillary as a running mate, we will vote for McCain. In fact, it is perhaps the one thing that would make us vote for McCain. So if you want to lose the Obamicans, by all means choose Hillary.

[Janelynne]

If you can vote for McCain for any reason, then you are not really Democrats.

[zeiben]

um...They said they were republicans...

[indy100]

If you can vote for McCain, as opposed to voting even for a third party candidate, you haven't learned a thing in the last 8 years. Why not just boycott the election instead of being "pissy" voter and choosing the opponent.

[muhair]

There is only one running mate who would guarantee Obama's presidency: David Petraeus.

[rhda]

Bill Curry,
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.

[siri2k]

I just read this.
This is nothing short of hysterical in light of the Atlantic revelations that came out today online.
Needed immediately, kool aid rehab.
LOL!

[SBlackmun]

It would be very smart of Obama to offer Clinton the vice-presidential slot. My question is, would she take it? She probably has little interest in being the veep--who does?--and less interest having a much younger guy calling the shots.

If she gets the offer and declines, we may never know it.

[Wingit]

Can you see the repubs campaign on her. Linking her name and situation to the Edwards name and situation. A huge distraction that the repubs would just grind and grind to distract the Obama campaign from the real issues. It's a no go for Hillary.

[TomBrentwood]

If he doesn't win in the South he's done. Hillary will not help him win.

[EdCohen]

Probably no one is going to read this, this far down, but you're missing the obvious. There's one running mate choice that will guarantee the election. Probably get 70 percent of the vote.

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.

[dreffein]

Al Gore would be a great choice but I doubt he'd be interested given his much greater world position (Nobel Peace Prize, Academy Award....). And of course, his ill-fated run for President in 2000 would make it also unlikely he'd settle for #2.

A Cabinet position maybe or as you suggest some type of energy independence/climate change czar.

[EdCohen]

He said he would do anything. He said he would do anything.

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.

[kotexbarbie]

Dude, you don't get it. Obama must be the star! No others are allowed to shine brighter! He only grudgingly gave Bill Clinton a spot at the convention. He will pick someone shorter and less attractive than himself.

[EdCohen]

I think Gore qualifies on both those counts.

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.

[thebyron]

"No [other] First Lady...learned so much while in the White House."

You forget Eleanor Roosevelt.