No Nightmare Ticket

I have no idea what's in Sen. Hillary Clinton's head as far as her endgame is concerned. But there is speculation (uninformed, probably) that she wants maximum leverage to pressure Sen. Barack Obama into putting her on the ticket. And Time reports that President Clinton is pushing his wife for VP, even though no one knows what Sen. Clinton wants.

That would be a disastrous idea for several reasons.

Wrong Message: It undermines Obama's central campaign theme of "change," that it's time to "turn the page."

Looks Weak: It would be perceived as a decision made under duress, indirectly undermining his foreign policy argument that he would maintain toughness while conducting diplomacy.

Constant Distractions: The Clintons are a continuing train wreck of psychodrama that would repeatedly distract and overshadow. (Note how far President Clinton's poll numbers have dropped in recent months.)

Iraq: Obama would have difficulty attacking McCain's foreign policy judgment on the Iraq war if his running mate displayed the same poor judgment.

The main argument for Clinton is to help bring in more white working-class voters. But just because she's doing better than Obama with them in the primary is no evidence she's the only or best option to attract those voters.

For example, Sen. Jim Webb (VA), Gov. Ted Strickland OH), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR), former Sen. Sam Nunn (GA), Sen. Evan Bayh (IN), Sen. Jay Rockefeller (WV). Gov. Phil Bredesen (TN), Gov. Brian Schweitzer (MT), Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS), just to name a few.

Furthermore, I'm not convinced Obama needs the electoral college help.

He's beating McCain in seven out of eight major polls taken this month: up 10 points in yesterday's Zogby poll., others generally around 5-7.

Yes, it's early for national polls. But keep in mind polls from this month have been conducted after Obama has taken plenty of fire, and McCain has gotten off light.

He may be relatively weak in Appalachia. But he's still holds PA versus McCain. And a national lead that big should help Obama pick up states like Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and maybe more.

Everyone is focused on how to handle Clinton to avoid deep fissures in the party, for good reason. Obviously, Clinton should to be properly considered as any popular figure in the party would.

But expectations can't get too high either.

A quicker decision may help in that regard. Expectations won't build too much, and any bad feelings will have time to heal.

There's no need to draw out the suspense. Obama's candidacy is exciting on its own.

After Clinton concedes, the veep search should be the first order of business. And when the decision is made, and the vetting is completed, don't wait to announce.

Slightly different version initially posted at LiberalOasis.

Follow Bill Scher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billscher

Comments

[MrHHusseinMA]

Jim Webb is out of consideration. Please read the post, "Jim Webb's Baggage" right here on huffpost. In a year when women are up in arms we do not want such a distraction.

[SShaw490]

I know exactly what is in Hillary's head - She and Bill have been selling future White House access for the last 8 years, netting $120 million for it, and if she doesn't wind up in the White House in some form or fashion, they're going to have some mighty unhappy customers. I guess they can point out the fine print that says, "In the unlikely event that Hillary doesn't wind up president, any promises are null and void and investor has no claim to a refund", but that's not going to be very satisfying. Sure, those "investors" will be a little steamed that Hillary winds up being VP instead of president, but that's a lot better than nothing.

The only problem with this scheme is this - she's not going to be VP. Picking her as a running mate solves some political problems and possibly even an electoral one or two (jury is out on that), but it is absolutely the wrong pick on any governing, leadership level; so I don't think he'll do it. In fact, I think he'll dare her to take her fight to the convention, and I think he'd be happy to have her empty her gun and become a nobody in the party, which is what will happen when her antics cost Obama and the Democrats the election. Everyone in America will know it was her fault when we wind up McBush as president, and she will never again - ever - have any

[sand252]

She is not going to be on the ticket. Maybe a cabinet member offer -- but ticket no. Not this time.

[Peace15Progress]

Also, let's not forget she essentially took her name off the ticket when she proclaimed that McCain had the preparation to be commander in chief but that Obama didn't. Basically, this is one reason he MUST take someone with military or very strong foreign policy creds. Remember, after she said this is when the Dem big dogs like Pelosi started answering dream ticket questions with "It ain't gonna happen. Trust me on this."

[Peace15Progress]

I used to be a huge Clinton supporter and even gave her $100 when I was living off of student loans and up to my ears in debt. But, after seeing this primary, I would also add these:

-A questionable $500 million given to the Bill Clinton's library (Saudi, Chinese, and other billionaires who will want favors repaid), plus millions more to his charity that flies him around the world in a private jet.
-Millions for "speeches" by questionable companies and governments given to him after he left office. Any fool can imagine what he told them would happen to their interests starting in 2009.
-Marc Rich and other very shady pardons (Rich's ex-wife gave big $$$ to Clinton's library right before the pardon)
-Bill's "investment" firm.
-Peter Paul in California (look for it on YouTube, it's a Republican "nuclear option" waiting to happen).
-Scorched earth ruthless power-grabbers who believe the(ir) end justifies the means should be shown the door in our politics.
-Ruthless people one heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world.
-"I... did not... have sex with that woman."
-"Screw 'em!"

[w&cheneysuck]

This is an excellent case as to why Hillary should not be Obama's running mate! I would also add Rendell to the negative list. Rendell praised Farrakahn in 1997 and this will haunt the campaign. Also, Rendell has had overtones of black issues (PA residents not ready to vote for black candidate)...I'm a PA resident that disagrees wit him and his potential candidacy.....

[nellie]

Wrong Message
Looks Weak
Constant Distractions
Iraq

Those are four really solid reasons for not having Clinton on the ticket, number three being my personal pick for top reason. Add to that the years of opposition research the Republican party has done on Hillary Clinton, the Clinton scandals, the Clinton soundbites from this primary, and I can't see a good reason to choose Hillary as VP. Party unity isn't good enough, because that will come about regardless. As for the Clinton supporters who are so caught up in their own disappointment that they can't see what's best for the country, let's just be thankful they are in the minority. Most people, most Democrats, care about what's happening to our jobs and our mortgages and our household budgets and our economy and our environment and our media and our energy policy and our health care system and our military personnel and our constituti­on—a­nd will do the right thing.

[TrueIndy08]

tell me how she stacks up against Sen Webb??? He is the number 1 pick... and once he is formally asked, he will accept....

all of her fictious Bosnian sniper tales can't hold up to his Vietnam days... him being Sec of the Navy....

no sorry Hillary, you don't match up... GO AWAY

[BlueAsh]

Well said! Forcing oneself onto a ticket may be politics, but the way it's happening sounds more like blackmail.

The president must be in a position of strength in order to serve the country well; he/she cannot be a figure head. The VP must not hijack the agenda and set up a separate operation--look what has happened with the Bush/Cheney combo.

[GaiasChild]

Well did you see the analyst who said if Clinton's on ticket, the Republican ads will all star her grinding Obama down. I think that's a prudent concern because it hurts Obama and it makes her look destrucrtive and loony. The Republicans are going to use everything they've got because they are afraid of getting a liberal judge on the Supreme Court. They will fight very dirty because of that. But how nice, if they can use our ticket against itself.

[GaiasChild]

If Bill is asking for the job for her, she wants it. He would never dare do that without her agreement or even instigation. She would not be the best candidate for VP for Obama. He and his task force will tally everybody's pluses and minuses and maybe we'll find out who's on the short list.

[missjabez]

If Obama chose Hillary, I would wonder if the Clintons were blackmailing him or what kind of threats they were making against him. They are no better than mobsters.

[bluevillage]

Divorcing Bill might help her get on the ticket.

[iluvsam]

If you're an Obama supporter, and you claim he has great judgment in matters of great importance (as he's been saying all through the campaign), if he picks Hillary as his running mate, you should respect his good judgment, right? You're not going to back down and say he DOESN'T have good judgment if he picks her are you? Are you going to blog about how he doesn't make good decisions? If he picks her, and you want him to win, you've gotta live with it and accept it. You'll have no choice.

[JimR]

I am an Obama supporter. If he picks Hillary, I would seriously question his judgment.

But it ain't gonna happen.

[iluvsam]

So, you would admit that you were WRONG about his judgment all along?

[TrueIndy08]

I am an Obama supporter and I will talk his lack of judgement, him being spineless like the rest of the DEMS... I am an INDY... no party loyalty for the DEM party....

if he picks the SHREW(hillary)... I will sit out the election... plain and simple!!!

I don't trust her.. her lust for want to be POTUS will not stop with being the VP.... I predict something suspicious to happen to him and her "manifest destiny" will be fufilled....

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM IF SHE IS ON THE TICKET

[iluvsam]

And a lot of people won't vote for him if she's NOT on the ticket...

[Harrygton]

Good Point! The one thing that worries me about Obama is that he might be too pragmatic in the face of tough choices... there are certain principles which cannot be compromised... the truth is one of them and everything that has been pointed in this article is true... therefore if Obama picks her and then comes up with political platitudes to justify it, then we would know that he is chicken poop... like the rest of them!

[WorkingClass]

I voted for Nader in 2000 and 2004. I will vote for Obama UNLESS he puts Hillary on the ticket, in which case I will vote for Nader again. The DLC is why I am not a Democrat. Hillary is the DLC candidate and that is why I will not vote for her. Senator from New York is not chopped liver. If Hillary could see her senate seat as an opportunity for service instead of a stepping stone to higher office she could do a lot of good for the American people.

[nellie]

I don't say he has sound judgment because I'm a blind follower, as your post implies. I say he has sound judgment because the judgment he has demonstrated thus far, in my estimation, has been sound. I can make this assessment because I'm an independent thinker and not a lemming.

If he chooses Clinton as VP, he will lose some points in the mind of this independent thinker.

[burnt]

Thank you Bill... although I have a few more reasons, I couldn't agree with you more on those you presented.