Should Obama Have Picked Hillary As His Running Mate?

With Obama up in polls, the Palin narrative unraveling, and McCain embracing the mantle of underdog, events are starting to answer the question of whether Barack Obama should or should not have picked Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

In the months since Obama decided against adding Clinton to the ticket, much has transpired -- but nothing has changed. He made the right choice. He gained his current lead in spite of her and he very likely avoided big problems because of her.

First, there is -- let's just call it the Clinton factor.

True, disrespecting a woman who had made political history stirred up a swarm of Hillary supporters who swore they would vote McCain before supporting this interloper, who not only stole Hillary's moment, but wanted to award her second place.

But it quieted an equally passionate nation of Hillary-haters, who would give time and treasure to make sure the only way she got back to the West Wing is with a visitor's pass.

And then there is Bill. This is not a man who plays second fiddle easily. So playing second fiddle to the second fiddle sets up some dangerously untested dynamics. Obama must have watched his performance in Hillary's campaign and thought; "with friends like these ...". Also, of course, another national scandal and a crippling media frenzy could never be discounted.

The Clintons' combined lackluster performance on behalf of Obama so far in the general election offers a view of the kind of team members they would be in an administration. Hillary was visibly invisible until the numbers were already tilting toward Obama. Bill still seems to find it physically painful to offer anything but the faintest of praise.

But baggage aside, the rightness in Obama's call is also clear in the relative strengths of the two tickets.

If Obama had picked Clinton, it would not have helped his greatest vulnerability -- his inexperience. If you don't count time logged as first lady, (which did not resonate in the primaries and her fabrications of near-death experiences in the service of the country didn't help), then you have a four-year senator paired with a seven year senator.

McCain could have countered by finding a woman of his own. Transparent, maybe, and even sexist, but it would have given a female alternative in an election where women could tip the balance.

Would he have picked someone with the experience and gravitas of a Kay Bailey Hutchison, or would he have gone the glittering novelty of Sarah Palin? Given voter angst, economic agony, McCain's age and the excitement generated by the Obama campaign, odds are he would still have picked Palin.

Would Obama-Clinton have made a stronger counter to McCain Palin in attracting women? Doubtful.

Given Hillary's pro-choice problem with conservatives and the fact that liberals find virtually all Palin's positions toxic, most women will land where they would have anyway -- Hillary in or Hillary out. Most women have come to realize that Joe Biden has, in fact, one of the strongest voting records on women's' issues in the Senate.

Finally, remember: it was Obama who turned this race on its head. He is the one who energized the process and changed the assumptions.

Few if any vice presidential picks ever helped anybody win the White House. But as George McGovern learned with Thomas Eagleton; George H.W. Bush learned with Dan Quayle and John McCain is quite possibly learning with Sarah Palin, they can certainly help you lose it.

With Hillary Clinton, Obama would have added considerable risk to the ticket, but very little reward.

Comments

[unscum]

If Obama picked HRC as his running mate, the republicans would have had a field day. That's what the GOP wanted. Hillary to be the nominee and if not, Hillary on Obama's ticket. Denying them that took away the most important line of attack the republican had against the democrats. However, it would be great to see HRC in an Obama administration, assuming he wins this election.

[mmgbizgirl]

Time to Fast Forward.

[nuglet304]

shortage of relevant topics? writer's block? seriously, who's still asking about hillary as vp? well, i mean, besides you?

[MildredAntenor]

I’m a Barack Obama supporter and after watching the vice presidential debate, I still don’t know where governor Palin stands on the issues.

And what is a “Joe six pack” is? I found out recently that it means the average working American citizen. Do most immigrants and minorities know what the term means? By using a phrase like “Joe six pack” and so many other folkisms, governor Palin is sending a message that she is not concerned with being a leader for Americans but rather a small population of people that she is used to governing. She clearly is disconnected with the rest of America and its numerous ethnic groups.

Sarah Palin is not interested in fighting for the rights of women. If elected, her positions will put women back over 200 years especially with her position against abortion. She is clearly the wrong choice as a vice presidential candidate.

Governor Palin is agaisn't universal health care. She believes that we should take personal responsibility for that. But, she doesn’t take into account that there are many diseases like breast cancer,sickle cell anemia and a host of other illnesses that cannot be fully avoided through basic preventative means.

Bring in Hillary Clinton as part of the new Obama administration and appoint her as Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton has the experience to be the third most powerful person in the country and besides, Sarah Palin can’t hold a candle to Hillary Clinton.

[LizM]

You don't really want to see Senator Clinton in an Obama administration, do you?

I mean, I really think she would feel like the proverbial fifth wheel. Senator Obama has someone else in mind for Secretary of State, if I'm not mistaken. And, besides, Hillary would serve a far more beneficial role for the Democrats in the Senate. She really is needed there and it would be a great jumping off spot for her should she decide to go through this again in another eight years.

Oh, and I sure hope that there aren't any "Hillary supporters" left out there who are Palin fans now, but your comment seems to imply that there are more than a few. I trust that is not the case - for all of our sakes!

[Paralogos]

Why don't we argue about whether William Howeard Taft should have named Teddy Roosevelt as his running mate? It would be about as useful.

[fayemac]

OH PLEASE! I cant believe this crap. Some how when Obama is 11 points ahead because of the economy now it time to say what a great job he did on his vp pick and trash Hillary. What a bunch of ingrates you people are. Nobody has worked harder than Hillary for this country and for that matter Obama. I still say Hillary should start her own party for the good of all people who think that both candidates suck. In all honesty can any of you say you thought that was a good debate? For anybody who acutuly sat through that and the one before it, it proved that Hillary should have been there to clean McCains clock on the issues because Obama still needs aproval from his aids before he says anything unscripted.

[truthskr]

"...because Obama still needs aproval from his aids before he says anything unscripted."

Pretty interesting statement considering Clinton herself said and did EVERYTHING her advisors - Ickes, McAuliffe, Penn - told her to say and do, no matter how much it flew in the face of logic or decency. Hillary did not have a single unscripted or unstrategized moment in her entire campaign. Pity, she's such an incredibly intelligent woman - I have little doubt that if she'd ran her own campaign, written her own dialogue, planned her own strategy, she'd be the one poised to take the WH right now. But instead, she handed entire control of her campaign, a campaign that represented the first legitimate shot at a female president, over to a bunch of white, overfed, overpaid, misinformed men who couldn't even figure out that CA, among other states, wasn't winner take all (Penn) and either failed to understand, or simply refused to abide by, the very primary rules that they themselves wrote when they were heads of the DNC (Ickes and McAuliffe).

[FaceYourFears]

Thank you!

[fayemac]

Thats hilarious because Obama sure has run to the middle in a hurry. Who the heck got him there? I even saw Obama drinking a beer the other day in one of the battle grounds. HUMMM I wonder whos running the boat now. I also understand that the whole Clinton economic team is the ones running his policies now. One thing I do agree with you about is Mark Penn> He should have never been asked let alone put to the top of her camp. But the one thing missing from Obama is his ability to conect to people something Hillary had in spades.

[fayemac]

Tell me one thing that he has said that wasnt scripted. OH I know, How bout I will talk to dictators ASAP. Or how bout Lets give all undocumented workers drivers licences. What really bothers me is weather hell follow thru on these unscripted promises he made.

[newshawk14]

I think Obama made the right choice. I'm perfectly happy with Joe Biden, but I think Wesley Clark
would have made McCain look totally foolish in the military and national security arena.

[rtblues]

Um, Peggy, the answer is, a resounding NO!
Let's see, Obama has a huge, almost insurmountable lead,
and you decide to write a column asking this?
Peggy, L E T I T G O. Really....
If hindsight IS in fact 20-20, then Biden looks pretty much like
a golden choice, as they are trouncing McCain and whats-her-name...

[Squirtapotamus]

You didn't read the article, did you?

[SteveDenver]

I had the same reaction to the headline, but then I read the article.

With the "Write Hillary In" campaign by the PUMAs, I'm especially incensed at the effort to split the vote. I wish Hillary would loudly and vocally denounce the PUMAs and this campaign.

I think Hillary Clinton is a great woman. I'm glad ot see she has stepped up visibility on Obama's campaign.

[Americanwhiner]

Isn't it a little late to still be stirring the Hillary pot, Peggy? Have to admit though...I liked Hillary's slogan "Jobs, Baby Jobs!" Good one.

[kyria]

It would have been folly for Obama to choose someone who has said she'd do anything to be president. Anything? Really?

[395spoons]

Exactly!

[UKlondongal]

Well I think her recent spin on Fox Newts just answered this one.

Although she mentioned her support for Obama/ Biden more than once in the interview, she totally missed the opportunity to point out that attacks on Palin have nothing to do with sexism and absolutely everything to do with how unqualified she is! How could she sit there and tacitly agree to being compared with Flalin' Palin?

I couldn't work out if the interview was a clever ploy by Hill to try to woo the numbskulls who are addicted to Fix News, or an even more clever ploy to set herself up for POTUS round II in 2012.

[preatorius]

if clinton hadn't taken the low road, and had walked away without drgging his name through the mud, she might have been considered. As it stands now, he seem to be doing fine without her!

[momuv2]

Obama is not just smart but brilliant in his choices. He has been strategically ahead of his opponents since the primaries. He will not get credit or attention for his superior judgement, intelligence and leadership from media or journalist but I'll say it over and over again, HE IS BRILLIANT!!

[MsCanadian]

I absolutely agree! Obama is a strategist, and as we have watched, his strategy is winning out. When I saw that he had picked Joe Biden, my gut reaction was: "Wow! What a great decision!" This was in spite of knowing little about Biden. Now that I have seen him in the debate and have heard his other remarks, I know that he was a good pick.

I think Hillary had too much baggage, and her liability was Bill. As he had already been President, I don't think many people would have wanted to give him another strong position (via Hillary) in the White House. Much as I liked the Clintons when Bill was President, Obama did the right thing in picking Biden.

[DinSea]

With all the Clinton baggage & Bill's insurmountable ego ... after all the vitriol Hillary spewed at Obama during the primary ... after Bill's pouting session that still goes on with only tepid support for Obama ... you have to be out of your mind to even suggest either Clinton would be any less than 100 yards away from Obama's White House.

Hillary is doing her job supporting Obama for the sake of her arse and her career. She still has to live and work with these guys after all. She is more compartmental & can save her vendettas for a rainy day. Bill wears his ego on his sleeve and just cannot be a team player. He drags himself out to a rally and then makes it all about HIM and his sorry legacy.

Clintons & Obamas are like oil & water - they do not mix! I wish ignorant journalists would stop talking about it like it's even a possibility. Hillary is History -- let's move forward with Obama!