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.
Loading comments… 
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 disconnect
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 presidenti
Governor Palin is agaisn't universal health care. She believes that we should take personal responsibi
Bring in Hillary Clinton as part of the new Obama administra
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
Pretty interestin
Abraham Lincoln
John Kennedy
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Martin Luther King
Thomas Jefferson
Ulysses S. Grant
Ted Kennedy
It doesn't take much effort to produce a list of people who have clearly and unambiguou
Indeed, would you not credit every American serviceman and servicewom
would have made McCain look totally foolish in the military and national security arena.
Let's see, Obama has a huge, almost insurmount
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-
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.
Although she mentioned her support for Obama/ Biden more than once in the interview, she totally missed the opportunit
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.
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.
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 compartmen
Clintons & Obamas are like oil & water - they do not mix! I wish ignorant journalist