It's Time for Clinton-Obama '08

With the voters clearly divided about who should be the nominee, and with personality, tact and age - rather than policy - distinguishing the two candidates, it's time for them to come together and form a unified ticket to defeat John McCain in November.  The only way this happens is with a Clinton-Obama ticket.

Allowing this race to go to Pennsylvania - which will not make a significant impact on delegate count - and beyond only sows greater disunity in the party and requires the candidates to combat each other AND the Republicans.  It's a waste of time and money.  While McCain unifies his party and heaps attacks on the Democrats, Obama and Clinton are still scrambling for support from real voters and from so-called SuperDelegates in a process that makes Florida 2000 look like the paradigm of democracy.  The candidates should end the madness, create a unified ticket, and focus on November.

Why Clinton-Obama?  I'm no fan of Senator Clinton, but

1. there's no way she drops out.  There's not a magnanimous bone in her body. If one of these candidates withdraws from the race to take the bottom slot on the ticket, it would be Obama.
2. Obama makes sense on either end of the ticket.  Senator Clinton would be a lousy VP candidate and a drag for an Obama presidency.  As VP Obama strengthens the Democratic ticket. 
3. Clinton has won the large states and has a firm grip on the Democratic base.  Though Texas will likely go for McCain, and California would go for anybody flying the Democratic flag - even Kucinich - she's got strength in core Democratic areas.  This cannot be denied.
4. If the Dems lose to McCain with Clinton at the top of the ticket, Clinton takes the fall and Obama is the Democrat front-runner for 2012.
5. One big caveat - I think this works only if Clinton and Obama agree to a Cheney-style Vice Presidency - that is, a Vice Presidency with real power and influence, a Vice Presidency worth more than a "warm bucket of spit," as VP John Garner once called it.  Obama supporters (like me) could stomach a Clinton presidency if we believe he has real influence in the Executive Branch.  Plus, by dropping out of the race now - while he's ahead (but unable to secure the nomination without ugly intraparty politicking) - he retains his political power and public appeal.  There is no way that a charismatic Obama with a ton of delegates and huge fundraising appeal doesn't redefine the Vice Presidency on the campaign trail and in office, and use it to the party's advantage in shaping domestic and international policy.

It kills me to say this, but I think a Clinton-Obama ticket is the way to go.  It won't happen, but that's what my politically naive brain has come up with this morning.

Comments

[LP]

Clinton-Obama '08 will mean John McCain will be running for re-election in 2012. He will soundly trounce any ticket with Clinton on it, in spite of the blustering nonsense from some of the zealots in his own party.

[Rachel]

Oy. I agree that the continued bickering is only hindering the Dems success in November, but I think that, as he's progressed and grown before our eyes into the Presidential candidate he is today, Barack Obama is learning that he can't just drop out, even for a VP nom.

I think any incarnation of a Clinton-Obama ticket, despite how influential the VP would be, would mean an even *more* split Democratic party. If the candidate who doesn't win takes it gracefully, endorses the winner, and gets out of the limelight as best as he/she can, Democrats may still be able to rally around the nominee. If they're on the ticket and in the spotlight, I think there are going to be a lot of bitter voters (especially if Obama's the one that gets the VP spot--his supporters tend to be a bit more...enthusiastic.)

Also, I agree with what you said a few posts ago: any Clinton ticket means she's got to completely reexamine her narrative.

Overall, I think that this fight has already gone too far, and we're facing some serious issues in the Democratic party that may cost us the election. While I think a Clinton-Obama ticket has a shot...it's only if a lot of conditions are met (like the ones you mentioned, about a Dick Cheney-like Vice Presidency), and I think that's highly unlikely.

[PS]

I think that Clinton does have what it takes to be president, but I think that she polarizes people for various reasons. I can intellectually support her, but I don't really "like" her. I really hate to think of another Republican 4 years. Maybe that thought will cause enough people to vote democratic no matter what.

We need a president who is both caring and strong, a good leader who is also a listener. I always wonder about these politicians who go out to be "among the people" who talk and talk and talk. When do they really listen?

I also can't help but wonder about the "ambition" of somebody who runs for president. Who can possibly think that he/she is good enough to do that job? The ambition part always puts me off.

Getting a president is like getting a spouse. My mom told me that you look for a trait that is different from what your father/mother had and then you get stuck with a trait you didn't know enough to look for.

I just hope that we get somebody that the Christian Right can support so we don't have the type of nonsense we've had for the last 16 years.

BTW, why is your blog requesting a double sign in? I'm listed as me, but it wants all the info again.

[Andy]

As a life-long Demoncrat, I'm convinced that most people misunderstand the real purpose of the Democratic primary system. The real purpose of the Democratic primaries, as can be seen by looking at every candidate we've produced for the past 40 years, is to select the least electable candidate available. We've been really efficient at it, but a few of them have been elected anyway. This year, the odds are stacked heavily enough in the Democrats' favor that we need to take some extra steps to ensure that the eventual candidate will be mostly unelectable. A long, bitter primary process, with super-delegates making the ultimate decision and delegates from Florida and Michigan not being counted should do the trick. If I'm right, Hillary gets the nomination. For extra fun, Obama could run as an independent and force the general election to be decided in the House of Representatives.

Personally, I'm rooting for John Edwards as VP. I think Edwards makes more sense on an Obama ticket, but I'm planning to vote for Hillary anyway (see above).

I'm just excited by the possibility that my vote (in May!) might actually matter.

[LawAndGospel]

I think that of your remarks, #5 is the one that won't happen. I cannot envision 3 people in the Oval Office. And even if lipservice is paid to Obama as VP, there will be the Bill factor. He can't be out of the loop, and she doesn't strike me as the sharing type. If personalities were different I would feel differently. But for the first time in memory PA's primary might be a real deal.

[John Petty]

Interesting points, Chris. I think the odds of this happening has ratcheted up a bit in the past couple of days. I'd like to see it because I think we'd have the White House for 16 years--8 with President Clinton, and 8 with President Obama.

[Bruce]

I don't see it. Obama is young enough that he can run in 4, 8, or 12 years, so there is no reason to side-track into a dead-end job. Hillary wouldn't let him make the VP a strong office anyway. I think the Dems will continue to try to self-destruct. Dislike of Bush carrying over to McCain may be the only thing that saves them.

[David]

No way Obama agrees to share the vice presidency with Bill Clinton. That being said, there is no doubt that another four years of Bush-like policies would be tragic, but Clinton The Sequel isn't exactly something I want to see either. Why not? Just ask Vince Foster.

[John Carlson]

First, John Nance Gardner said the Vice-Presidency wasn't worth a," warm bucket of PISS." Second, Hillary wouldn't pick anyone who could overshadow her in any way, a Obama is smart enough to not put Hillary in a position where she could undermine him. The VP for Obama will most likely be Kathleen Sebelius ( Gov of Kansas) or (less likely) Janet Napolitano (Gov of Arizona). Picking the Gov of Arizona to run against John McCain would be a hoot!