A second look at Clinton
I think the media has largely written Clinton off as a possible VP choice, but I think it’s actually been making a lot more sense recently than it did before. I should be clear – I’m not saying it’s my preferred choice or that I expect it, but I think it makes a lot more sense than most people seem to realize. I should also say that I’m not a bitter former Clinton supporter. I was ambivalent and happy with both during the lead-up to the primary, started to lean towards Obama around Iowa and New Hampshire, supported him clearly after the crap Clinton pulled in South Carolina, and got increasingly annoyed at Clinton as she stayed in and went negative after she had no hope of winning.
A lot of the reasons for not picking her have disappeared. Early on, it looked like if he had picked her he would have been caving to pressure from her supporters, but expectations of her being selected are now so low that I think Obama has clearly established his ability to pick someone else. If he picks her, it’ll be seen as a proactive choice by most, I think. I also think it will be much more surprising. Most of the reasonable choices are widely suspected, and only a few (Richardson?) would come as much of a surprise. Most of the ones that would be surprising would also be obscure. Clinton seems like a unique way to generate a lot of excitement. It was also help with her former supporters, most of which seem to have come around to Obama, but are less stable in their support and less enthusiastic. (This boost can even be tied to specific states like Florida, where her supporters are greater in number.)
More importantly, Clinton has secured in the primary – deserved or not – the status of the experienced, well-qualified candidate. She brings with her the image of someone with good national security credentials without generating the stories about how he picked her to fill in his national security gap. She is also someone who could add these credentials without seeming to some to overshadow the nominee. They’ve gone against each other and she lost, so no one will wonder about why it is that Obama was picked over Clinton. Well, some will, but the answer is clear – his greater ability to inspire, his better campaign management skills, and so forth.
That’s not to say there won’t be downsides. The biggest downside is named Bill Clinton, who will be difficult to control and very tricky to use, but could end up being a benefit if all goes optimally. There will also definitely be some stories about satisfying disgruntled Clinton supporters, but it wouldn’t be assumed without question that this was the reason for picking her.
Biden or Bayh or whoever definitely might be better, but I think Clinton does deserve at least another quick look.
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I agree that Hillary is Obama’s best pick. I supported Obama throughout the campaign, but I recognize that Hillary has become a very effective campaigner with a large loyal following. As a running mate, many of her husband’s close supporters in politics and the media would campaign harder for an Obama/Clinton ticket as well. But Obama will probably pick someone else. I’m “betting” on Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.
I have to disagree with this analysis given the particular circumstances concerning the battle for the White House.
As soon as Senator Clinton conceded the race to Obama, her supporters immediately launched a campaign to have her chosen as his vice presidential running mate. Some Clinton supporters urged him to pick her as his running mate while others launched an unsuccessful petition drive to have her selected as the vice presidential running mate.
Obama wisely put that debate to rest (at least temporarily) and blamed Mr. Clinton’s library funding disclosure as an issue that would deter him from selecting Senator Clinton as his running mate.
These questions will resurface should Mr. Obama pick Senator Clinton as his running mate. Pundits will ask each other why the candidate who once appeared politely dismissive towards an Obama-Clinton ticket would reverse course. Their answer – desperation.
Obama cannot appear weak and he cannot be overshadowed by his running mate at a time when voters question his potential as a commander-in-chief.
As it is, he’s giving Senator Clinton and her husband two prime time speaking slots and they are not being cramped into one day.
The former president, for his part, has offered Obama nothing to prove his loyalty. He was not humbled by his wife’s concession speech. No, he said Obama must come to him and ask him for political support and last week he refused to vouch for Obama’s readiness to serve.
Obama can get the experience and blue collar appeal from Senator Joe Biden. No questions about the former president’s role in the White House will surface. Obama will not have to compete with the Clinton soap opera for press doverage.