Would Clinton make a good VP?

Email Print posted by saeed19 06/08/2008 08:48:12 AM EST

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Should Obama pick Clinton?

 

That is the question that many are pondering, as Obama and his team weigh the pro's and con's.  

Consider this:

1. The overall democratic voter turnout was the largest in history (over 36 million). 

2.  These voters were almost evenly divided between the two candidates

3. The roughly 18 million that voted for Obama probably would vote for Obama in the general, not vote for McCain (or stay home), no matter who Obama picks for VP.

4. As to the 18 million that voted for Clinton, they are more likely to vote for Obama in the general election if he picks her (not all of them will vote for him, even if he picks her, but they are more likely to do so, compared to if he were to pick someone else).

Therefore, for Obama to get the highest percentage of voters in the general election, of those that voted in the primaries, he almost has to pick Clinton.

Given the historically record numbers of voters who have come out in the primaries, it is likely that most Democratic voters in the general election will have to come from the same set.

There are those who say that he doesn't have to pick Clinton to get the same effect.  They argue that he could pick a Clinton supporter, or perhaps another prominent Democratic female politician.  That is absurd.  Would that argument have worked in reverse.  If Clinton had won, would Obama supporters have felt satisfied if Clinton had picked another black politician, instead of Obama.  Would Charlie Rangel or Harold Ford mollified these voters?  People cannot be substituted like that.  The emotional connection to supporters would be absent.  Charlie Rangel, Harold Ford or some other substitute would not have the experience of the last several months on the campaign trail to dominate the Republican opposition.

Can you imagine a VP debate with Clinton and whoever the Republicans put up?  After the 22 debates she has had over the last several months, she'll destroy that person.  She is on her game.  She is tenacious, and she finished the Democratic with astounding fervor.

Some have argued that by picking her, it would create a three-headed monster with two of the heads being named Clinton.  I say bring it on.  Let's see how the Republicans like that.  

 

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Would Clinton make a good VP? | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
I dont see any options on the poll (none / 0)
it just has a vote button but it doesnt have  Yes or No

No she should not be vice president. I know that others have chosen the runner up  to be vice president. Kerry did. Regan did . BUT  Hillary has an ex president for a husband. It wouldnt work out.

by Chinese Democracy on 06/08/2008 09:36:19 AM EST

The INVISIBLE Poll says NO! (none / 0)

For some reason, Clinton's supporters have a bizarre emotional attachment to her candidacy, attaching their own self-worth to her success or failure. Or they're dittoheads who never intended to vote Democratic in the general election anyway.

Hey! This is politics! There are winners and losers. One candidate wins. Everyone else loses. It's disappointing when your candidate loses, but the other Dems are good choices too. My first two choices dropped out after Super Tuesday.

NO! Hillary should NOT be the VP candidate. Bribes and blackmail are bad reasons to select a VP. But the worst reason to avoid her is her husband. Obama doesn't need to watch his back and fight off their pressures when he does his own job. He needs to choose someone he trusts to work with him, not follow another agenda.

Clinton has too many negatives, starting with her crazy idea that campaigning for John McCain was a good idea. She may have more experience--if you can call nepotism real experience--but her judgement hasn't been very good since 9/11. 

by zenie on 06/08/2008 10:02:21 PM EST

No. (none / 0)

The notion that the people who voted for Hillary won't vote for Obama is silly and wrong headed.

She will bring out the Republican vote, all right - for John McCain! She is more hated than loved in this country.

If you are looking for a way for Dems to lose in November, keep pushing for Hillary as VP. You WILL get your wish.

by MedfordTim on 06/09/2008 08:15:01 PM EST

Ambition vs. desperation (none / 0)
She's qualified for the post, but isn't she aware that, by taking the VP spot, she'll look like the "lucky contestant" who just won a copy of the home game and nothing else?  I can appreciate her resolve, but desperation isn't becoming.

by OneHitKill on 06/09/2008 08:44:56 PM EST

Hillary did NOT win close to 18 million votes (none / 0)

Another analysis of the ongoing discrepancies in state after state, primary after primary, shows--again--that the primary results were hacked.

There's a consistent pattern:  In primaries where the results were hand-counted, the exit polls matched the results. Where electronic voting and tallying were used, many of the exit polls were off by amounts that were much greater than the margin of error. In caucus states where voters were face to face and voted openly, albeit in closed rooms, the exit polls matched the results.

 
We present evidence supporting the hypothesis that systematic attempts are being made to manipulate the results of the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination contest, through overt means such as crossover voting by non-Democrats, and through covert means targeted at the electronic vote tabulation process itself. The net effect has been to prolong the nomination battle and sharpen its negativity, thereby boosting the prospects of the Republican nominee and making more plausible his "victory" in November-either by an honest count, or through continued exploitation of the proven security vulnerabilities in American voting systems.

We have a serious problem. The 2008 election will be hacked, just like the 2004 and 2000 elections, and elections back to 1988 when electronic voting machines were first used. Hacking, caging and all the other dirty tricks will be used, and nothing much has been done to eliminate them. The best we can do is to win by overwhelming numbers. Sadly, a spread of at least 10-15% is needed to overcome the dirty tricks.

Hillary lost New Hampshire, and state after state that she "won" with the help of Republicans who have been pushing her campaign since 2001. If we don't remain aware of the problems with e-voting and do something about it quickly, say hello to President McCain. 

by zenie on 06/10/2008 08:32:27 AM EST

Would Clinton make a good VP? | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
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