Ed Kilgore: “The case for an Obama-Clinton ticket, also known as, you got any better ideas?”
Thomas Schaller: “He would lose his claim to being the candidate of change — and probably wouldn’t get any swing states in return.”
Read, then discuss.
I don’t know what the best choice for Obama is. I think Hillary clearly would help him in some swing states, but would she hurt him in others? He is presumably doing the state polling now to figure that out.
UPDATE: In what doesn’t look like a smart move to me, the Obama campaign has hired Patti Solis Doyle, who was responsible for many of the Clinton campaign’s enormous strategic errors, to be chief of staff for Obama’s future running mate.
Insiders are interpreting this as a signal that Obama is not even considering Hillary for VP. Clinton and Solis Doyle have apparently been estranged since Solis Doyle was fired right after Super Tuesday.
If I were Obama, I would not be going out of my way to insult the Clinton camp right now.
SECOND UPDATE: Matt Stoller is still advocating for Wes Clark as VP, and I find it hard to disagree after watching this video:
The VP candidate needs to help build the case against John McCain. Without coming across as strident, Clark makes a very effective case against McCain on national security (supposedly McCain’s strength). Clark’s longtime ties to the Clintons would help unite the party as well.
5 Comments
Totally agree with Schaller
As for having any better ideas, Obama-Richardson, Obama-Biden, Obama-Webb, Obama-Clark, Obama-Sebelius, Obama-Brown, and Obama-Edwards.
noneed4thneed Mon 16 Jun 1:16 PM
Obama-Webb would be a total disaster
Natasha Chart and Matt Stoller have explained why at length. He would be alienating to the very constituency Obama needs to unite the party. Also, he is not a strong campaigner and does not enjoy campaigning.
Leave him in the Senate, with an occasional foray onto news analysis programs.
I suspect Obama-Sebelius would backfire.
The other choices you mentioned would all be fine with me, although I think Richardson would be better in the cabinet than on the ticket.
desmoinesdem Mon 16 Jun 4:37 PM
Why not another woman?
Desmoinesdem – I believe you mentioned in some other post that you think picking another, “less qualified than Hillary” woman would not be good. When you look at Sebelius, who has more than 20 years in elected office (6 of them as governor), do you think she is less qualified than Hillary? I would think it would be very difficult to argue that Hillary is more qualified than Napolitano or Sebelius.
I understand Sebelius is not a perfect candidate by traditional balancing act purposes. Too much change (black man & a woman), no foreign or defense policy credentials, no significant geographic strength. But, I still think it could be an interesting, bold move by Obama. Plus, she was an insurance commissioner for 8 years. Maybe she could actually help bring us some sort of universal coverage.
Anyways, as a man I cannot really understand the Hillary relationship with women. Why is it that some women feel that if it’s not Hillary, Obama should not pick a woman?
rf Mon 16 Jun 9:37 PM
if you are trying to appeal to a certain constituency
then pick the most prominent person who has a strong connection to that constituency.
So, if Obama decides his priority is going to be to use the VP pick to reach out to Latinos, he should choose Richardson and not some other Hispanic politician who is much less known.
Or, if he decides he wants a military person on the ticket, he should pick Wes Clark and not some general no one’s ever heard of, who has no campaign experience.
I like Sebelius, but she hasn’t had 18 million people vote for her, and she hasn’t inspired record turnout by women in numerous state primaries.
I have advocated for Obama to pick someone who endorsed Clinton if he’s not going to pick Hillary. That would help unify the party quickly. Picking a woman who endorsed Obama is not going to help mend fences with the Clinton supporters, in my opinion.
But a lot of smart people seem to think Sebelius is an ideal pick for him, so who knows?
desmoinesdem Mon 16 Jun 11:30 PM
women-vps
I agree with the assessment that he should pick the “most prominent person who has a strong connection to that constituency.” By that argument if he wants to appeal to Hillary supporters he should pick Hillary. I don’t know that picking someone who supported her would do nearly as much to heal the party as picking Hillary herself.
But if he can’t work with her for whatever reason, then would Sebelius be a good second choice? I’m not sure. I like Sebelius too, and I would like a woman to be vice-president, but I have to admit I’m a little mad at her for picking Obama over Hillary.
lorih Tue 17 Jun 10:56 AM