Does Clinton benefit from so-called 'dream ticket' talk?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/03/10/art.ticket.gi.jpg caption=" Could Clinton and Obama appear on the same ticket? Clinton appears to be fueling the speculation."](CNN) - It's an idea that's increasingly getting kicked around, especially by one campaign in particular.
The prospect of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama running on the same ticket has long been the subject of speculation, even before voters started weighing in at the polls earlier this year.
But following Clinton's wins in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island last week - a trifecta of victories that essentially salvaged her presidential hopes - the New York senator and her surrogates have repeatedly raised the issue themselves; raised it so often, in fact, that Obama made sure to shoot down the idea at a campaign event in Mississippi Monday.
"I want everybody to be absolutely clear," he said. "I'm not running for vice president. I'm running for president of the United States of America."
"This kind of gamesmanship, talking about me as VP but not ready for commander-in-chief, that's exactly the kind of doublespeak, double-talk that Washington is very good at," Obama added.
Obama isn't the only one who thinks Clinton has something up her sleeve when she raises the issue. CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley says the Illinois senator's campaign clearly recognizes its rival benefits from the increased speculation of a joint ticket.
"They understand that this is a way for the Clinton campaign to play some politics here," Crowley said. "If you suggest to voters, who might have some question about Barack Obama's experience, but they like his message of hope and change, that they could have both, and that maybe he could get eight years of seasoning, that's the suggestion here."(Watch Candy Crowley's analysis of Dem dream ticket talk)
Obama's comments Monday followed a week in which the prospect of a joint ticket was pushed by Clinton or a member of her campaign on at least four different occasions. Clinton herself raised the issue twice - once with a CBS interviewer on the morning after her March 4 primary wins, and on Friday during a campaign stop in Mississippi.
"I've had people say, 'Well I wish I could vote for both of you,'" she said. "Well, that might be possible some day. But first I need your vote on Tuesday."
Former President Bill Clinton also weighed in on the possibility over the weekend, calling the possible ticket 'unstoppable.'
"I know that she has always been open to it, because she believes that if you can unite the energy and the new people that he's brought in and the people in these vast swaths of small town and rural America that she's carried overwhelmingly, if you had those two things together she thinks it'd be hard to beat," he said in Mississippi Saturday.
And Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a fervent supporter of Clinton's, said on two different occasions he thinks whoever wins the Democratic race should offer the vice presidency to the other.
Gloria Borger, a senior political analyst for CNN, called the comments a Clinton "talking point."
"They're trying to say to people, you know 'wink, wink, if you make Hillary Clinton the nominee, she'll bring Barack Obama along.' It's a talking point, which is that with Hillary you get two for the price of one—if she is at the top of the ticket."
But there's no denying the Clintons recognize the strength Obama would bring to a presidential ticket. Each has attracted a distinct segment of the Democratic electorate: He consistently does well with upscale voters, independents, and African-Americans while she has performed well among women, older voters, and members of the working class.
"Thee Clintons clearly believe that Obama on the ticket would both unify the party and be a draw, particularly to those African-American voters who have been flocking to him. There is clearly some sense it would cement a Democratic victory."
So would Clinton herself accept the No. 2 slot should Obama finish the race on top?
"I don't make any predictions," Borger said.
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
UPDATE: Clinton said Monday all the V.P. speculation has taken on a life of its own:
"This thing has really been given a life of its own. A lot of Democrats like us both and have been very hopeful that they wouldn't have to make a choice, but obviously democrats have to make a choice, and I'm looking for to getting the nomination and it's preliminary to talk about whoever might be on whose ticket," she said while campaigning in Pennsylvania. "But I believe I am ready to serve on day one."
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"I'M PROUD TO HAVE RUN WITH BARACK"
"SHAME ON YOU, BARACK!"
" . . .WHO DO YOU WANT ANSWERING THE PHONE?"
"HE'D BE A PERFECT VICE PRESIDENT."
. . . . . . . BOTTOM LINE, I DON'T LIKE THE CLINTONS . . . . .AND BY "CLINTONS", I DON'T MEAN BILL 7 HILLARY, I MEAN ALL THE HILLARIES I'VE SEEN SO FAR. HARD TO KEEP TRACK.
I might consider Hillary as VP with Barach as President. Though, I don't think Barach could put up with Hillary's garbage. This would not be a dream ticket but it would be better than the other way around.
This is in response to saying that Obama is complaining and whining about the same old politics.
Let's see here. Clinton is saying the pledged delegates shouldn't matter to the superdelegates because she knows she won't win if the superdelegates voted the way their states did. Clinton is saying the media is favoring Obama, but after she wins three states, those talks stopped. I bet after the Wyoming victory and tomorrow's Mississippi victory, those talks will resume. What about the statement that even pledged delegates don't have to officially vote their way their state does. Yeah, you're right, Obama is a whiner, not quite.
The reality is she is trying to find any kind of scapegoat to win the nomination, cuz she's not getting the win from the american people, especially those that she is belittling in the "not important" states. I forgot that only people who live in big states opinions matter.
I don`t think she will gain anything from it. Hillary should keep sticking it to him and keep him on yhe ropes.Her constant offensive moves is what gave her the three victories last week. Obama is a cry baby with thin skin and seems to choke when being attacked, so I don`t know why she would even be so kind as to make the offer. Obama is just going to make her look silly by snubbing the idea of being number two. He sure has no intention of asking Hillary to be his VP. Hillary can`t win anyway, because if it comes down to super delegates, they will go with Obama. They will give in to the fear of racial riot or claims of discrimination, instead of voting the way their heart tells them two. The whole super delegate system should be outlawed. What gives these people the right to cast two votes, when it is illegal for you and I to do the same.
If Hillary wins the nomination, which she could well do, he may regret turning his nose up at the idea of a vice presidential spot on her ticket. If he loses this time around, it will mean his inexperience has been recognized by the voters, and being vice president would be a good way to accrue some experience and credentials to make him a viable candidate 8 years down the road. I hope he doesn't let his arrogance get the best of him.
...and Obama keeps windening the gap...another superdelgate today...that amkes 44 for Obama since Super Tuesday and -5 for Hillary...give it up Hillary...you are dividing the party and showing your lack of integrity which is needed at this time in American history.
You've answered her barack...just keep doing what you are doing!!
I cannot believe that people actually vote for that woman. Are people really that stupid?! I'm from the UK, and have been glued to this democratic race (and watching McCain when I couldn't sleep, which put me out like a light). Clinton is sneaky, snide, sleeked, insincere, vindictive, and power-hungry. She would sell her own grandmother, just to win. She really must have a big problem with insecurity, given how she tells blatant lies about Obama, then goes out of her way to be publicly offended when she gets a taste of her own medicine (re: "Shame on you, Barack Obama!")! After everything low-down and nasty she has said about Obama, along with the fear politics strategy she has adopted recently, I was shocked that people were still voting for her. She appears to be very good at covering things up and making the public forget how nasty and underhanded she can be, but surely, SURELY you people who support her can see through her? I wouldn't want someone with her character and attitude running MY country, and I'm astounded that so many of you Americans want a person of such ill repute to run yours!
Obama is, by a country mile, the best candidate, and on so many levels. If you're smart, you'll vote for him
This fall, when it comes to choosing Obama or McCain, I will be one of those coveted undecided voters. But I will NOT vote for a ticket with Clinton on it in either spot. Clinton in the top spot is just more politics as usual. Clinton as VP would represent a betrayal of Obama's primary message and would validate the Clinton mantra that he is all talk.
It will never work, Hillzila and Billzila will never get Obama on a ticket with them. Obama is smarter than the monster twins of Hill and Bill. We all know that the only way Hillary can win is to get Obama on her side, but why would the front runner want 2nd place. Oh I forgot, Hillary got all that experience from sliming fish, but it seems with all her experience Obama is still out in front . Status Quo, thats what Hill and Bill want, same ole same ole but the change train is coming so get out of the way ...........
It's obvious that those Hillary supporters who site Obama's "criminal activity" or "affiliation to religious groups" are the same types of people who voted for George Bush for two terms. They fall for all of the unterhanded political tactics that take your ocus off of the candidates' true qualities and get you off into the weeds. For a Hillary supporter to suggest that Obama is involved with criminals is laughable. Where is Hillary Clinton's finance director fro her Senate campaign? In jail for falsely recording HER campaign contributions. Then she donates $5 Million to her own campaign nad Lord knows where that money came from. I think it's taking longer for Hill to produce tax returns than it did for Bush to send troops tothe Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina!
Obama would be terrified to have Senator Clinton as a VP.
My daughter tells me that guys tell her "not to emasculate the guy" when she tries to take care of him. LOL.
Obama would feel so emasculated if Senator Clinton had to help him out. That's why it is so easy for Senator Clinton to offer Obama the VP role because she is smarter and more experienced and doesn't worry about being emasculated.
he will not get the spanish vote, to deep of divide created by the african americans. obama double speaks all politicians do they are almost all lawyers. listen to what they don't say. what he is not saying will he decline the v.p. if he is not the nominee. so put all this together for me will you.
have a question?
obama wins younger voters and voters over 50,000.00, clinton wins votes from older and below 50,000.00, poorer and older people would not or can not be there for the caucus's it makes since with this type of demographic that he would win the caucus's. the states go with caucus's because the dnc pays for it primary's the states pay for . so are these caucus's really a reflection of the state and during the general election do they have caucus because doesn't it seem to reason if they are all primary's in the general election obama won't fair as well just like i don't believe he would even be in the lead now if it wasn't for the caucus's example texas hillary won the primary but lost the caucus can somebody bring this up in explicit detail during the news, i'm sure this would be something the superdelegates would like to consider.
After the negative ad (3 A.M) placed by Clinton recently, I am just wondering how negative she could go if she became the president and apply the same technique whenever she has to fight an issue. This kind of negativity is not good for the nation or the world. We have to think about these things before selecting the right candidate for nominee, rather than going thru pain for 4 or 8 years. I guess some great leaders have to come out and help the nation now rather than later.
Racism isn't as prevalent in today's society as it was 30 years ago
(I speak from experience) Hardly anyone thinks badly of interracial
marriages anymore, for instance. Whites and blacks attend the same
school, use the same toilets, restuarants etc. And just to show you
that his race DOESN'T make a difference with most voters, Barack
Obama has done exceedingly well in the south, including Texas,
where "Ms Ironsides" barely squeaked out a victory. If you counted the
caucuses, Barack actually won.
He is the most honest of the 3 candidates, the most sincere, the least
critical and has acted like a gentleman in spite of the barrage of insults spewing from "Old Ironsides" mouth! He has been level-headed and steady as a rock! What he lacks in experience (if that's
what you call what Hillary supposedly has) he makes up for it with his steadfastness, level-headedness and judgement.
And he is gonna walk all over Mr. Ancient McCain (if he lives that long)
in November! because with McCain, you get 4 more years of Bush!
I wouldn't be surprised if he announced Dubya is his running mate!
Hillary Clinton for President and John Edwards for Vice-President would be the better vote. I always have vote republican in the past and would vote for John McCain if Hillary and Obama are on the same ticket.
I do not see them as a dream ticket, how could Hillary choose Obama, he is so inexperience and would be a grave mistake to her platform. Especially, when John McCain makes his VP choice.
Hillary is doing this to "trick" voters into voting for her! If he's so inexperienced, why would she want him? She's doing it to get those voters who are leaning towards Obama (but AREN'T leaning toward her) but haven't made a full committment to him.
Billary's scandal-riden end in the White House just makes me sick. If she was willing to bow down and let Bill get away with making her look like a fool in their marriage, what will she do for the US?
Voting for her will make a country already looking like fools (with our tap-dancing... C student... coke-head president... caught up in a stupid war that he can't end – scratch... WON'T end...) look like bigger fools.
Regarding the post by "from Boston"... obviously she means he'd be the VP.... she said, "But first I need your vote on Tuesday." It doesn't say OBAMA needs your vote on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, she's pandering for votes from her own loyalist superdelegates who she was counting on to hand the election over. She needs to give them justification to take her over Obama. The risk, which is short-sighted and tremendous, is what this does to the actual party and public members: they will reject her, those who supported her, and the party until she's no longer a part of it. This cannot be brokered in a back room, it'll need to see the light of day – the public demands it given recent Bush/Gore history. In that case, she's cooked, too. Party leadership needs to step in NOW to stop these shinanigans that derail the process and issues of real import to win the General Election
Clinton is getting very desperate.
Nobody likes you Hillary, go home. (wherever that may be!!!)
Media, open that closet to see how many skeletons come out. will it be like the the TV series the monster family full of ogers.
Clinton is desperate, grasping at any straw she can find. She is going down for the third time. Do not believe any of the trash that her campaign is spewing. If she is nominated, she will NOT pick Obama.
And Obama is the candidate of change, he does not need her.
So don't believe her lies. Vote out the old establishment, the time to take out the trash is long overdue. Just say No to Clinton and her lies.
I hope that the ARROGANT attitude of Obama costs him the election!
it is sad to see how he proclaims himself as the "uniter" and then dismisses any possibility of collaboration with Hillary Clinton. This is a toddler's behavior, is it going to behave like that if he gets elected?, is that his style of negotiation?...
Hillary was opening a hand no matter what...and he is so arrogant that does not know how to answer properly to an offer like that, OK we get that you are running for president, but, what if you do not win?, are you going to move to the republican party?, start your own party?....childish!!!!, immature!!!
IN ADDITION....
Just a reminder...FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STATES AND EVEN IF THE DEMOCRATS DISMISS THEM TO ELECT THEIR CANDIDATE...THEY WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION!!!....
FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN SHOULD BE COUNTED!!!..., then we will see if Obama stays in such an arrogant and anti-uniter position
Hillary and Bill have always preyed on the poor and blacks to get votes. Now that they have turned from her, her psychology is kicking in. She is twisted in her thinking. She is a loser and is preying on the poor and blacks to twist their minds that they can have both if they just vote for her. The USA would be better off without the Clintons in Washington. You're a sucker if you vote for her!
Don't do it, Barack!! She needs you, but you sure don't need her!! (In fact, I'd lose all respect for you if you pick her. Seriously. She can't even run her own campaign.)
And, one more thing – OBAMA WON TEXAS!!
Wolf is Pro-Clinton.....watch out.
With the media giving Obama a free ride it's one way of fighting back!
I'd rather her select someone else.
Uncounted in Florida