Carter: Obama-Clinton ticket unlikely
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/21/art.carter.gi.jpg caption="Carter says a joint Obama-Clinton ticket is unlikely."](CNN) - Hillary Clinton would accept the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket, but it's highly unlikely Barack Obama will offer it to her should he be the party's nominee, former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday.
Speaking during a question and answer session at an event in Houston Tuesday night, Carter said, in his view, it's not impossible the two could pair up for the general election. But the former president said Obama will most likely search for a different vice presidential candidate.
"I think it would be highly unlikely for Obama to ask her to take it," Carter said. "Because I don't see how it would help his ticket. I think he needs somebody like a [former Georgia Sen.] Sam Nunn, but I won't name others.”
"But I think if he asked her, she would take it," Carter added.
The former president also reiterated that he does not have direct contact with either campaign and is not privy to the VP deliberations.
Carter also said a unity ticket would likely help the party come together after the prolonged and at times divisive primary race. But he stopped short of saying such a ticket would be the strongest Democrats could field
"That would be the ticket the republicans would favor I think," he said.
Carter, a Democratic superdelegate, has yet to formally endorse a candidate, but he has strongly hinted he is in favor of Obama.
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Freida NYC, I'll try to explain. It's not sexism. It's nothing against Clinton because she is a woman. The media did nothing to hurt her. It is simply that she has lost the primary, yet she does not step forward to unite the party. I would like to see Sen. Clinton step up to the plate, and say, "I alone am responsible for losing this primary, and I will now throw all my support behind Sen. Obama, the nominee for our party." I don't like to say it, but at this point, do I see NOT a fighter, but maybe vanity or excessive pride turning towards self-destructive tendencies in Sen. Clinton? I think she can rise above all that, but it is she that must do it, herself.
I also am a lifelong Democrat and Hillary supporter and believe she is far more qualified to be President than either Sens. Obama or McCain. The only way I will consider casting my vote for Sen. Obama in November is if Hillary is on the ticket AND she has a prominent place in his`administration. Sen. Obama cannot win without the votes of Hillary supporters. Considering how many people voted for`her, she has earned the right to be offered the VP position. It still angers me that so many of the Democratic leaders would consider throwing support behind a freshman senator with such an unimpressive resume! Yes he gives a great speech and he is intelligent but he is inexperienced!! If he cannot handle the small amount of`responsibility he was given with the NATO subcommittee hearings on the`war, how can he`be trusted with the much larger responsibility of being the leader of the free world? What will these backers want from him in exchange for their support? This party has a huge decision to make...if you toss her aside, be prepared to go down in flames in November because you may never be`able to make amends to her`supporters.
Thank you President Carter for your service, but please be quite. You are guessing at best and injecting your views in a fashion that isn't constructive. It is time for all of you "SUPER DELEGATES" to shut up and do some serious deliberating. You should also be thinking about how to avoid this train wreck of a Primary process in the future.
I'm sorry, but this country will not elect Obama as their President. McCain will ride over Obama, unless Hillary is on the ticket. He might save it with John Edwards, but I doubt it. Obama is a nice guy, a good speaker and would be a great lawyer or car salesman, but he's not laying out any agenda, and he will not be able to run this country.
Don't be surprised if Obama chooses Al Sharpton as his VP. How do you like that?
I'm an Obama supporter, if Hillary gets the nomination fair and square I'll vote for her over McSame any day.
Look, Divide & Conquer is right out of the republican play book from the Feds to the Locals; therefore, if you want to play into that game then keep your mouth shut when John McSame wins the general election. Otherwise be happy that the Dems have the upper hand right now, because another 4 years of McSame is going to put a serious dent in all of your pay-checks. You think it's bad now...go ahead an let your ignorant opinions put him in the White House and see what happens.
dear sb. Obama has not congradulated Hillary on her wins and yes, Hillary has done so for Obama. Don't you watch TV or is it Ok just to make anything up that trashes Hillary. You and your ilk are the ones that have split the party into the old and new. I don't like the new party and am leaving it to people like you. Vote no to the Obama personality cult.
Most Americans are smarter than a 5th grader, and we can see right through Hillary. She will never be good for anybody's ticket. Bill used her and now she's trying to use us. It won't work.
If Obama wants a woman VP on his ticket then he should consider Claire McCaskill, Kathleen Sebelius or Janet Napolitan.
They are all successful women in their own right and have REAL experience (Sebelius and Napolitan are both governors).
They've managed state budgets and campaign budgets – unlike Hillary. They got where they are on their own merit – unlike Hillary!
There's no "new direction" for this country if Obama puts another Clinton anywhere near that Oval Office.
If Obama took on Hillary as the vice presidential nominee, my vote would immediately switch over to McCain.
Ron in Texas
Right on Mary-they can get off the kick that only the uneducated support HRC. As my acronym implies: NO HILLARY!~NO VOTE! AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN....
OBAMA = CHANGE
CLINTON = OLD SCHOOL POLITICS
OBAMA (OIL) + CLINTON (WATER) = DO NOT MIX!!!
NUFF SAID!!!
BARACK WILL WIN ANYWAY, TO ALL YOU BITTER HILLARY LOSERS:
GO VOTE FOR McCAIN, MAYBE HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS HEALTHCARE PLAN.
IDIOTS.
Is he still all there? If he knows nothing, he should say nothing, and by him saying Clinton on the ticket wouldn't help Obama ... double scores my first sentence.....He knows nothing!
I see Hillary's supporters are bitter and filled with hatred.They back Hillary,but will not back Obama.What kind of a party is this one?Obama and Hillary share the same values and point of views,and if we as a party do not come together and lean our votes to McCain that will be a disaster for The United States and the world.We need a big change in the White House for 2009!!!Just keep it in mind!!!!OBAMA-HILLARY 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama is limping his way to the nomination while still being blown out in key states. The presumptive nominee is losing by 41 and 36 points, and you want unity? He clearly does not have CORE Democratic support. Get your hankies ready for November!
Just give Obama your vote, and lets end this nightmare quickly!
Hillary GO AWAY!
I hate to hear that people are suggesting Hillary as a VP.
If she really wants, she should have got out of race by now to start to begin the healing process. People who do not know how to graciously bow out will create a lot of problems. I doubt that Hillary has a comfortable space even in Senate now.
Nobody including media has no right to force Sen. Obama to choose Clinton as VP. Hillary and Bill have a lot of baggages as representatives of special interests for decades, which Sen. Obama chose not use against them in primary, but GOP is willing to dig out.
obama supporters, stop talking down to the clinton campaign. It's foolish to respond to supporters of clinton with so much arrogance. It's not how obama talks, and it's a bad way to represent the obama campaign, let alone the entire democratic party
clinton supporters, stop acting like clinton is the only democrat in the election. I have no idea what your reasons are to decide he is a bad leader, but you don't want mccain in office. vote obama if he wins. my god it would be a failure to have continued republican policy, be it as bad as GW or not. republican policy must go. Clinton herself has said that many times.
we're all democrats!! it's been an invigorating election but it's time to cut the crap and see who wins and then UNIFY. Instead of bickering within our party we sould be trying to build our vote. 4 more years of republican crap because of personal reasons is wrong!
Finally, it doesn't make sense to declare "Come on CNN (or whatever), give us real news!!" and then start a meaningless back and forth discussion for 300 comments saying "I WON'T VOTE FOR ______." Respond with real issues if you want real news. The media gives you what sells.
come together people!
DEMOCRATIC PARTY '08
»ENOUGH of Imaginary Snipers Attacks!?!...ENOUGH of LIES and LIARS!...ENOUGH of CLINTONS!...Hillary "so ANNOYING" Clinton YOU LOST»GO HOME now and STOP DAMAGING the Democratic Presidential Campaign!...HURRAH for the great OBAMA!...VICTORY!...
Apparently you are going to have Obama as nominee.
It is not a matter of be nominated
in order to win in November you need the most prepared and qualified, one who is able to win the big States such as Pennsylvania
Ohio, Florida, Michigan e so on. The super delegates should think about this a lot. HILLARY is your candidate.
Look to the last primary and judge who is in better shape.
HILLARY 08 the one that will win in November
Funny but accurate post....No Hillary
Of course GOP would favor a ticket with both of them on. It would mean the GOP would have more dirt to throw at an Obama-Clinton ticket.
hope he offers her then she declines then obama will have more chance of winning.
HILLARY HAS MORE VOTES AND THE LARGE STATES NEEDED IN NOVEMBER!!!!!
SHE DOESN'T NEED HIM, HE NEEDS HER!
NO WAY, GO AWAY OBAMA!!!!!
HILLARY HAD A HUGE WIN AGAIN LAST NIGHT! SHE HAS WON 5 OF THE LAST 7 PRIMARIES!!!!
THANK YOU KENTUCKY!!!!!!!!!! GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!