Vice President Obama: Will Barack Obama be Hillary’s Choice? Clinton Obama 2008?

Ladies and Gentleman, My I introduce the New V.P. of the U.S., Vice President Barack Obama!

Will we be hearing those words? Now that Hillary Clinton is looking a bit stronger than Obama, the question has been floating around, if she gets the nomination, will she choose Barack Obama as her vice president?  He is certainly popular, and indications are that Obama will bring to Denver nearly as many delegates as Hillary Clinton.  Let’s assume that she gets the nomination. Will she go with Hillary/Barack 2008? (Or will it be Clinton/Obama 2008?)

Here are some reasons why Barrack Obama could be Hillary Clinton’s choice to run with her as Vice President:

1. It would unifying the party after a divisive campaign, which is something the democrats will need to get out the vote and minimize democrats jumping ship to vote for Bloomberg.

2. All indications are Obama is going to be playing a big part in the future of the democratic party for years to come. Becoming Vice President now will season him to run for the Presidency in eight years.

3. There is a reasonable belief that his name on the ticket would increase the voter turn out of African American voters in Southern states, which would increase the chances for the Democrats getting elected.  And conversely, for her NOT to choose him would be to create a rift with many black voters, likely leading to lower than average turn out, unless she can convince them she had very good reasons to go with someone else- which is unlikely.  He is seen as the most dynamic and energizing candidate, and any other would be seen as a poor replacement.

4. He will end up with nearly as many delegates as Hillary. This buys him more of a right to join the ticket as Vice President than other leading democrats have.

5. While people like Joe Biden, he doesn’t carry much momentum or wow factor.  “Vice President Barrack Obama” will get people excited, and mobilize and energize the party’s faithful.  As for John Edwards, he was already on the VP ticket last time around. They failed to carry even one southern state.

6. Electing the first African American into such a high office is historic, and while that alone is not reason enough, it certainly adds a great deal of interest and energy to a man already qualified and respected.

Why Hillary might not choose Obama as her Vice Presidential running mate?

1. No President wants to feel upstaged by their VP, nor do they want to feel an eagerness in the ranks or in the public for their time to be over so that the VP can finally take over.

2. See #1.  It’s worth mentioning twice.

3. Obama is seen as more liberal than Hillary.  He won’t help bring over some more conservative and moderate voters who would prefer to see someone closer to center on the ticket.  If the ticket is Clinton Obama, especially as john McCain fades away as the age issue becomes prominent (not many voters have realized he will be 76 when he leaves office, 5 years from now, and then his VP will be running) it will make for a particularly divisive, polarizing race.

4. On a personal level, Obama very likely isn’t particularly excited about being Hillary’s fall guy for the next 8 years. In addition, being VP for 8 years can sometimes give a candidate enough mud (even if it isn’t there own) to taint the view of voters.  Right now, Obama is a fresh, clean slate of enthusiasm and idealism.  He is well aware that after 8 years in the white house as VP, he won’t be seen so freshly or idealistically.  (this holds true even if Hillary loses in after her first term, and he is out of the White house for 4 years).

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