Barring a big surprise, Hillary Clinton will not be on the Democratic Partys presidential ticket this year. A majority of people who voted this past week in our Times news poll seem to think thats just as well.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is expected to name his vice presidential running mate soon, maybe as early as Thursday. Whomever that candidate is ... and judging from Obamas words Tuesday during a campaign rally, its a he, ... will be making an appearance Saturday with Obama in Springfield, Ill. The generally-accepted short list of candidates includes Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. The consensus pick the past 48 hours seems to be Biden.
Well see.
But Hillary Clinton is nowhere to be seen on that shortlist. A year ago today, she was a clear favorite to earn the partys presidential nomination. But Obama surprised in Iowa, then went on a February primary hot streak that included Wisconsin and catapulted past Clinton to become the presumptive nominee. (I have a $5 bet with another newsroom employee made back in March that Clinton still would end up the nominee. Ill pay that debt only after Obamas nomination becomes official. Until then, I still maintain that anything is possible.)
Since Clintons defeat in the primaries, much debate has been had about whether Obama should pick her as his running mate. The arguments in favor have been that it would be the best way to unify the party and bring in the voters specifically women and white, blue-collar workers said to really like Clinton ... but Obama? Not so much.
Frankly, Ive never seen how having Clinton on the ticket helps Obama. And the lackluster support heck, even low-profile sniping from the Clinton camp since the primaries pretty much convinced me it was never going to happen.
But we asked Times online visitors this week whether they thought Obama should pick Clinton as his running mate. And about 60 percent of you said no. Thats a pretty solid response.
I think the 2008 book on the Clintons is about to close after the Denver convention. Im not sure I see either Hillary or Bill doing much campaigning for Obama in the fall. Im not sure if he really wants their help. I think the Clintons will sit back and wait for 2012, whether Obama wins or loses in November.
What do you think?
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is expected to name his vice presidential running mate soon, maybe as early as Thursday. Whomever that candidate is ... and judging from Obamas words Tuesday during a campaign rally, its a he, ... will be making an appearance Saturday with Obama in Springfield, Ill. The generally-accepted short list of candidates includes Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. The consensus pick the past 48 hours seems to be Biden.
Well see.
But Hillary Clinton is nowhere to be seen on that shortlist. A year ago today, she was a clear favorite to earn the partys presidential nomination. But Obama surprised in Iowa, then went on a February primary hot streak that included Wisconsin and catapulted past Clinton to become the presumptive nominee. (I have a $5 bet with another newsroom employee made back in March that Clinton still would end up the nominee. Ill pay that debt only after Obamas nomination becomes official. Until then, I still maintain that anything is possible.)
Since Clintons defeat in the primaries, much debate has been had about whether Obama should pick her as his running mate. The arguments in favor have been that it would be the best way to unify the party and bring in the voters specifically women and white, blue-collar workers said to really like Clinton ... but Obama? Not so much.
Frankly, Ive never seen how having Clinton on the ticket helps Obama. And the lackluster support heck, even low-profile sniping from the Clinton camp since the primaries pretty much convinced me it was never going to happen.
But we asked Times online visitors this week whether they thought Obama should pick Clinton as his running mate. And about 60 percent of you said no. Thats a pretty solid response.
I think the 2008 book on the Clintons is about to close after the Denver convention. Im not sure I see either Hillary or Bill doing much campaigning for Obama in the fall. Im not sure if he really wants their help. I think the Clintons will sit back and wait for 2012, whether Obama wins or loses in November.
What do you think?
