Clinton Hints at Sharing Ticket with Obama

[Polly]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/campaign_rdp

By JIM KUHNHENN and CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton, fresh off a campaign-saving comeback, hinted Wednesday at the possibility of sharing the Democratic presidential ticket with Barack Obama — with her at the top. Obama played down his losses, stressing that he still holds the lead in number of delegates.

On a night that failed to clarify the Democratic race, John McCain Tuesday clinched the Republican nomination. Clinton won primaries in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, halting Obama's winning streak. Obama won in Vermont.

Both Democrats insisted on Wednesday they had the best credentials to go head to head — or as Clinton put it "toe to toe" — against McCain.

Asked on CBS's "The Early Show" whether she and Obama should be on the same ticket, Clinton said:

"That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."

Obama, who had hoped to knock Clinton out on Tuesday, said he would prevail despite facing a tenacious candidate who "just keeps on ticking." Clinton acknowledged the race was close and said it would come down to her credentials on national security and the economy...

[Jbird]

I hope she doesn't get the nomination. Honestly, though, it would make my decision in November a lot easier. I'm still torn between Obama and McCain, but I don't think I can vote for a ticket with her name on it, at the top or the bottom.

[Lori]

I think a Clinton/Obama ticket would make a lot of sense. The way elections work right now, who the next president is will be determined by just a few swing states, and Hillary seems to do better in those states. Ohio is going to be a major, major factor in the next election, as will Florida, and Clinton had a substantial lead in both states. The states where Obama has really done well are states that are either definitely going to go Democratic or definitely going to go Republican no matter who is on the tickets.

I think that, in 8 years, Obama will be in a much better position to be president. But, at this point, I think the Democrats need to get a candidate and have a unified front, and I do think a Clinton/Obama ticket is probably the best choice, in terms of winning.

Obama is really popular among younger voters and African-American voters, but unfortunately, those are two groups who generally don't have very high turn-out numbers, no matter how many efforts to mobilize them are made. Clinton seems to have a lock on older people, middle-aged women, and union workers, who all show up in force at pretty much every election. I do think that she has a much better chance of winning, when it comes down to it, in the swing states, where undecided voters are frankly going to see Obama as a black liberal, and not vote for him. Clinton does an excellent job making her case to swing voters and moderates, when she makes the effort, and I do think that's what's going to determine the outcome of the election.

[Brooke]

As much as I want Obama as president, I totally agree Lori. Before he threw his hat into the ring, I wanted him to wait until at least 2012 or 2016. I think that a ticket with the two of them on it is a better idea, actually, with him as VP, possibly "grooming" him for Pres.

[freebiemom]

Don't see it happening with those two, however ideal some may think it would be. They've both fought too hard to get to this point and I don't see either of them losing the nomination and then accepting second fiddle to the other. But I've been known to be wrong! :D

[Lori]

As much as I want Obama as president, I totally agree Lori.

I think, in an ideal world, Obama would be the better candidate. I think he is less likely to pander to corporate interests than Hillary is. But, I just don't think, realistically, that he is going to be able to take the swing states, at least not until he has more experience. Things like national security are going to matter a lot to swing voters, and I do think Hillary has a big edge on those kinds of issues.

[YourMom]

I just kinda hope whatever Hillary would do in the 4-8 years wouldn't eff things up for the Democrats when Obama got his turn to run again.

[Jeri]

Even with big wins in every remaining state, HRC would have a really hard time winning the nomination. I really don't see that happening. Or she can screw with everyone and get the MI and FL delegates seated (which could possibly lead to a win), in which case I would never, ever vote for her and would no longer be a member of the Democratic Party (along with a lot of other people).(You can read about the math here http://www.newsweek.com/id/118240/page/2 . I can't remember if that's been posted here or not, yet.)

I think she's saying this to try to get Obama to consider her as a running mate.