Obama/Clinton

Patrick Ruffini is certainly no Obama insider.  In fact, he ran the internet for George W. Bush's re-election campaign in 2004.  Still his analysis today of a potential headfake leading to a Obama/Clinton ticket is fascinating.

As Ruffini says:

"Clinton is already the most vetted public official in America. Lack of "formal vetting" doesn't say very much. And "formal vetting" can occur at any time. I'm sure Vice Presidential search committee head Dick Cheney didn't submit his papers several weeks out." Also Ruffini adds "Convention speaking schedules can be changed. Most everyone on the short list already has a scheduled speaking slot. Clinton receiving upwards of 40% on the first ballot and then being chosen as the VP could enhance the "catharsis." Obama would simply be bowing to the will of Democratic Convention-goers."

All very true.  But what about the rumored short list?  Ruffini says: "To these responses I'll add the following, the leaks so far out of Team Obama have been exceptionally lame. Joe Biden? Tim Kaine? Please.  The leaks so far are consistent with tamping down expectations for a blockbuster Obama pick, like Clinton."

Interesting.  The article ends with Ruffini's thoughts individually on each member of the short list.  My favorite was on our Governor Tim Kaine:  "Tim Kaine. Hahahahahahahahahaha".  Sums it up pretty well.

Comments

[dems4dems]

Very plausible scenario. I wonder whether the latest Obama ad on the economy that is packed with testimonials from Indiana residents may be a hint that it's Bayh.

[t]

Hill should storm the convention and force a vote (for the top spot) of the ever-wavering superdelegates.

This can still be won.

[Pete in Williamsburg]

The primaries have spoken. Obama is the nominee and next president. Hillary will do the right thing and support the man who is going to begin to repair the catastrophe of the GWB administration.

[Doug]

t should stop praying with Pat Buchanan for a 1968 convention. What's t going to do when a true socialist, Pastor Rick Warren, starts asking McCain why he doesn't give away half his $100 mil like Jesus would?

Wait, Jesus wouldn't have cheated on his first wife to marry into $100 mil. Nevermind, the question won't come up.

[Doug]

Oh, and I agree that Clinton is much more likely a pick than Kaine, or Webb, or Clark. She's floated back up to the top of my list of probables with Al Gore second. Or first, depending on the day.

It's Colin Powell.

[RicJohn]

I hope Obama would have the good sense to stay as far away from the Clintons as he can. He has already done too much by letting them speak on two nights, especially when Bill Clinton has made it clear that he doesn't respect Obama at all. If he ever picked her, which I highly doubt, he could forget about Colorado, Virginia, Iowa, and maybe Wisconsin--and his Oregon, Montana, North Carolina, Alaska, and North Dakota poll numbers would tank. Why in the world would you add a toxic candidate to your ticket? Democrats have to win more than just core Democratic voters in this election to win.

Warner, Webb, Clark, and Hagel aren't going to happen. Bayh probably won't be selected...the Mark Penn comraderie isn't going to fly with Obama. Biden is way more credible on foreign policy than Clinton will ever be.

[Johnny Camacho]

Ruffini kinda strikes me as a hack. I just don't trust the analysis of any man who thinks Joe Biden would be a "lame" VP choice.

obama has to shore up the base because he is getting hammered in the "Real world". His best option for short term gain is Hillary, although it begs answers for the longer term.

Obama looks weak and wimpy right now. Hillary still has force. It is either her, or someone from the military, I hope it is not that nut clark.

[Dan Geroe]

If Evan Bayh's only negative is a rejection of the netroots, he's in.

[Its Bayh]

Its Bayh. Period. He will announce it next week.

Wesley Clark has been thrown under the bus, according to Steve Clemons at the Washington Note. http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2008/08/obama_to_genera/ He's not even going to be allowed to be at the convention. And Colin Powell says he is not going to be at the convention.

I think there will be a surprise -- that Barry Soetoro will be the nominee. As this Inside Edition reports, that's the name he used in Indonesia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsnWpMAkId0

[charlie]

I think this is a good delineation of what a bunch of midgets are being considered for the VP slot. I liked Bayh, but the more I read about him the less I like him.

Query for NLS, though: if you are a HRC supporter, where do you think she would really have more power: as a symbolic VP -- or as the junior senator from NY in a Democratic congress? I've made this argument for years -- HRC is a doer, not a talker. If she understood political power, she realizes that as Senator-for-Life from NY, she would have far more power over specific programs than in the White House. Clearly she felt differently about White House, but the argument still stands for the Old Exec office building.

I heard it truly is Hagel.

[Bitter Typical White Person]

Hillary needs to stay as far away from the Obama train wreck as possible.

When he tanks and flames this November, she can pick up the pieces in 2012, 4 years latter than it should have been.

I'd like to see Clinton if nothing more than for the pleasure of seeing the concern trolls on this blog have to re-tune their message on the fly.

[terrydactyll]

ruffini kind of stikes me as a hack also...

...and the kaine-bashing is getting sort of lame.

::yawn::

he isn't my favorite, but bayh isn't a bad choice.

[kelley osborn]

Wouldn't it be just wonderful if Kaine were the VP pick? Virginia could get rid of him & Obama would lose the general. Its a win-win!

[dems4dems]

kelley - I think Kaine's trial balloon has burst but if Quayle couldn't bring down Bush and Agnew couldn't bring down Nixon, doesn't that say the VP is a harmless diversion?