If Obama does not pick Hillary for VP, how big (or not) will the fall out be?

Here in DU land, it has been clearly established that a significant majority does not want Obama to choose Hillary for VP. Of course, DU is in it's own unique corner of the universe.

Trying to be objective, what do you think the reaction would be (out there) if Barack Obama does not pick her? Would it be a net plus or net minus for our chances in the fall?

Some percentage of angry Hillary supporters would refuse to support Obama without Hillary Clinton standing in the VP slot; how much of a percentage is a tough guess. Yet I also believe that the net plus of having a true "change" ticket would attract so many Independents and disaffected rethugs that it would more than make up for any lost Hillary supporters. And Obama/VP would sail on to a definitive GE victory.

Just my take.

The other 91% support the party nominee and we crush the pukes in November.

But if he did choose her he loses a potential 30% of the independents and moderate Republicans.

Maybe she will just wait to long to bow out gracefully to become part of the team. He needs to start interviewing potential VPs now.

I say we ignore it and move on.

Obama has earned the right to pick his own running mate.

I know Hillary harbors a very freakish sense of entitlement--but that's her problem to overcome.

But if he put her on the ticket he'd lose so I doubt he's going to lose sleep over this decision.

I just don't think VP matters to voters that much. With Hillary, there is always the cadre of Clinton loyalists who will be insulted - and that is a problem. But I don't think it will utlimately matter that much.

But real Demcrats will vote for the Democratic nominee, we'll get crossovers and Independents and the Republicans will sit on their hands and let McCain lose. She would be an albatross to Obama's campaign.

With Hillary on board, I think we could be looking at a 40+ state victory, with 60+% votes. Of course, we'd lose the "eggheads" and have lowered AA turnout. That, and no votes from the shrill wing of DU, and all of Kos.

Without her, OH, and of course, KY, WV, become tossups, and FL will become kingmaker again. We know the ending to that story - Clarence gets another buddy in the SCOTUS.

Do you have any idea how vulnerable this ticket is? I mean seriously...

Even the party officials acknowledge that Hillary wont help Obama if she was a part of the ticket.

Really? You, and the Great Kreskin somehow just *know* how vulnerable this ticket is?

Outside of the dilettante theater of Kos, I think the ticket would be a great hit.

Or maybe you have a better example?

Mondale? I mean, what next, Dewey's running mate comparison?

Kennedy on Obama-Clinton Ticket: Dream On
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Share May 09, 2008 2:20 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: In an interview with Al Hunt on Bloomberg TV, Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., an Obama supporter, has a particularly strong negative reaction to the idea of an Obama-Clinton ticket:

HUNT: What's your view of an Obama-Clinton ticket?

KENNEDY: I don't think it's possible.

HUNT: You don't? And what type of vice president choice do you think he should make? What type of person?

KENNEDY: Well, the first is always a demand that you're going to have someone that's going to be able to assume the responsibility. I would hope that he would also give consideration to somebody that has –- is in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people. And I think if we had real leadership –- as we do with Barack Obama –- in the number-two spot as well, it'd be enormously helpful.

The Democratic group VoteBoth dedicated to an Obama-Clinton or a Clinton-Obama ticket didn't much like Kennedy's thoughts.

"We respect Senator Kennedy's opinions about what is best for the Party, but we think that the millions of Democrats who have voted for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have something to say, too. Why stop at having a nominee who has the support of 51% of Democrats when we could have a 'Dream Team' ticket that has won 100%?" spokesman Sam Arora said in a statement.

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reported on Thursday's "Good Morning America" on Thursday that "intermediaries" in the Obama and Clinton campaigns have resumed discussing the possibility of an Obama-Clinton "dream team" ticket.

"I think it's very much a possibility and there are others around Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., other top Democrats who think the strongest ticket would be a joint ticket," Stephanopoulos said this week.

The dream team ticket was discussed earlier this year, but fell by the wayside as both sides ramped up the rhetoric against each other, intensifying their battle for the Democratic nomination.

The talk has revived as Clinton now looks like an ultra-long shot for the presidential nomination, and her disappointed supporters are threatening to vote for presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., instead of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"There are intermediaries discussing this very scenario," Stephanopoulos said on "GMA".

There is at least one problem with the scenario: Obama, the Democratic frontrunner, might not want Clinton on the ticket.

When asked whether he would take Clinton as his vice presidential running mate during a chaotic visit to Capitol Hill Thursday, Obama told reporters, "I think its premature for us to be thinking in that way, because I don't know who the nominee is going to be yet. It's not yet resolved."

Howard Wolfson, the Clinton campaign's communications director, denied that she is interested in the vice president spot.

"She said that's not something she would accept," Wolfson told "GMA."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/kennedy-on-obam.html

You posted the opinions of a senator who's already endorsed Obama. This is supposed to be some kind of validation that she adds only negatives to the ticket?

Your subject line is misleading, implying some kin d of certainly, or hard information. It is endemic of your ilk.

But he'll be better off without her as I think the fallout will be even bigger if Obama does pick Clinton as his VP.

And it is high time that we had a woman not just on a national ticket (as in 84) but on a WINNING national ticket (which hopefully will be this year, especially if Obama picks someone who will REALLY boost him electorally as well as making a good president)

As I've said a number of times, I say it should be someone who NEVER backed the Iraq War Resolution back when -- could be Boxer (my pick), Stabenow, Sebelius ... . I haven't yet gotten info on what Napolitano's position was on IWR back when.

The fallout from not picking Hillary depends on what Hillary decides to do. If she stays quiet for the most part it could be harder for Obama to win over her supporters. If Clinton goes around campaigning in spots her support was strong in there won't be much fallout over it.

Her exit from the campaign matters to, if she leaves hurling attacks and/or accusations of the system being unfair the fallout will be much worse, and could easily hand the White House over to the GOP.

would be more than compensated by the Repugs who won't bother to vote unless it is to vote against Hillary.

Having her off the ticket is a net win.

The entire campaign will be fighting anti Clinton commercials and dealing with the excesses of America's most excessive couple.

be yesterday's news.

don't go to her - let her come to him

They are not true Dems so its silly to placate them. Go for the independents and let the staunch Hillary or nobody folks weep and wail to themselves while the we all move forward.

from a few dead enders. I think the screaming harpie McCain protest vote will end up being marginal.

HRC doesn't deserve VP position. She is all negative energy.