If Obama takes the lead....

[Embar Angylwrath]

If Obama establishes himself as the frontrunner for the Demcratic /nod as official candidate, do you think Hillary would swallow some pride (like Monica didn't), and be his running mate as VP? If she was able to do that, I think the Dems would win in a landslide victory... they'd capture the liberal vote, a lot of the female vote, the black vote, the youth vote (if they show up at the polls), the unions, the entire eastern seaboard, the west coast, and a goodly portion of the swing vote.

Would she do that?

Man, as a conservative, I sure hope not. That ticket would unify the entire lib base, and seriously kick conservative ass. If she's as smart as I think she is, she'll do it. Especially if she ran out of funds, and new she couldn't make a run because she couldn't keep up with the spending. She'd be positioned to take over the Oval Office in eight years if Obama makes a successful re-election campaign, and the Dems don't screw up the country too much.

Comments?

[Partha]

Won't happen. They hate each other.

More likely pick is someone like Jim Webb from Virginia. I'd love to see him pick Jon Tester, but that's a pipe dream.

[Harlowe]

I think it would be stupid on Obama's part not to do it. I'm not so sure he can win nationally without her. I know Hillary certainly won't be able to without him.

I think they have too much pride and dislike for one another to do it, but they will be fools for not doing it. Especially if up against something like a McCain/Condi ticket.

That would be a fun race to see though Obama/Hillary vs. McCain/Condi.

[Ddrak]

The Democrats have never been known for their smart picks for Presidential elections. For that matter, nor have the Republicans.

Dd

[Arkaron]

Just the feeling I get, but I can see more independents going for McCain than voting for any Democratic nominee, but I see more undecided going for Obama.

Re: youth vote: they won't. They'll register, but they won't show.

"But Arkaron!" I hear several posters cry, "I vote! I think it matters!" Of course you do. None of your friends do.

[Partha]

You haven't been paying attention to the primaries, I see.

[Arkaron]

Regarding which statement specifically?

Edit: I was under the impression that Democrats were campaigning undecided voters more aggresively and that McCain was getting more independent votes at this point.

[Lurker]

I was under the impression that Democrats were campaigning undecided voters more aggresively and that McCain was getting more independent votes at this point.

No. McCain is getting more independent votes than the other Republican candidates, but much fewer than any of the Democratic candidates. Independants have been leaning Democratic for a few years now.

Especially if up against something like a McCain/Condi ticket.

That would be a fun race to see though Obama/Hillary vs. McCain/Condi.

Nobody in this Administration was more out of their depth incompetent (excluding Bush) or more shamelessy dishonest (excluding Bush and Cheney) than Condi. I'm not sure what you think would be fun about watching more of that.

[Arkaron]

No. McCain is getting more independent votes than the other Republican candidates, but much fewer than any of the Democratic candidates. Independants have been leaning Democratic for a few years now.

Ok, that's what I must have missed. Thanks Lurker.

[Ddrak]

Nobody in this Administration was more out of their depth incompetent (excluding Bush) or more shamelessy dishonest (excluding Bush and Cheney) than Condi. I'm not sure what you think would be fun about watching more of that.

As National Security Advisor, I'd agree with you. Since she got moved to SecState she's done a lot better job (which mainly means staying out of controversy, particularly the Cheney variety). I get the feeling that there's a long she'd like to do, but is being somewhat restricted by the Administration itself.

Dd

[Harlowe]

Lurker, because she is very popular with Bushies - McCain? Not so much. So with that combo it really would bring together different factions within the party. Just as I think a Obama/Hillary ticket would do the same. To me, that makes for a very interesting fight and two strong tickets.

[Partha]

The other part you missed was the youth vote - in places where CNN has conducted exit polls, it shows a good increase in the amount of youth vote. This is in primaries, which are typically marked by lower turnout across the board. Contrast the 2004 election's ~10% turnout with states showing turnouts of 15-17%, such as Georgia, or Iowa's 22%.

[Arkaron]

They will blow it in the general, I can practically assure you of this. I worked with students, their organizations, their pretend "governments" for years. You will see a rise in overall turnout, but it won't be anywhere near the same percentage as the general population. This is why states like Oregon have watched their higher ed and education systems in general fall into disrepair.

I remember a student body president asking me: why won't the legislature support college students? I told her it was because we never came up with any kind of allocation plan other than a sales tax, which would not currently pass in Oregon. Oh, and we didn't vote. Senior citizens do vote, tho. So the leg here listens to old people who own property and are sick of being seen as bottomless pits of revenue, while K-12 and colleges get fucked. "What are you going to tell the Capitol, exactly? That if you don't support us we're not going to vote for you anymore? AHAHAHAHA."

If Generation Idk, my BFF Jill? pulls their collective heads from their asses, then Obama (if nominated) will likely win because of his overwhelming block of support from that bracket. He's all over youth oriented institutions and spaces (Facebook, etc) so it's "cool" to vote (?) or something? It just reminds me so much of plastic Lance Armstrong bracelets or (RED).

I did find a report with some numbers in youth vote's favor: http://www.tcf.org/publications/electio ... thvote.pdf

I am probably being overly cynical.

[Finglefinn]

There are no available combinations of Republican candidates that would defeat a Obama-Clinton ticket. If fact, no Republicans that have ran in the last 20 years could beat that ticket.

[xilly]

Ron Paul / Mike Huckabee, imo.

Too bad neither of them will ever get a chance, cause we'll wind up getting McCain due to Hillary being batshit crazy and Obama being black. :/

[Lurker]

Ron Paul / Mike Huckabee, imo.

Ron Paul : On my first day as commander-in-chief, I will direct the Joint Chiefs of Staff and our commanders on the ground to devise and execute a plan to immediately withdraw our troops in the safest manner possible.

Mike Huckabee : Setting a timetable for withdrawal is a mistake. This country has never declared war until "a week from Wednesday," we have always declared war until victory.

Yeah, that's a ticket we're likely to see.

=====

To me, that makes for a very interesting fight and two strong tickets.

Considering what's at stake, withdrawal from Iraq or the continuation of the status quo, I'd think you'd find a close race neither fun nor interesting.

[xilly]

Ron Paul / Mike Huckabee, imo.

Yeah, that's a ticket we're likely to see.

Oh, I'm sorry.. I didn't mean that I wanted them to run together. I'd just rather see one of them taking the lead or getting some press instead of being force-fed Obama/Hillary/McCain.

I'd love to see Huckabee / Edwards as a ticket, but that's a pipe dream. If Obama picked him Edwards, he'd likely get my vote even though I really wanna see an independant take the seat.

[Lurker]

I'd love to see Huckabee / Edwards as a ticket, but that's a pipe dream.

Ummm. . . you'd love to see Huckabee and Edwards on the same ticket or as opponents? Do you have any beliefs or policy preferences at all? Cause you don't seem to based on the totally random people you say you want to see.

[Harlowe]

Considering what's at stake, withdrawal from Iraq or the continuation of the status quo, I'd think you'd find a close race neither fun nor interesting.

Umm, well I don't believe that is what is at stake choosing between McCain vs. Obama. As much as he'd like to, Obama isn't going to get us out of there fast. I think we all know it's pure wishful thinking that we can un-ring that bell. And as much as McCain has been a little Bushie the past four years, I remember when I actually liked McCain. He was very moderate - so I have the sneaking suspicion he's been playing the party-game for a good while just to get on the ticket. I don't think he will be a status quo president.

So you might believe that, but I don't. So I find it an interesting race, rather than a dirty cockfight for humanity.

[Partha]

I remember when people on this board thought George Bush was a 'compassionate conservative', too.