Breaking News: Hillary Clinton hints at joint ticket with Obama

Sen. Hillary Clinton, who some wrote off as all but finished in the race for the Democratic nomination for president, has pulled another surprise out of the hat that we never see her wearing.

The morning after regaining some political momentum by winning three of four primaries (after losing 12 in a row), the former first lady happened to mention on some early news shows the possibility of her and Sen. Barack Obama forming a joint ticket to face the new Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

With most political observers sound asleep after a long Tuesday evening that appeared to augur at least seven more weeks of possibly bitter and divisive struggle between the two Democrats until a potentially decisive Pennsylvania primary on April 22, Clinton went on some morning news programs, according to the Associated Press, and appeared to raise the possibility of a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket.

"That may be where this is headed," she said, "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."

It's a clever move to vault herself to the level of equal standing with the Illinois senator, who remains way more than 100 delegates ahead of Clinton in the nomination race. The idea does speak to what many Democrats have long regarded as a dream ticket combining the first serious African American candidate with the first serious female candidate.

And it raises the prospect of a negotiated agreement that would avoid prolonged intra-party strife, while a victorious McCain forges ahead already with his general election campaign.

In the early-morning hours, two top Clinton advisors, Mark Penn and Harold Ickes, released a memo to "Interested Parties," that said: "With last night’s victories in Ohio and Texas, one thing is clear: the momentum has swung back to Hillary Clinton." At least that's what they'd like today's message to be as McCain meets at the White House for lunch and the official blessing of President and Mrs. Bush.

But the joint ticket idea ...

may be more of a nightmare in the mind of Obama and his team, who thought they were about to finish Clinton off Tuesday only to see it slip through their hands and the struggle prolonged.

And Obama remains well ahead in delegates and popular votes, so he'd be unlikely to be interested in such a combination arrangement now, especially if she sees herself in the No. 1 spot with Obama as the No. 2. The proposal could well be an attempt to stall his momentum further.

Later, on the same CBS "Early Show," Obama referred to his delegate total as "close to an insurmountable lead." Clinton had minimized the gap calling it "smidgens of difference."

Plus, to be realistic, whomever is the Democratic vice president on any successful ticket led by the New York senator will actually be forced to work with a pair of Clintons in the White House, making him potentially vice-vice-president.

-- Andrew Malcolm

PHOTO CREDIT: <i>Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times</i>

Comments

[Ann]

Insurmountable delegate lead? You've got to be kidding. I'm so sick of the media focusing on Bill instead of Hillary. Get over it already. And wouldn't it nice if you learned to count. The media talks momentum until it shifts and then they talk about delegate count. Can you be more biased?

I'm for a combined ticket.

(Virtually insurmountable lead was a self-serving Obama quote. not the media. FYI.

[Eugene Mouton]

"Plus, to be realistic, whomever is the Democratic vice president on any successful ticket lead by the New York senator will actually be forced to work with a pair of Clintons in the White House, making him potentially vice-vice-president."

Really??!! I consider this remark as absoluetly absurd and utterly biased! Give the lady a chance, she said Bill would not be in the forefront and I trust her, she is a lady of integrity.

Stop punishing her for some mistakes Bill made (in an otherwise superb presidency) and allow her to be a good president!!

[Bishop Brown]

This is American politic's at it's best. If Hillary or Barack join forces. There is no way John McCain could win the White House. Hillary and Barack must think of the party never mind making history. Who ever wins history has alrady been made!

[electress]

The democratic party has been testing this country and its' voters with new rules, and changes, that contribute
to the mess we find ourselves in.
Why can't we have one national primary, and a month
later vote in national election. What is all this about
superdelegates making decisions for voters, get rid of it.
Also, the idea that if you win all the larger states, you still can loose the delegates. I haven't seen the "one vote"
for so many years, but I think we need to bring that back.
I didn't like it when Al Gore won, but lost!
Let's get down to the level of one vote counts.

Obama's money did not do what it was expected to do!
Hillary's has solutions, and the economy is the number
one issue, next to health care.

The Obama camp, nor the media will shut her down,
the voices of Americans will be heard, this is after all
a democracy, eveyone gets to participate.
It is the assertive woman, the woman who has the solutions, who we support.

[Sophia]

Sorry Barack, but if you're on a ticket with Hillary - I can't vote for you. I'll just be staying home.

[Donna1000]

Sen. Obama's caucus wins are not legitimate. I live in a caucus state and I was appalled by the behavior of Obama supporters. They deliberately filled the hall early, locked out Clinton supporters, and miscounted the ballots in favor of Sen. Obama. A recount awarded Sen. Clinton delegates. Thus, I don't believe that Sen. Obama has "won" the popular vote. I think that Sen. Obama has taken Chicago ward political tactics across the country into the caucus states and that the MSM has totally missed the story.

Pragmatically, I want to see an analysis of which candidate, Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama, is most likely to win the blue and purple states. That person should be the Democratic Party's nominee. That is the only way a Democratic will be in the White House on January 20, 2009.

[Fred App]

I'm confused. She wins two elections (Texas doesn't count; Obama comes out of there with more delegates), and suddenly know she should be at the top of the ticket? Because that 's what the people of Ohio want? The logic escapes me.

So Obama wins 11 elections in a row, and it doesn't count because he was expected to win them. She wins two, and they count more than the previous 11, even though she, too, was expected to win them.

Can the Clintons really keep laying this crap on us with a straight face?

[Joe Parisi]

I have one request of you and your colleagues. Attribution.

When the status quo wakes up to the reality that non-interventionism must become US foreign policy.

When the status quo looks back and realizes The Fed damaged the dollar so badly that, when combined with the grotesque spending on welfare, warfare and entitlements in the McCain/Obama/Clinton administration, it produced an economy calamity in the 2010's so great, it was surpassed only by the great Depression in its severity.

Not smug, clever, comical attribution. When these things happen, it is your job to acclaim Dr. Paul as a visionary and admire his courage for saying unpopular things, not only in a presidential bid, but throughout his long career of public service. And finally, it is your job to lament your own fearfulness for not listening to the Ron Paul's, David Walker's and Michael Scheuerer's of the world. They certainly tried to make you listen.

- Joe Parisi

[Henry]

Barack Obama just can't seem to finish the job...At this point when the dynamics of the campaign change he has to adopt to it..this is where experience count most and unfortunately what we are seeing is just a plain naive and inexperienced politician...

[Adam]

Hillary Clinton keeps saying that no one has won the presidency without winning Ohio. How about FDR and JFK? Come on journalists do your job. These days you never seem to question these candidates spin by presenting them with the real facts. Hillary can simply keep repeating a lie like that until it becomes the truth.

[Don Slowik, NH]

A joint ticket? Let's see, Obama has more delegates, so he would be... VP? nice work Hillary. You're a piece.
And if the rules are changed for MI and FL halfway through this game, better revote NH too -see NH State Supreme Court opinion Akins vs Sec of state (google it).

[John]

I like the way the clintonians spin the results. Obama closed the gap from over 20 points lead for hillary in both states to just a couple points in Tx and 10 in OH. That is amazing. I think this is a win for OBAMA. He is still leading in delegates and there is no way she is going to catch up.

The next spin after loosing in delegates will be her usual unfair politics of changing the rules in the middle of the game and seat the Florida and Michigan delegates.

[soothsayer]

A BO/HC joint ticket would be a riot, literally. The race to the left is the undoing of the Democratic Party. At the end of the day when it is apparent that the Dem's only represent 20% of the population, and that they really do not stand for change but for a bigger government and continued pandering to extreme and loud minority opinion special interest groups Mccain would win in a land-slide.

[jac]

barak should jump all over this offer, 8 years OJT followed by 8 years in the oval office. great job hillary!

[cristine]

No offense, but you white males don't speak for me and it is now clear the media has an agenda and is no longer an objective outlet for news. Get some women and minorities on this blog and maybe I'll read.

[Tony A.]

It is a fact that many Democrats believe that a Hillary/Obama ticket is the right thing for our party and will provide the best chance for a win.
It has also been clear for most of us citizens/viewers/voters that the big media has been easy on Obama and hard on Hillary for whatever their reasons.
Clinton is a savvy politician that understands the electorate better than the LA Times etc...
Thank you Hillary for saying what needs to be said and for protecting Obama from himself - as an Obama candidacy will surely go down in a ball of Rezko/NAFTA-Gate/Chicago back room politics fire.

[c. perry]

A bad day for Hillary Haters, they will have to start all over again. All the talking heads, all the chattering class will be at a loss. How can those ignorant voters not fall for our beloved "feather merchant".
We are seeing a defeat of form by substance. Daily drivel about hope and undefined change grows old, slowly it seems.

[former democrat]

When this nomination is stolen by the clintons this voter will be going to the green party forever. Bill screwed us with his pig like behaviour, spurning Gore.

[urbanleftbehind]

Obama should do nothing of the sort, although I would help muscle out Harry Reid and offer Hillary senate majority leader.

[JON PRUITT]

LET'S FACE IT - NEITHER CLINTON, OBAMA, OR McCAIN WILL BE ANSWERING THE PHONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE!
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO REACH THE PRESIDENT ON THE PHONE?

[electxyz]

I will support such a ticket. Clinton first 8 years will be tough. Then we see bright light again. After 8 years, Obama a little over 50 with good experience then. It gurrentees he will have another 8 years. American makes history with both woman and African American to be presidents.

[Eliot]

Pretty interesting that her 20 point lead in Ohio and Texas was obliterated and drastically reduced. She was, essentially, the loser last night after not getting the BIG win she needed. And that comes from Bill Clinton himself.

The idea of Clinton on the ticket is laughable. She has no chance. She won 3 of the last FIFTEEN states.

I half expect her to ask Obama to drop out of the race next.

[Eliot]

Let's talk about real experience, and not just a speech from 2002!

Let's talk about Norman Hsus and sleazy fundraising, the various Clinton administration scandals from Travelgate to the Marc Rich pardon, the tax returns, Bill Clinton's Kazakh dealings, the hidden White House records.

Go Hill - oh wait... ouch

[David, Houston, TX]

Now Hillary equals the democrats version of Mike Huckabee and she tries to pull this crap? Look at the math people... if you can handle it. The chances are slim to none that Bill and Hillary could catch up in pledged delegates so the only chances of her winning are doing something that goes against democracy. DO THE MATH

[sherrie conner]

Not to minimize two incredibly competent people down to gender or race BUT this is an incredible time for our country-We are living through an important historical period where little girls and people of color will look up to see that ANYONE really could be president of these United States of America! That they would be "judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin" (to quote the great MLK). I disagree that McCain will win the general election even though I do think he's the most honorable and competent of the republicans. I think that I don't care whether its an obama-clinton or clinton-obama tick because Obama brings hope and change and Clinton brings experience and a promise of economic recovery (just look at the economy under Bill). AND...the VP will likely become P after a 2-term by the Dems! Lastly, how fantastik that our youth is becoming so excited and engaged! I just hope that the Dems are smart and allow the people to speak and yield instead of allowing "super-delegates" to trump their voice-that would be disappointing!