BREAKING NEWS: Hillary Clinton 'open' to veep spot

The Associated Press, continuing to lead the way in reporting the breaking developments in the wrap-up to the Democratic presidential race, writes that Hillary Clinton has told unspecified lawmakers from her home state of New York that she is "open" to joining the party's national ticket as Barack Obama's running mate.

Lacking an unequivocal, no-way, no-how denial from the Clinton camp, the news should significantly increase public calls from her supporters for Obama to offer her the post. And, conversely, it should spark a full-throated debate among Obama backers as to whether that would be a good or bad thing.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a staunch Clinton ally, helped get the ball rolling earlier today on what some Democrats view as the "dream ticket" scenario.

In an interview with CNN in which she said the "moment of truth" had arrived for Clinton to end her presidential quest, Feinstein added, "I’m a very strong supporter of Hillary being placed on the ticket as a vice presidential candidate.”

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Duane Laible]

Obama had better hire a food taster.

[Fred Flinstone]

Obama would be wise not to put her on the ticket. Way too much baggage, and way too many unpleasant feelings and attitudes between the two. His trick will be passing her over without angering or alienating - irredemiably - too many of her supporters.

[Dee Cooper]

This could be a clear path to Hillay's eventually becoming president--she is surely the MOST QUALIFIED Candidate of the 2. And the only one with foreign relations experience. The only way for the democarats to win in November.

[Sterling Greenwood]

With all the crossover votes Hillary's been getting in Demo primaries from Republicans intent on derailing Obama's candidacy, she's more qualified to be John McCain's running mate.
Sterling Greenwood
Aspen Free Press

[June]

Seems to me if she wanted the VP spot, she would have run a different kind of campaign. Clearly she would not have inidcated she was waiting around for him to die. Then afterwards, not even give an apology to Obama and his family.

So, I guess she never believed all of those awful things she said about him, I guess they were just more lies. No, I am sick of Hillary, I want her to go away! Good-bye, have a good life!

[Cameron Johnson]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! The easiest possible way for us to lose the election in november is to bring on all of that extra Clinton baggage. Please, just tell her to go home. Pay off her debt, give her a position somewhere far, FAR away from the white house, but PICK SOMEONE LIKE JIM WEBB OR JOHN EDWARDS FOR VP! SOMEONE WHOSE CAMPAIGN STYLE DOESN'T RUN COUNTER TO EVERYTHING OBAMA STANDS FOR! NO NO NO!!!

[sukkee]

What change is Obama talking about if he picks up Hillary for a VP nominee? She was showing us what her real skin is during primary.

She might look for opportunity of Obama death if she becomes real VP. Not this woman! I'll vote McCain if this woman is a VP candidate.

[Cammi317]

Secretary of Health is a better for position for her. It in compasses one of her more passionate endeavors. She is not really a "second banana" type of person.

[Seni]

Hillary Clinton should never accept the v.p. position. She and Bill in the white house witn the Obamas will not work. There is too much anger between tnem. Even if Hillary is on the ticket, I will never vote for Barack Obama.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

No No No No No No No No No No No NO!!!!!!!!

Please No more Clintons in the White House!!!!!!!!!!!

TOO Much corruption, Too little dignity, Too insane!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kap]

I'd rather have Dianne Feinstein as the VP nomination, or someone from a swing state like PA, OH, or FL.

[Michael in Altadena]

If it would shut all the nutballs up, it sounds wonderful. They'd make a great team. What to do about Bill, though. He could take her senate seat or an ambassadorship in some far-off land.

[MB]

No, please no VP spot. Too much baggage, too much Bill, too many tries to define Obama in a Rove-like manner, it's just too much. I think she should have a powerful cabinet position, perhaps in a role that would make universal healthcare a reality this time around?

[Dub Dudder]

Oh for crying out loud. Pack it up already Clinton. The HRC campaign won't be satisfied until they've destroyed the democratic ticket by crying foul on the whole nomination process (she would have received a whole 4 superdelegates, wow...), keeping in the race until the very bitter end, and now priming the second wave of backlash involved with Obama rejecting Hillary as VP via their continued Hillary slash and burn the earth campaign.

I think Hilary's britches are too big to accept the Veep position at this state. Clinton has too much baggage with all the centrists in favor of Obama. Non democrats vote against people named Clinton these days.

[anonymous]

GROAN. Billary as veep! Come on. No way is it going to be productive to have three people who think they are president in the white house!

[Bruce P]

Obama should publicly announce his veep selection tonight for someone besides Hillary (my choice: Kathleen Sebelius) so that he is not undermined by a Hillary-for VP campaign that either undermines his general election party unity message or makes him look like a pushover and saddles him with a VP candidate and spouse he'll regret.

[billy]

for the sake of winning the race ... against mccain .. Obama does not need hilary ...

at the end of the day people will be voting to end the war more than voting for a new president and we all know where Mccain stands so .. Obamas VP running mate is gonna be 100 soldiers from Walter Reed with limbs missing wearing Obama shirts ... that my friends is all he has to do to win this thing .. no racial noise just the fact he wants to bring our girls and boys back ..and to stop the funneling of money to a war that was flawed on merits from the start . Now If Hilary had conceded a week ago ... i might of entertained the idea of her as a VP .. can you imagine the bumping of heads those two will have .. i say bring her husband on as Secretary of State . and appoint her to ...the ways and means committee . bill is liked around the world and he can talk a good one .. so let him go around and do what he does best ... professional bull manure salesman

[Raymond Shaw]

For those Obama supporters who think that this would be a good idea, go watch/read The Manchurian Candidate.

- Raymond Prentice Shaw

[joe]

Barack could never control her as a VP! Could GW control Cheney?? HA!!!

Bull, let him choose his own running mate after all, he got this far without her.... or with her dis-liking him.

[Dan]

This is a very bad idea. Hillary can best serve the nation in other ways.

[News Gal]

Please we don't need them in the white house again. I think both will try to take Obama over. Scum out leave it out. Bill Clinton is a pig.

[Faith]

Yay! This Black Woman knows who to vote for should this news be true!

[andree]

Two of greatest minds will definately up lift america and its values we are cherish.

[Mr. Willie Loman]

They cannot leave the stage. Who's gonna employ the hook? If not, we'll have 5 more months of thrills and chills!

Barry and Hil, a dream ticket? Darn right! A dream come true for John McCain.

[lola]

NO Hillary on ticket!!

[Laurent]

No way, not a chance. Any advantage Hillary might bring to the ticket -- which may in any case be outweighted by electoral disadvantages -- are less important than the fact that having Hillary and, even more so, Bill lurking around the White House during an Obama presidency would be a complete disaster.

[kiwiJerky]

I'm all for it. Let us as a country NOT have McCain in office for 4 more years of the same destructive behavior we're supposedly "used" to now.

[Loribeth]

I don't think Hillary is a good choice for VP. Though she certainly is a strong candidate in terms of bringing in almost an equal number of voters, ultimately, there is far too much baggage associated with her and her husband (Now there's a new story about a potential tryst between Bill and Gina Gershon...it never ends!) Plus choosing Hillary may put Obama at risk of being seen as a puppet of a past president and make people wonder who is really running things. I think it's not a wise choice. Plus, all of Hillary's constituency will vote for Obama with or without Hillary as VP.

[Brian in Manhattan]

This is pathetic. If she wanted to be offered to be the VP, she should have gracefully negotiated that months ago. Instead, she has proven herself to be completely antithetical to the campaign Obama has been running. "Change We Can Believe In" versus "Change I Must Lead".

This is not a "dream ticket". People who think it is need to read the book "The No-@sshole Rule". Hillary will not benefit a White House unified on positive change.

If Hillary is on the Democratic ticket, my vote goes elsewhere. Period.

[vicweast]

Obama would be INSANE to have Hillary on his ticket.

I liked Hillary a few months back, but seriously she's evil. As evil as the Bush machine, as evil as many who are close to Obama.

It's a tough battle for a black man to be elected President -- that's reality. I would vote for the man, his skin color is not an issue for me: But it is a very real issue for many Americans.

It's a tough battle for a woman to be elected President -- that's reality too... And Hillary brings special Republican anti-body luggage with her. A whole room full of luggage. Half of which is Bill's luggage. Face it: Most Republicans HATE Hillary. There isn't a more unifying force for Republicans than their hate of Hillary and Bill Clinton. I don't understand it, but I know it is as real as the sky above.

Hillary as Obama's running mate? A joke.

[nic]

yep! that'd be -so perfect, that somehow I feel that it's not going to happen.

[Donnie from WV]

I am a strong supporter of Senator Obama, but if Hillary Clinton is on the ticket as VP I will not vote for anyone in the pesidential campaign. I feel Senator Obama needs to put someone in the VP postion that reflects his ideology, honesty and his idea of a change in Washinton, Senator Clinton does not!

[KYJurisDoctor]

For Barack Obama, having BILLARY Clinton as Vice President would be like having a Live SNAKE under the bed covers!

[RicRoe]

Clinton as possible VP candidate would hand Republicans a November victory.

Clinton represents everything that is wrong in Washington, divisiveness, partisan political opposition, and strong negative campaign tactics would all become part of an Obama campaign severely diluting the politics of change Obama has campaigned for.

Obama does not need Hillary Clinton, or worse, the sideshow that accompanies the former President which would provide endless fodder for Republicans in the run up to the election.

Clinton as a VP candidate would be all many would need to jump from Obama and vote for McCain. Offering Clinton the VP slot on an Obama ticket would send voters a mixed message of old and new politics which would surely serve to keep the White House in Republican hands come November.

I could support Obama candidacy for change for President based on a simple ABC principle... as far as Vice President is concerned, Anyone But Clinton.

[Mark Mulligan]

I don't much care for marriages of convenience. Hillary Clinton comes with so much baggage for Obama's "agent of change" message that I think he could better. Her no. 1 disdvantage on the list is her blowhard husband the ex-President. No. 2 is her changeability and No. 3 her tendency to be deceptive. She's a little nightmare for Obama basically. That said, Hillary brings huge numbers of devoted followers, particulary, women and blue collar voters. I'd pick someone else and unless she finds a way to force him to accept her as his running mate, which is possible, I'd choose someone else for sure. Gov. Kathleen Sibelius, Sen Jim Webb and Gov. Bill Richardson--in no particular order--might fit the bill.

[Russ S.]

Just imagine. We might end up getting the dream ticket after all. And we thought it was impossible.

Clintona and Obama 2008-2016! Clinton again 2016-2024!

[Jonathan]

Hillary, Hillary, go away
Don't come back another day
Barack Obama is here to stay
Hillary, Hilary, go AWAY.

[Spouting the Obvious]

So yet another ploy form the Clinton administration. Sure we fully believe you will assist Obama without any backstabbing antics, and with the utmost sincerity.

Who wants an angry snake at their neck for the next four years (two if you count the hubby)? Granted it would cinch the likelihood of a Democratic administration, but at what cost?

We wouldn't even have any fears of not winning the white house, if she wouldn't have dragged this fiasco on for so long. The ruthlessness of HRC knows no bounds.

[Tom]

A lot of these bloggers need to grow up! An Obama Clinton ticket, if you simply look at how the primary states have gone, WOULD unite Democratic voters and give Obama a better chance at beating McCain. Also, Clinton's experience and work ethic combined with Obama's charisma and intelligence would be a great compliment on a ticket together. TWO FIRSTS for the price of one. Our FIRST African American President and our FIRST Female Vice President. It's great.

[Natalie]

Just go back to New York Hillary. No one wants to see you and your sex maniac partner near the white house.

[DEMOCRAT VOTER]

IF CLINTON GIVES UP TO OBAMA I WILL VOTE REBLICATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. OBAMA CAN'T EVEN CARRY CLINTON'S SHOES.EVERYONE IN THE USA WILL BE VERY SORRY THEY VOTED HIM IN.

[MARGIE]

THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST OF THE CLINTONS!!! WOOOHOOOOOOO!!! FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD ALMIGHT WE ARE FREE AT LAST!!!!

[D.]

I have been a staunch Obama backer, even though I am registered as a Republican, but if this woman is put on the ballot as VP, I will not be voting for Obama. This is the worst choice he could make. I don't like McCain as a choice and this woman is even worse.

[BJ]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

The voting will be for PRESIDENT, NOT VP... so this is a dumb way to get Hillary supporters to vote for Obama.

Hillary, go Independent!

Hillary or McCain '08

[Soonerthought]

Heck no. I would not want to have my Veep choice dictated to me--and Obama won't either. Besides, that's Joe Biden's job, not Hillary's.

[Steve S]

I think Obama would be a fool to let the Clintons into his campaign. Way too much baggage!!

[Dr. Jesse Kally-Williams]

This woman, Mrs. Clinton, does not deserve any post in Obama's regime. She campaigned vigorously for McCain, so let her seek the VP post in McCain's backyard. Obama is not under any obligation to play the magnanimity of Abraham Lincoln. The opponents or enemies Lincoln employed in his regime did not harbour in their hearts the possibility of his assassination. This woman has crossed the Rubicon. Somebody wishing for your assassination is not someone you will like to have hanging around you. And if a candidate feels so strongly that you have taken what is hers by right, by marriage, then let her go away and bask in her self-pity. No act of magnanimity will change Clinton’s heart. She has gone too far, the White House is not the property of the Clintons. Obama will be foolish to share his presidency with Bill Clinton. The civilised world is waiting for Obama to lead, NOT the Clintons again!

[Bob]

BIG MISTAKE!

Hillary would be second-guessing Obama every step of the way while pushing her own agendas and Bubba would be fighting for the lime-light in between chasing interns around the Whitehouse grounds!

Hillary, the Queen of Spin and a Legend in Her Own Mind!

http://klintons.com

[Dean]

It is not a good idea to put her on the VP ticket. Secretary of Health and Human Services with a direct impact on getting health care reform accomplished is much better suited for Billary. I would like to see Obama choose either Webb or Biden.

[Aminah Carroll]

Obama needs to put her in an appointed cabinet job from which she can be fired if she and her husband continue to do their damndest to derail the party and stir up trouble. Id shee is in an elected positon he has his hands tied if either or both of them act out destructively.
congratulations to Senator Obama.
and Thank God he has survived, and his campaign triumphed over the Clintons' powermongering and suual dirty tricks.