Should Obama choose Clinton? Cast your vote. Also McCain's VP options

Today is the big, public Democratic rapprochement day in Washington, the time when that party's presumptive presidential nominee, Barack Obama, presumably gets the presumably hearty endorsement of the party's presumptive loser, Hillary Clinton.

She says she'll work for the election of his ticket Nov. 4.

But should she be on it too?

Would that be a major unity coup, bringing in those 18 million primary Clinton voters and halting the drift of conservative Democrats toward the Republicans? Or would that buy the freshman Illinois senator a two-pack of Clinton trouble that makes it better to risk the race with someone else?

Should Clinton accept if offered the spot?

And while we're at it, what about the Republican ticket? Who should John McCain tap as his running mate?

There are a whole lot of possibilities, some ridiculous, some safe and standard, a couple daring. It probably should be someone from outside Washington, someone at least somewhat younger than McCain's 72. We're betting a governor or ex-governor; Americans like electing executives as chief executive.

Should the Arizona senator go with young Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, dynamic, conservative, from an immigrant family of color with a compelling American success story, who has some Washington House experience? Florida's an important state. Gov. Charlie Crist delivered it in the GOP primary. Could he do it again in the general election?

What about former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a veteran campaigner, vetted, knows the issues, strong jaw, better-liked among some conservatives and, unlike many GOP possibilities, still with his first wife? Also, unlike McCain, Romney's a super-fundraiser.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas? Not gonna happen.

Just for fun, we'll throw in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She'd be the first female Republican VP nominee, and she's a real doer, conservative, popular. But Alaska's a long ways away. Can Americans come to know and like her quickly enough from Labor Day to early November?

Click here to take the poll. Vote your choices. Then see how the tallies are going.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credits: CNN, Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti, Office of Alaska Governor

Comments

[ARCHIE HAASE]

Former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia is the best choice for Obama.

[lena holst]

Hillary as VP. I say NO NO NO

[TJ]

I'm sad there wasn't an option of HELL NO!

[bocek]

I think Obama can beat McCain without us, and frankly, I'm so sick of his low-rent supporters I'm tuning most of it out. I'll vote for him, but I don't want to be tempted back in to giving a damn by Obama making an expedient offer of the VP slot to Hillary. Don't offer, Senator Obama. Say no, Senator Clinton. Good luck, Barack Obama. Don't write.

[Andrew]

What about Linda Lingle as the VP for McCain?

[Alessandro Machi]

I would have put Hillary's name in Republican side farther down the list rather than put it first on the list.

I would have also liked to have seen an option for whom Hillary Clinton should pick as her V.P.

http://www.Hillary-Wins.com
http://www.CaucusCheating.com
http://www.CaucusConfession.com
http://www.Florida-Michigan.com

[Briggs V. Camungol, Jr.]

I strongly believe that Obama should choose Clinton as his VP. For one thing, Hilary, having been a resident of the White House for quite sometime and had closely assisted Bill Clinton while he was the President, had been exposed to and knows a wide range of policy making evaluation as far as the nation is concerned. Her being a Senator and her experiences on foreign policy matters and universal health care are added credentials to this magnificent lady.

[Dorothy Johnson]

Do you really think Hillary will be content with being #2.?

There will be problems in the White House until America's will have to put on hold.

[Diana]

I really like the idea of a McCain/Clinton ticket. None of the other candidates could bring as many votes as she could to the table. Two people working across party lines to unite the country is exactly what we need. Enough with the smoozing.

[Louise]

Senator Obama should pick Senator Byrd from West Virginia. It would bring great balance to the ticket and completely negate Senator McCain's age advantage. Senator McCain should pick Hillary, which would show just how far he would go to win. If he won, Iran would surrender immediately.

(Are you serious? He's 90 and can barely walk.)

[charles horne]

Obama should offer the VP to Clinton but she should not accept. It may help to unify the Democratic Party.

Doubtful whether Obama can win against McCain and this allows Clinton to run in next election.

[Alice Blackhall]

I think Obama is bad news for America. He and his wife have a dangerous agenda, and America is too naive to see it. If he becomes President, this country will never be the same again. It will change forever, for the worse.

I would think that Hillary Clinton may be a good choice for VP because "what we see is what we get" - while Obama is still a mystery. Who is he? What is his real agenda concerning the future of the U.S.? Maybe Hillary would be a positive balance in this equation if she is the VP.

[James McDouglas]

Hillary is the biggest albatross in political history, besides George Bush Jr.

Hillary shouldn't have turned racist and then implied Obama would be assassinated like RFK.

Other than that she'd be... well... she'd still be shrill, annoying, egotistical, self-entitled, have a 50% dislike rating, have scandals and illegalities out the wazoo, and be facing an LA Superior Court trial this fall for her association with her felon fundraiser Peter Paul.

[cowanl]

Obama/Feinstein
All the advantages of Hillary and no downside

[RGeorgeDunn]

On the subject of Marxism, history indicates that if the income tax were removed and the excise tax taken off of the product we manufacture to sell to ourselves with imports coming in tax free, and replaced it with the consumption tax, we will achieve the same wanted parity in the distribution of wealth, without the pitfall of fascism that comes with socialism/communism/Marxism.

As to Romney being Vetted, he was and was found lacking. Governor Huckabee is the one who stands in the center of the road and leans upon Freedom and Liberty in our lives.

[gaypastor]

What?! Like our individual voice, and our VOTE, actually matters. I think we've proven - more than once now - that that's now the way the system works in our country.

[M Johns]

Someone made the comment that if Obama offers the VP to Clinton, that he also better hire a food taster. I would agree. Hillery is one of the most ruthless, egotistical and selfish people I have run across. The last writer commented on her experience. I question here experience other than that of a First Lady. I also question her integrity, which is the part about her that worries me the most. As a moderate Republican, I will probably vote for Obama this election . . . unless he choses Clinton. As it scares the hell out of me to think of her as the person making the decision when I have watched the way she has distorted the truth, turned the campaign to personal attackes, and can't even remember when she was and was not under sniper fire. I also don't think that someone should vote for her because she is a woman, or vote for Obama because he is of color. We should be voting for the best person that can fill the job and protect or interests and bring integrity, good judgement and open midedness to the job. This election, that appears to be Obama.

[Randy Stortroen]

This reporter from the London Telegraph (link below) puts it out there pretty plainly (with help from Ickes). It is the money that matters. But what Ickes, et al. did not count on is that certain politicians (not brought up in money) have to put on that smug face every time they are saying something to ingratiate themselves with the public and, at the same time, signaling their sponsors that they are 'in the money.' Hillary was wearing that face when she tried to fan the hopes of her supporters the other night.To Barack, watching her, she is saying that she, her husband, and their contributors need to get paid off in cash and in kind, respectively, if he wants her to endorse his candidacy. He has to pass.

Televised on national TV, her 'talk to me' speech looks like standard issue pablum for the poor slobs that voted for her in the audience but unadulterated political hardball (chutzpah) for her contributors. The choice of venue was telling, however. She made a 'big' play in a very small game (a small college auditorium with no monitors or cellphone coverage), while giving away her hand. Barack is no slouch in poker and should listen to his instincts: just ignore her bluff, saying in effect: "Uh, try again lady. You and your friends did everything you knew how to scuttle my campaign the minute I announced I was not going to rely on a lot of dirty tricks. As for your contributors, they were playing with money they could afford to lose. Your team lost. Get over it."

As much as it might be a good idea on paper, because of the support Hillary has from women and because she could catch a lot of flak for Barack, it is clear from her speech last night she will corrupt his message right out of the gate.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/foreign/tobyharnden/june2008/cashtalks.htm

[John Kooms]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! We desperately want and need real change in the White House and in government , that is what Obama is about , not more business as usual , not more establishment and more lobbyist and corporate bribery and bribe takers like Hillary Clinton who defends the practice and did so as a matter of fact in one of the debates early on saying " lobbyists are people too " , that was outrageous ! I made up my mind right then and there . Enough Clintons and Shrubs .

[hjgkjhf]

idiots

[John Kooms]

Sam Nunn for VP !

[Swannie]

Hillary should absolutely NOT be his vp first of all it would get him elected because without her he will lose
if by some other trick of the demographic party they were elected she would get blamed for every stupid mistake he made, and she would have to live in his shadow thank you NO THANK YOU AND PLEASE the people comparing michelle to Jackie O ... Jackie would never have shown up at her husbands announcement of his selection ( not election) as the nominee of the demographic party looking like barney

[H. E. Baber]

Obama should offer and Clinton should refuse. This should all be orchestrated in advance.

Clinton should take over Ted Kennedy's role as the liberal lion of the Senate.

[bj]

Will you ever hire someone who is after your assets, your wife and children and who wants to take over all your belongings at anytime? By the way, her supporters may be so racist she might as well work for McCain.

[Bob]

Obama-Mama-Bubba ticket has a ring to it; but so does a dirty toilet!

Obama needs to distance himself from the Clintons; they have had more than their fare share at the podium!

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

http://klintons.com

[O. Carlin]

My opinion is that Hillary Clinton will be the best candidate for VP.

[KYJurisDoctor]

Give the nonsense talk about BILLARY being a ticket with Obama a rest already.

Barack Obama is SMARTER than to fall for that BULLSHIT!

[JH]

If Barack invites Hillary to be his VP it will prove that the campaign slogan about "change" is nothing more than that. A good slogan. She is a corrupt politician who knows how to manipulate the Washington political machine for whatever purpose seems to fit her agenda at the time. The rest of the country is sick of that crap, which is why Obama's message of change has resonated so well with us. Let's see if he's serious or just another politician.

[Cherri]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO Hillary for VP. Such a ticket would be a colossal disaster on so many levels.

And why are so many concerned that she leave the race "with her head held high"?? No other losing candidate is treated with such tenderness and consideration! And she claims to be tough??

Her recent behavior is so childish that it is embarrassing to watch. If she's going to pout, she should go ahead, take her dolls and go home.

PLEASE.

[ihk88]

if obama picks hillary clinton as vice president, his sanity need to be examined. It will be a nightmare to have vice president who will try to upstage president day and night to get all the credits yet blame obama everything if anything goes wrong. i would choose lose election without this woman. If obama elected with hillary as vice, she will try to be a co-president and yet she might even encourage someone to get rid of him. didn't she mentioned robert kennedy assassination at least three times?

[HARISH JAIN]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SAID THAT IF OBAMA CHOSE HILLERY WILL BE DISSASTER FOR THE PARTY. HILLERY CLINTON GOT MAXIMUM POPULAR VOTE. THATS MEAN ALL THOSE PEOPLE VOTE FOR HER ARE STUPID.OBAMA IS A GOOD MAN AND GOOD SPEAKER.HE WON THE RACE BECAUSE OF THOSE LOSSER LIKE JOHN KERRY/KENNEDY/RICHERDSON/EDWARD IF THESE PEOPLE DID'T ENDORSE HIM I DON'T THINK HE CROSS THIS DELIGATE RACE .WHATEVER HE GOOD FOR THIS PARTY TOO I WILL VOTE FOR HIM TOO EVEN HE CHOOSE HER OR NOT.....BUT IF HE IS SMART AND REAL POLTICIAN MUST CHOOSE HILLERY AS VP......THATS MY VISSION.THANKS..........

[Katy7540]

Senator Barbara Boxer, for VP running mate for Obama!

[DEWright]

M.Johns has said everything and I agree totally in what you are saying. I do not agree that Obama should offer Hilary anything. Her integrity is something each of us should take NOTE of. She says what she thinks we want to hear. I think everyone should really think about this election before they vote. Look at the issues, think about where we are today and what has been going on for the past seven years. Do you want the same things to continue? Do you want to continue fighting a war forever? It will take time to end the war, but we need someone that we can trust and have confidence in and most of all that the Middle East will respect. If we do not trust our respect our own government, how can we expect that of them?

[Franky]

How about Obama/McCain?

They would both be where needed. ;)

[Marilyn Cullum]

Obama & Clinton, Yes. If they cannot, or will not, does either have what is required to "bring the country together"?
Expert political commentators have been wrong throughout the primaries; expect them to be wrong on the matter of running mates in the great political game in progress.
Re-write the political rules: listen to the will of the people!

[Bill]

Hillary wont be running for POTUS again...

[NeesiePie]

I agree with M. Johns. I've said for a long time, if Obama picks Hillary for VP he'd better watch his back. Sad.

[bruce webster]

How does being a community organizer ("servant")qualify BO to be the most powerful man in the world? I know, that there must be at least 1000 (conservatively) GRANDMOTHERS who also are (or were) community organizers!! So, seeing that BO has only been a Senator for just a few short years, (and what can be said of him there?) how else is he qualified to be Commander and Chief of the greatest and most powerful Nation in the world? I just don't get it, this is very serious folks, the man has NO experience, certainly not enough to put him in a position to call the shots for our country. Lets not forget also, that this man was raised by Muslim fathers and subjected to their teaching most of his life before "confessing" (NOT) Christianity. Listen people, if this fraud is elected into the Presidency of the USA it will be the greatest disaster our nation has and will, ever face, you can quote me on that!!!!

[BJ]

John McCain should pick

MEG WHITMAN FOR VP

[Terry Papa]

Obama will give her the ministry of Health and he will give her 30 millions for her help and support.

[Nuclear Midnight]

Obama's VP can be Huey, Dewey or Louie, Genghis Kahn, The Marquis De Sade, Jack The Ripper, Charles Manson Even Al Sharpton...ANYBODY But Killary Clinton!

[VM]

OBAMA, or OSAMA? That's all I have to say.

[de dean]

I think Hillary would be fantastic in a cabinet post- so she could fix the health care-- Say HEW? She is not going to be happy as VP- too much baggage- she has said it herself. Obama can do the polite offer thing- and she does the thanks so much I decline thing.

[Robert]

Survey USA Polls continue to show the Huckabee is the strongest VP choice for McCain. Huckabee actually polled better than Mitt Romney in his home state of Massachusetts!

Join me in sending McCain a message that we want Huckabee on the ticket.

Get Huckabee for VP email alerts at:
http://TeamHuck.com

[David]

"What about Mitt Romney, a veteran campaigner, vetted, knows the issues, strong jaw, better-liked among some conservatives"

Romney is very disliked among social conservatives...just look at:
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/907556150.html

[donGuillermo]

For VP, Obama should pick Harry Reid, whose position of Senate majority leader would go to Hillary in exchange for her strong support --and that of her delegates and constituencies-- for Obama.

[carolyn]

Barack Obama has to choose a VP who offers his same vision of change and integrity iin the white house. Hillary Clinton and her surrogaates unfortunately by the path they have chosen, have done damage to him during her campaign, attacking him in the manner of Republican. The Republicans are now using their names and very words against him in their ads and on their websites. Imagine having her on the same ticket and having to explain away some of the strong negative language that she used during her run. She should definitely not be on the ticket. She will also do more to unite the Republicans than anything else.

[carolyn]

Hillary Clinton should NOT be the VP. She will unite the Republicans against the ticket and will scare off Independents and Republicans willing to side with Obama. The swing vote will be important in this election especially since more states will be at play, therefore, Clinton should NOT be on the ticket.

[akprayingmom]

Mike HUCKABEE is a must for McCain to win. HUCKABEE brings stability, integrity, common sense and old fashioned hard work ethics to the ticket. HUCKABEE will rally the voters both Democrat and Republican. If we want lower taxes, stronger military, a stable economy, and balanced budget, put Mike HUCKABEE on the ticket with McCain.
A McCain /HUCKABEE ticket will win the White House in 2008

[NinaK]

Senator Obama has alrealdy organized a committee to help in finding the best possible people qualified for VP. He will make the determination on who he feels is the best person. I have complete trust in Senator Obama making the right decision. The way he and his team ran a near flawless campaign (the best in U.S. history) and the campaign donation/contribution program they ran has also been identified as the best in U.S. history, are indicative of his outstanding leadership and know-how! He will make a great President!