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

[JMH]

I agree with Alice, if Obama wins this is bad news for almost all of America.

Obama's racist and anti-Semitic ties are alarming.

His supporters are naive and deluded, if they don't see through this phony. They are swept up in his Yada Yada Yada Obama rhetoric of saying nothing, but saying it well. Lots of empty words from a guy who voted "present" over 100 times in the Senate. Way to take a stand, Obama. This gives you plenty of room to criticize others and sway the masses.

"Change", yes that is what we will get, and it will be ugly.

After winning Iowa, Obama said, "When America gets a cold, Black America gets pneumonia". Obama didn't say "poor" or mention any other group. This statement shows his hidden racist agenda. Add to this, his long-standing support and friendship of the racist idiot, Rabid Wright for over 20 years.

Wright's magazine, The Trumpeter, chose the anti-Semitic and racist Louis Farrakhan as its "Man of Distinction".

Anyone who votes for Obama and isn't black is a fool, because he won't choose anyone over his own. This is about race, because he has made it so. I can't believe how the media is making "Our Savior", and touting him as the first black president already. The news bias is truly obnoxious. M Johns, do you think blacks aren't voting for him because he is black? Did you watch the news or listen to the interviews at all? Oprah NOW comes forward for a candidate, because HE is the FIRST worthy candidate?! Add to this, Michelle, his vulgar wife, saying she is proud of America for the first time, because her husband was winning? Give me a break! I saw a lot of heroes on 9/11 that made me proud of America and it's people.

With the PC patrol, anyone who speaks against him is a racist, well; look closer at your candidate and his ilk.

[PatB]

Hillary and Bill will team up making it difficult for Obama.

How about Sen Joe Biden?.An older white male would be helpful in winning the states where Obama could not win that white working class vote. I do think that racism is alive and well especially in some of those "swing" states . An older VP would help to offset Obama's youth and perceived lack of experience also,

[Ross]

I hope if Obama offers, Hillary has the smarts to say no. She has been kicked down, insulted, called ever name in the book and blamed for everything that anyone could come up with on the Obama side. I would not like to see her continued to be the floor mate and whipping boy for the Obama's right on.
I fear what the Obama's reign will bring to this country. I am a Democrate but I will take my chances with McCain. At least we have some idea what to expect.
The Obama's have too many things "off limits" and have continously called voters that did not support them all kinds of names. I thought name calling was something children do when they don't like something, but I have been set straight by this Obama campaign.
My reason has nothing to do with the color of his skin. I would vote for Colin Powell in a heartbeat. My reason for not supporting Obama or voting for him is the same as it has been since the New Hampshire primary.

[Cat]

I agree. McCain should choose Clinton. There's no reason why two candidates from different parties can't run on the same ticket. A bipartisan ticket is a good idea and certainly could put an end to the racist and anti-semitic Obama's chances.

[Katrina]

Romney, Romney, Romney!

[donna]

Those fools who voted for Obama will get an ugly surprise; your boy doesn't like to be questioned. How many times did he walk away from reporters who took the time to answer a serious question? And for those many blacks who tried to encourage me to 'vote for the brother'; this jug-eared cousin of George Bush isn't qualified to run this country! If you don't value your vote enough to really CHECK what the candidates' records are, DON'T VOTE! Hillary should not take the VP spot just to prop up a fraudulent politician. His problems with his preacher and his lying about how long he listened to that man are more than character flaws. This woman voted for Hillary, who at least FINISHED her first term as Senator. This unqualified idiot only won because of the OLD BOYS NETWORK which is afraid of women. This Democrat will vote for John McCain is going to win. I will not vote for an unqualified black man.

[Jeff]

McCain should pick Nouri al-Maliki or Jalal Talabani and make Iraq the 51st state.

[dora]

Since Hillary stated that McCain would be a far better president than Obama then definitely, she should be McCains' running mate.

[Clark]

Accepting the VP under BO would be several steps down for Hillary. Let the empty suit crash and burn on his own.

Because she has so many delegates from the voters and is not far behind BO she has built her clout with the Democratic Party. The delegates are hers until she chooses to release them. The Superdelegate's so-called vote is not binding until cast at the convention in August. Several have changed their minds, some more than once, and it could happen again.

The vote has been very close, almost 50/50. As a result, like it or not, the game of politics gives HRC a great deal of clout regarding the Democratic agenda, platform, and much more. She is here to stay for at least another few years. Get used to it.

However, even with her telling me to vote for BO, I won't. Not even if she lowers herself to accepting the VP slot. We need to not rubber stamp the business of allowing people to pass over better qualified more experienced female candidates. Nor will I be swayed by any of the people who endorsed BO before the Primaries were over. They will never get my vote either, female or not.

[alanr]

Obama will win this election by a landslide. McCain deserves respect, but he belongs to the history books not today's politics.

It's not (only) that he's old; he's outdated. He belongs to an America that has long ceased to exist, and only lives in the memories of a few nostalgics. He's out of touch with today's America, and today's America will hang up on him in November.

Just wait for the first televised meetings, when voters will be able to see them next to each other: Obama's stamina vs. McCain's sluggishness; Obama's eloquence vs. McCain's hesitations; Obama's sharpness vs. McCain's slowness; Obama's fresh face and healthy skin vs. McCain's tired, wrinkled face.

Wait till they'll be shown on TV while getting up from their chairs, or getting out of their cars: Obama quick and agile, McCain taking his time to get up.

Why do you think Obama accepted so eagerly McCain's offer to debate with him in town halls? Because he can't wait to sit next to the old man, for everyone to see the obvious differences in energy, intensity, and charisma between them, and realize how obsolete McCain is by comparison.

McCain is very fit for a 72 year-old; he's not nearly as fit as the 24/7 job at the White House requires. The primaries were barely warm-up compared to what effort and energy they will have to put into campaigning from now till November: physical, raw effort, with little sleep and a lot of time on the road. McCain will simply not be able to keep Obama's pace.

During the past three months when he's had the whole Republican field for himself, he squandered his opportunity to vigorously campaign against Obama: he's been simply too tired to engage in the intensive general campaign. He'll continue to fall behind Obama between now and November, and in November the choice will be clear to the vast majority of voters. Whether you like Obama or not, McCain is simply unfit for the hugely intense requirements of this job. That's the cold, hard truth.

This is not politics; it's biology: young body vs. old body, young spirit v. old spirit. The young wolf will beat the old one easily. It will be fun to watch.

[JFK]

Please dont overlook that Michael Bloomberg might be the best VP candidate for future President McCain!

[Reality]

The Obama supporter’s opinions are irrelevant. Obama needs the Hillary Democrats votes to win...Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with feelings, likes or dislikes, just plain facts and you have to face it children….He wants our vote, he takes our candidate as VP. No vote, no hope.

[Lorraine C. Gollub]

I am among those who truly believe that Senator Clinton would make an excellent president and also an excellent vice president. Clinton has experience with working in the senate and on legislation. She can handle the job. I would have difficulty voting for Obama without Clinton on the ticket. I believe that I am among the possible 18 million who would not vote because I votedj for Clinton and am entitled to have my choice be nominated.

[Ada]

Bobby Jindal...he'll mollify the social conservatives *and* generate a lot of excitement with southerners, Independents, immigrants, and of course, the media, those fearless, bias-free chasers of the truth.

McCain should redouble efforts to pick up Hillary supporters...women, Latinos, Reagan Democrats, Jews, seniors...aka the 50% of the Democratic party that is moderate in propensity. We're low hanging fruit...and we'll do anything to avoid the Obama supporters. Come get us quick, John!

[Roy]

All the talk about Obama's lack of experience stems from a resistance to change when change comes knocking. Why would Clinton's white house be an asset? Look at Corporate America, how many CEO's do you see between 30-50 yrs of age? Do they run successful business? Yes. So it is quite naive to assume that a smart person cannot run this country well. Obama will also be an exceptional leader for America but for the whole world. I bet that he will be the most popular president of usa outside usa as well , after we have had disasters like bush's. Clinton was liked well outside, but this is youth power !yay!!

[frank]

The Pied Piper from Illinois,
or The song Barack Obama pipes to his followers:

They followed merrily after,
These wonderful speeches with donations and laughter.
Of all the pleasant sights he had them to visualize,
Which the Piper promised ahead would lie.
For he led us, he said, to a "Hopeful" land,
from 20 years in a church
where never he made a stand,
to where everything was strange and new,
and "a change we can believe in",
was the tune he blew.
"You chose not to listen
to your doubts and your fears",
voting blindly, and following his soothing words,
but the Pied Piper story is a lesson to learn,
vote carefully, because the moral of the story is,
following a "blessed" piper from nowhere
whose tune is what leads us,
could very well lead us,
to a place from whence there is no return.

Frank N.

Hillary stick around, we may desperately need you...even as VP. We are being blindly led down the path to a possible calamity by a piper from out of nowhere, who pipes smooth words and visuals of change, and who's closest friends are rats.

[Art]

As a Libertarian AND 100% Service connected Disabled Veteran (13 years in, combat connected disability), the Vice Presidential choice will actually make up my voice, and any ticket which has the name "Clinton" on it will lose my vote. McCain is the only one they SHOW with the possibility of sewing up my vote should he pick Ron Paul, a Libertarian belief based candidate who is VERY opposite to the Evangelicals who seem to have monopolized the Republicans. Think of the general views of Bill Maher (except throw in honesty as well as Maher backs Clinton, and which no Candidate named Clinton could ever be claimed to be a person of their word). So, either candidate loses my vote by picking Clinton as a VP candidate. Either candidate picking up Ron Paul (or another strong Libertarian) will sew up my vote. Face it, Libertarians are the third largest political party in the nation with a full 10% of the population, all VERY active i politics. Either candidate can sew up 10% of the swing vote by picking a Libertarian, especially since neither party holds strictly to Benjamin Franklin's original party views--the same ones I support--pro military, pro choice, fiscal coservative (don't give everyone $300... that's nothing to me.. instead put all that money BACK into Social Security! Less Airplanes, and higher salaries and support for active duty and retired military and especially service connected disabled vets. FWIW, even at 100% service connected from the VA, I cannot afford a house to live in. Does that sound right to you?)

[Diana in California]

To Comments Posted by: bruce webster / June 06, 2008 at 08:45 PM. I agree with every word you wrote.

I don't care who Barack Obama picks as VP. It doesn't make a difference. I will be voting for Senator John McCain no matter who he picks. However, I hope it's Mitt Romney, a qualified, experienced, mature family man, self-millionaire, an ex-governor, CEO, and looks presidential. He just purchased a house in San Diego county, and I hope it's a strategy move to build a base in California.

Obama has a long circus car full of wacko racist clowns who molded him into the empty man he is today. If Obama talks about change, hope and unity, why didn't he start with his wacko Trinity Church that he attended for 20 years? Obama needs to bring change, hope and unity to his church, wacko pastors (Wright and Otis Moss, Michael Pfleger) and fellow congregants before he can deliver change and hope, and unite our country. Who in their right mind can vote for such a flawed racist opportunist human being, and is married to a hateful ugly witch who hates the country that has given her opportunities that no other country will? Barack Obama's friends are racists, terrorists, corrupted and shady who hate our country. Only a person who does not love our country can vote for a person like Barack Obama. God help us if he steals the election from Senator John McCain. Obama, his campaign and supporters are going to use the race card, threaten the country with fires and riots in the streets if he is not elected, coerce people into voting for him as he did in the caucus states.

[Diana in California]

Response to Comments Posted by: alanr / June 06, 2008 at 11:25 PM.

You sound like you're having an orgasm over Barack Obama. Gee, you sound worse than Chris Matthews of MSNBC. Is Obama under your desk or what? Get real. Your boy couldn't keep up with Hillary Clinton who is 14 years older than him. Must be the marijuana and cocaine he used for years.

Obama's stamina? He has droopy eyes and a lost look, and can't speak a complete sentence without pausing every two or three words because he's trying to remember what he was coached, or afraid of mis-speaking;

Obama's eloquence? Because he gives a good speech using a teleprompter or cue cards, but can't answer questions on the spot, because someone has to write the responses for him, and it takes him a day or so to prepare to give the speech;

Obama's fresh face and healthy skin? Obama looks pale, tired and sick;

And as for Obama's energy, intensity, and charisma? You see it, but I don't. Your boy looks weak, and does not have any substance in anything he says, he is full of BS.

As for Senator John McCain, his mere presence commands respect, speaks of patriotism and love for his country, the fact that he was a POW speaks of a man with strength, courage, conviction. How many men would be able to sustain all the torture he was put through for being the son and grandson of Navy Admirals, and for serving his country? His two sons are in the military, and did not have to join, but chose to.

Obama does not understand military issues because he did not serve, and is unworthy to be commander-in-chief. I'm a retired Air Force E-7 who served for 23 years, and I understand what Senator McCain was referring to when he spoke against the new G.I. bill introduced by Senator Jim Webb. The noncommissioned officer (NCO) is the backbone of the military, and if you grant any service person who serves 3 years the $40,000 or whatever for college education, people are going to join for only 3 years just to get the money and run. The retention of good NCOs is going to suffer. What about the NCOs who make it a career because they have a sense of duty and dedication to their country? You can't reward the 3 year enlistee the same as the one who makes it a career.

[cj]

1/2 if not more Americans came out to vote for Hillary, OF COURSE she deserves a spot on the ticket. Obama ran on the claim that he will be a uniter, therefore he should exhibit leadership now, otherwise how can he possibly unite the party (let alone the country) if he does not honor 1/2 of the Dem party's judgement? If he does not offer it to her, 17-18 Million voters should be very offended and take their votes elsewhere. Spank the Dem party now and take the lumps so that in the further they will be smart enough to move towards the middle.

[Hirotomi Takemitsu]

Isn't Sam Nunn too old? Although I'm only 31, I read about him being a senator during the Nixon era....and that was almost 40 years ago.
I think that Joe Biden or Bill RIchardson would be good picks for Obama.
DEFINITLY NOT HILLARY FOR VP......NO WAY.

Unless Obama is intent on loosing.

[David Anderson]

Mike Huckabee has the governing experience, the intelligence, the value system, the communication ability, and the positions on the issues to make a great running mate for John McCain, He can connect with voters in a way that neither John McCain nor Mitt Romney could ever hope to do.

[Karolyn]

In the VP for McCain selections, you have one more bar than you have names. A little hard to discern. So I 'll just assume that Mike's bar is above his name and Mitt's bar is below his. That makes the most sense!

[jennifer potenciano]

that commenter who called (in the june 4 online edition of latimes) all hillary followers, including this poster, "deluded" is being unfair, to say the least. i, for one, never write things w/ no basis at all, a tireless student of politics that i am. in fact, that fellow might be surprised to know that obama gets to learn a lot from my postings, as he has followed a lot of my reverse suggestions/advices to him.

see, for instance, how i lambasted him for being a virtual captive of his "advisers" or think tank; & then see how he then proceeded to meet w/ hillary at sen. feinstein's home one-on-one; & how he said his vp choice will be his decision alone, & nobody else's.

now, on the issue of hillary as his vp candidate.

if obama were politically savvy, he would choose--no second thought about it—hillary rodham clinton as his running mate. in fact, even in the thick of the primaries, obama should have sounded out hillary about it, & perhaps that early, the race would have been his.

i demurred from suggesting it pointblank early on (though in february i half-suggested it, as my web postings clearly prove) but i had expected it would been a great chess move, so to say, for obama to have done so, had he thought of it.

hillary undermining obama’s “change” message? what a preposterous comment. firstly, even obama’s “change” agenda, as analyzed by political experts, aren’t exactly the new-mint “change” that it purports to be. the national online review calls it “the old newness,” as the NRO’s analyst debunks, point by point, obama’s change agenda claim.

change is a politically-charged shibboleth, useful for obama in this case. but in his jewish-american forum speech just a few days ago, obama sounded not the change agent he purports to be, in regard to israel & palestinian & the hamas & syria & iran & a whole caboodle of the things he used to claim about during the primaries campaign season. in fact, obama now sounds like hillary on these vital issues. so where’s the claimed “divide” between the two? obama, as i always have noted, is a machiavellian politician who has mastered “the prince” quite well. yes, mccain will be ill-served to call obama “inexperienced.”

no chemistry, trust or compatibility between Hillary & obama? that she told unsavory things of him in the campaign? didn’t obama, of hillary? it takes two to tango. besides, don’t the hillary bashers know not a thing about physics, that unlike poles attract, likes repel? so hillary will bring the hispanics, white working class, women & other key sectors into obama’s win column.

hillary’s the indubitable best vp democrat candidate there is around, bar none. the rest are mere pretenders. we all know how a wonk she is, how brilliant she is—on almost all issues.

carter (jimmy) suggesting military-expert vp nominee like nunn is nothing. nunn definitely is an intellectual lightweight side by side with hillary. besides, obama can always get the advice of the military thoroughbred, so to say, if he wants a military advice.

hllary a “divisive” figure? how divisive can one be who gets 18 million popular votes, eh AP? pray tell me. as we filipinos put it, mamatay na kayo sa inggit ke hillary! (you can die of envy, for all you care, for you’re consumed by the green-eyed monster in your anger & hatred against hillary.)

finally, obama knows this. choosing hillary as his vp is a brilliant political move, as history is on his side. ample political precedents prove the genius of this move: jfk chose his arch-rival, johnson, & reagan picked his nemesis, bush sr.--& both (jfk & reagan) proceeded to romp off with the plum prize, the oval office in the white house.

go ahead, jacqueline (kennedy), recount that tale to obama over & over again.

obama as the first black american president & hillary as the first woman vice president—this is an unbeatable team, & this is history-setting, history-completing american presidential elections like no other. surely, obama will never deny to the American women this epochal opportunity for equality.

[Peter]

Thank God the disaster of the GW presidency was so incredibly overwhelming that it renders another republican term a virtual impossibility. The ONLY thing of merit that EVER came out GW's mouth was that no child should be left behind when it comes to education and he certainly should know from personal experience. (Yea he got a free pass. The man doesn't even have a handle on verb conjugation. Harvard and Yale should be mortified , humiliated and utterly ashamed of themselves).
But yes, thank God that all the stupid people saying stupid things about Obama are going to be in the minority.
Obamas experience!?? G.W. was drunk until he was 40. Then he was handed a baseball team, screwed that up and was puppeteered into a governership over a state that has the worst record in EVERYTHING.
Take a night course and please...stay out of the voting booth.
Oh yea...and John Edwards for VP and Go Lakers!!