Washblog

Democrats it seems like a dream sequence, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton deciding to run on the same ticket as they battle campaign McCain for the presidency. Clinton-Obama is the combination of two forces which seemingly couldn't lose, right? While it seems like an enticing scenario, its one team Obama is not ready to endorse.

 Barack Obama seems specifically miffed by the talk of him assuming the vice presidency on a ticket headlined by Hillary Clinton. This "talk" seems to coming from the mouths of both Bill and Hillary themselves, as they attempt to maneuver towards the democratic nomination for president. According to Reuters, the move is in an attempt to nab Obama supporters should the New York Senator win the nomination:

"In hailing Obama as a possible vice president, the Clintons are reaching out to him and, perhaps more importantly, to his backers, whose support she would need to defeat Republican presidential candidate John McCain in the November election." -Reuters

The move is fairly controversial, as Sen. Clinton is still in second place in the delegate count and may be overstepping some boundaries by making these kinds of statements. Dennis Goldford, a Drake University Political Science Professor weigh's in on the decision:

"If she wins the Democratic presidential nomination, she would need Obama's supporters. But she needs to be careful. If this talk of him on the ticket is seen as a cynical maneuver, it could backfire and hurt her," Goldford said." -Reuters

Sen. Obama hasn't taken kindly to the Clinton's remarks and in a recent talk, spent some time discussing what he thinks of potentially becoming the Vice President:

"With all due respect, I've won twice as many states as Sen. Clinton. I've won more of the popular vote than Sen. Clinton. I have more delegates than Sen. Clinton. So, I don't know how somebody who's in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who's in first place." -Talking Points Memo

It's a sharp response from the Illinois Senator, and an extremely fair one at that. Hillary's comment feels petty, as this race for the Democratic nomination is far from over, each candidate has a good chance to take it.

What is apparently fueling a lot of this talk is Sen. Obama's "lack of experience" when it comes to the political arena. The Albuquerque Tribune seems to think eight years under Clinton's wing as VP would season Obama for his own term as president:

"It could set the stage for Democratic leadership for the next two decades, offering Obama eight years of on-the-job-training and the opportunity to succeed Clinton in 2016 with his own opportunity for greatness." -Albuquerque Tribune

 Obama's lack of experience has been a point emphasized by competing campaigns; however the Illinois Senator had his own response to those questioning his experience as a politician:

"But I don't understand. If I'm not ready, how is it that you think I should be such a great vice president? Do you understand that?" -Talking Points Memo

Obama is making it very clear that a ticket with both himself and Sen. Clinton is something that he isn't interested in:

"So I don't want anybody here thinking that somehow, "Maybe I can get both." Don't think that way. You have to make a choice in this election. Are you gonna go along with the past, or are you gonna go towards the future? Are you gonna do the same old thing, or are you gonna try something new?" -Talking Points Memo

Obama is firing back pretty hard here and rightfully so. These kinds of comments are meant to be shots, and he needs to show a fiery resolve when dealing with them. His last quote makes it blatantly clear that he is in the race to beat Sen. Clinton not settle by teaming up with her. It's a very hard line approach that should show voters that he is willing to do what it takes to win the nomination outright.