Hillary Fades as Obama's VP Choice

[Herb Schaffler]

Hillary Fades as Obama’s VP Choice


Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:44 PM

By: Jim Meyers

Evidence is mounting that despite Hillary Clinton’s interest in the vice presidential slot, Barack Obama is unlikely to choose his former Democratic rival as his running mate.
When Obama appeared on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, he hinted that his ideal vice presidential candidate would be someone who is not strongly identified with Washington, which would appear to rule out Clinton.
Also, Obama’s advisers have been discussing Hillary’s role at the Democratic convention in August “in a way that suggests they are not thinking of her arriving in Denver” as Obama’s running mate, the New York Times reported.
Hillary herself has told her associates that she doubts Obama will select her and regards talk by Obama aides that she is in the running as little more than a “courtesy.”
There is also lingering friction between the two camps over Clinton’s campaign debts of more than $20 million, with Clinton aides complaining that Obama is not doing enough to help her pay off the debts, and Obama associates carping that Clinton expects too much help from him.
But Terry McAuliffe, who was chairman of Hillary’s campaign, has not yet thrown in the towel, saying on Sunday: “If he picks Hillary he gets her 18 million supporters and we would win in a cakewalk and control the White House for 16 years.”
On the other hand, Obama insiders have indicated that “any political benefits gained by putting Mrs. Clinton on the ticket would be outweighed by the costs,” according to The Times.
And political analyst Dick Morris has said “it would be an act of terminal insanity for Barack Obama to name Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential candidate. It would not help him get elected; it would drag all the Clinton controversies into the general election; and it would be a disaster to have her down the hall in the west wing creating dissension and civil war.”

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Unfortunately, there isn't a happy face sighing a big sigh of relief.