My short answer is "No". And here is why:
There are several reasons for picking a particular running mate. Some of those are:
1. The running mate should share the same ideology.
2. The running mate should complement the voting numbers by being able to carry states where the person on the top of the ticket couldn't or is weak.
3. The running mate should be someone who the public would feel comfortable with stepping into the top spot if something happened to the President.
While on the surface, many would say that an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket would fit those criteria perfectly, there are several reasons why I believe there will not be a combined ticket.
There are several reasons for picking a particular running mate. Some of those are:1. The running mate should share the same ideology.
2. The running mate should complement the voting numbers by being able to carry states where the person on the top of the ticket couldn't or is weak.
3. The running mate should be someone who the public would feel comfortable with stepping into the top spot if something happened to the President.
While on the surface, many would say that an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket would fit those criteria perfectly, there are several reasons why I believe there will not be a combined ticket.
Discounting a Clinton/Obama ticket:
1. While Clinton would benefit from having Obama as a powerful vice president, she owes too many other politicians favors to offer it to him.
2. Neither Clinton likes being questioned or challenged. Having a shining star like Obama around for four years would overshadow her and give him the clout to push his agenda. They would be butting heads constantly, and she wouldn't put up with that.
3. Obama has worked hard to distance himself from politicians that are in the pocket of lobbyists. If he were to "join" Clinton, he would be seen as a traitor to his own cause. That would eliminate any future shot at running for president.
4. Obama has questioned her leadership capabilities that she has touted in the campaign. He has all but said that she doesn't have the experience to hold that spot. It would be difficult for him to change his tune and support her as leader of the free world.
Discounting an Obama/Clinton ticket:
1. If Obama wins the nomination, he will have proved that it is possible to win without having big money in your pocket. So, he won't have a need for Clinton on the ticket.
2. Obama won't want to be overshadowed by a Bill/Hillary tag-team for four years. He will have his own agenda and won't want the Clinton's getting in his way.
3. Part of the reason that people are voting for Obama is because they want change. They want people in government with fresh ideas about how to govern. If he picked Clinton as his running mate, he would be going against what got him the nomination to begin with.
With Clinton's campaign in scramble/panic/crisis mode, they have pulled out all of the stops to try to counter Obama's momentum. Whereas a few months ago the suggestion of a Clinton/Obama ticket didn't garner a response at all, Clinton managers and advisers are openly suggesting that it is a possibility. Bill Clinton himself even made the suggestion. Obama's camp has denied that it is even a possibility.
I believe that the Clinton camp sees that Obama is on the right track, but that many people are split between the two. I believe that they are spreading the hope that there is a chance of a Clinton/Obama ticket to swing people in her favor. If they think that a win for Hillary is a push in the direction of a joint ticket, then they are mistakenly excited enough to vote for Hillary. It's just another dirty tactic that the Clinton machine has turned on.
Whoever wins the nomination, there won't be an Obama/Clinton or a Clinton/Obama ticket. It just isn't going to happen. People need to realize that and vote for who they think would make the best President. In November we'll get to vote for the best ticket.
Mark
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