Obama Says He Will Not Accept VP Spot

Campaigning in Casper, Wyo., Friday night for the 12 delegates to come out of Saturday's Democratic county caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama refused the notion of becoming the vice presidential candidate on this fall's party ticket. Obama was asked by a television reporter, "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?" And the freshman Illinois senator replied: "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count." Many Democrats have long thought of Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama as a dream ticket, offering both the first serious female candidate and the first serious African American candidate for the nation's top two political offices. Clinton surprisingly broached the idea Wednesday morning after she won the popular vote in Texas and Ohio to regain some momentum after 11 straight ... losses, though she still lags far behind in pledged delegates. She mentioned the possibility of a joint ticket again Friday morning during a campaign appearance in Mississippi. Last night was the first time Obama commented on the idea. It's political protocol when presidential candidates are asked about the vice presidency to twist the question back around to the top office and avoid a direct answer. But Obama's response last night was unusually direct and dismissive. The 46-year-old candidate is expected to do well in Wyoming today, as he has done in virtually every caucus state.

Here's the comment I posted on another thread:

People here are missing the ultimatum which the Clintons are sending through this (very clever) ploy.

Look, a lot of Democrats are terrified that the continuing race between Hillary and Obama will get bloodier and bloodier and end up tearing the Democratic Party apart, in which case neither one will win the general election. There is a desperate desire to resolve the contest one way or another, and then get on with the job of unifying the party.

If Obama had won Ohio and Texas, or even just Texas, the Democratic establishment was prepared to lean on Hillary to concede the race. They had a bunch of superdelegates lined up who were going to endorse Obama and try to put the nomination mathematically out of reach for Hillary.

But Hillary's victories torpedoed that plan. Now she can claim some momentum, and keep her campaign going until at least Pennsylvania and quite possibly right up into the convention. This is the Democrats' worst case scenario.

So what Hillary is telling all these Democrats is: ‘The only way you can stop the fratricide and keep the race from dragging on is to sign on to a unity ticket with me at the head and Obama as the VP. Lean on Obama, and make him see the political reality, and we can all join hands and win the November election.’

‘BUT, if my offer is rejected, then you'll get your worst case scenario. I'll rip Obama apart from now until the convention, so that even if he eventually wins the nomination it will be worthless. And don't even think about a unity ticket with me on the VP end. I'm setting the terms here, and Obama isn't ruthless enough to destroy the party with a counter-ultimatum.’

Of course Obama is publicly rejecting the offer. He has to, or all the superdelegates will immediately grab Hillary's offer and end his chances. But Obama can't publicly make the counter-offer of having Hillary as his VP choice. For one thing, he doesn't want her. For another thing, it would look like a me-too response and make him appear weak. He's trying to project the image of having an unbeatable delegate lead, so a compromise offer undercuts that narrative.

But Hillary's offer is hanging out there now, and she'll use it to paint Obama as the obstacle to political peace and unity. Meanwhile she'll keep attacking Obama, and every time she's criticized for her tactics she'll just blame Obama for stubbornly refusing to place the good of the Democratic Party above his own blind ambition.

I cannot see any advantage for either candidate running second on the ticket.

If Clinton wins the nomination, what would Obama gain by running as her VP. If they win, he is stuck behind Hillary and Bill for 8 long years...and their scandals will rub off on him. If they lose to McCain, the glow is off the rose and he is 2012's John Edwards. It makes more sense for him to stay in the Senate or to run for governor...anything rather than to be tarnished by the Clintons.

OTOH, if Obama wins the nomination, why would Hillary want to be his VP...and why would Obama ask her? Does Obama want Hillary and Bill looking over his shoulder? And would Hillary and Bill really want to play second fiddle to Obama for the next 8 years? I don't think so.

I do not see a Hillary/Obama or a Obama/Hillary ticket coming out of this....

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