“A Hillary! / Obama ticket would have been ammost unbeatable this cycle.
Who knows? We may end up seeing it in 2012.”
As for Hillary, I don’t think she’ll get the nomination in 2012, either. Before 2008 Hillary scared off most of the “electable” Democrats that people thought would run, such as Mark Warner and Evan Bayh, but she won’t scare them off again in 2012. I think that this was her last chance at the presidency.
For the record, had Hillary won the nomination, I think that she should have taken Harold Ford, Jr. as her runningmate. Ford is way more qualified than Obama, and he would have (i) said yes and (ii) not let his ego get in the way of trying to win the election.
Do you think he'll even stay in the US?
If Obama loses (or WHEN Obama loses) he is likely to become the next Jesse Jackson, bitterly screaming racism at every turn and perpetually running for President. Obama is finally being shown as the over-the-top liberal that he is and even many Dems may not want to take it to that level.
Once Obama loses, I can't see any reason for his mentors not to drop him. I see no reason for him not to stay in the Senate until 2010, but doubt he'd be able to win re-election after having thrown the presidency.
You are right, the smart money says a defeated Berry would waltz into the Illinois Governor’s Mansion (unless we can “Nixon” him, not likely) and run later with that pesky “executive experience” under his belt. He’s young enough to wait.