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If Clinton Wants VP, Obama Can't Stop Her
Real Clear Politics ^ | May 15, 2008 | Bob Beckel

Posted on 05/15/2008 7:23:05 AM PDT by COUNTrecount

Does Hillary Clinton want to be the Democrats vice presidential candidate? Probably. Could she get on the ticket by dropping out before the last states vote on June 3rd? Definitely not. Does Barack Obama want her on the ticket? Absolutely not. Can he stop her if she wants it? Probably not. Why not? Super delegates are why not.

When the last pledged delegates are totaled on June 3rd, and assuming the current demographic support continues for both candidates (and baring a major development they will), Barack Obama will have around 1690 delegates and Hillary Clinton around 1550. Add in their current super delegate support and Obama will have 1980 total delegates, and Clinton 1825.

There are roughly 235 undecided or unnamed super delegates, most of whom will pick sides before or shortly after June 3rd. Given the inevitability of his nomination Obama will get the lion share of these delegates. An educated guess would be 185 for Obama, 50 for Clinton. Final count; Obama 2165; Clinton 1875. (Assume Michigan and Florida will be seated and be an even split so we can leave the magic number at the current 2026).

It's all over. Obama will have about 54% of the delegates and Clinton 46%. (I know there are a few delegates missing. Some are Edwards, a few uncommitted, and a few refusing to decide- another wash). Hillary Clinton will have come up short by 150 votes. But this isn't horseshoes. That said she still comes in a very close second, which puts her among the closest runner-ups in Democratic Party history.

So Barack Obama is free to pick a running mate? Not so fast. Her losing margin of 150 is only 19% of the super delegates at the convention.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; hillary; obama; obamahillary

1 posted on 05/15/2008 7:23:05 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
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To: COUNTrecount

It’ll be Joe Lieberman all over.....the Media announced TO Joey was VP candidate at 6:00 AM....ALgore didn’t even call and ask him until NOON!!! Algore couldn;t get out of it!!


2 posted on 05/15/2008 7:26:46 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: COUNTrecount

I really believe that if the Obama camp takes her and her husband as vice president, Obama is signing his death warrant!!The Clintons are Anti Christ evil, at least that what I think!


3 posted on 05/15/2008 7:28:33 AM PDT by Old Phone Man (ks)
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To: COUNTrecount

Michelle wants no part of it and that carries a lot of weight in his decision.

If she doesn’t get the slot then Harry Reid better start getting his affairs in order.


4 posted on 05/15/2008 7:28:58 AM PDT by misterrob (Obama-Does America Need Another Jimmy Carter?)
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To: COUNTrecount

I just don’t see what’s in it for her. If she really, truly believes Obama can’t win in November then the last thing she wants to do is get on that sinking ship. She’ll wait for 2012 and run again.


5 posted on 05/15/2008 7:30:04 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Ann Archy

Would the secret service have to worry more about protecting Hillary from Michelle, Michelle from Hillary or Barry from them both! There would be some objects in flight at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; somebody’s going to end up lame if he doesn’t duck!


6 posted on 05/15/2008 7:31:35 AM PDT by DaveyB (Land of the taxed and home of the slave)
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To: Old Phone Man

But they’re smart. They’ll find a way to have him offed and blame racist white republicans.


7 posted on 05/15/2008 7:31:35 AM PDT by stevio (Crunchy Con - God, guns, guts, and organically grown crunchy nuts.)
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To: COUNTrecount
Obamessiah better get lots of Secret Service protection and food testers if he has to accept Hildabeast and Bubba on his ticket.

But alas, I would care if she kicked his bucket... one leas progressive prohibitionist in the world is a good thing.

8 posted on 05/15/2008 7:32:54 AM PDT by xtinct (I was the next door neighbor kid's imaginary friend.)
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To: DaveyB

The MSM would jump on Michelle wears the pants in that couple.

(see Jerry Lewis in Cinderfella)


9 posted on 05/15/2008 7:38:29 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: COUNTrecount

This thought process is a pure waste of time. Hillary has one core belief that drives everything she does: “I DESERVE to be the next president, dammitt!!” She never wanted to be junior senator from NY, and sure as hell doesn’t want to be vice anything. I’ll take any bet (up to my personal limit of five cents) that Hillary will leave politics if she doesn’t get the nod for prez.


10 posted on 05/15/2008 7:40:56 AM PDT by bobsatwork
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To: Old Phone Man
I really believe that if the Obama camp takes her and her husband as vice president, Obama is signing his death warrant!

3 big time winners on one ticket! Who can resist?

11 posted on 05/15/2008 7:43:46 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: COUNTrecount
Clinton, on a personal level, does not want to be Obama's VP.

On a professional level, if Clinton runs as Obama's VP and he loses, it makes it much harder for her to run as the party's standard bearer in 2012.

If Obama wins, it will be eight years before Clinton will be allowed to even try to run as the top of the ticket.

She has zero personal or professional interest in being VP right now.

12 posted on 05/15/2008 7:43:58 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: stevio

It could happen the way you say....I think it’s possible right now, before this campaign is over.I would think that Obama and his campaign bigwigs have factored this into their plans also.....

Too many deaths have taken place during the clinton’s time in political office.


13 posted on 05/15/2008 7:45:20 AM PDT by Old Phone Man (ks)
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To: bobsatwork

You’re on for 5 cents. She’ll never leave politics.She’s nothing without power.


14 posted on 05/15/2008 7:49:07 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
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To: COUNTrecount
Bob Beckel managed Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential campaign.

And they still trot him out as a political expert.

Heh.

15 posted on 05/15/2008 7:49:44 AM PDT by CaptRon (Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: wideawake
If Obama wins, it will be eight years before Clinton will be allowed to even try to run as the top of the ticket.

So .... if Obama gets the nomination, it will be in HER bests interests (not the Democrat Party) for him to lose in November. Juicy!

16 posted on 05/15/2008 7:50:19 AM PDT by MissMagnolia
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To: COUNTrecount; bobsatwork
She won't leave politics.

She will remain a NY Senator, and possibly run for NY governor.

In the meantime, she will do her best to submarine Obama, because if she loses the nomination in 2008, she wants to run as the Democrat candidate against McCain in 2012.

BTW, it should be obvious by now that Edwards intends to be Obama's VP.

17 posted on 05/15/2008 7:55:07 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: COUNTrecount
I'll take a piece of this action...Ried will be back to a has been because Hillary will demand Majority leader if she isn't the nominee
18 posted on 05/15/2008 7:56:24 AM PDT by conservativehusker (GO BIG RED!!!!)
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To: COUNTrecount
I've thought from the beginning that it would likely end up a dem ticket with Obama & Hillary, I just thought it would be the other way around. In Hitlery's mind, she WILL become President by either going over Obama or though Obama. It will be a dream ticket in the leftists eyes and will pull both factions together to begin their attack on the GOP. If they join forces, McCain is DOA and we will be SOOL.

Michelle had better buy some big insurance policies on her hubby before this happens.

19 posted on 05/15/2008 8:04:30 AM PDT by OB1kNOb ("We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election." - Ahmed Yousef, Hamas PM advisor)
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To: COUNTrecount

Beckel was on the tube the Sunday before West Virginia saying that contrary to what everyone thought Hillary wouldn’t win by more than 20 pct points.

And who can forget his 1984 presidential campaign.

When he says “count on it” it’s hard not to laugh.


20 posted on 05/15/2008 8:04:32 AM PDT by freespirited
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To: OB1kNOb

though = through


21 posted on 05/15/2008 8:05:18 AM PDT by OB1kNOb ("We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election." - Ahmed Yousef, Hamas PM advisor)
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To: bobsatwork
This thought process is a pure waste of time. Hillary has one core belief that drives everything she does: “I DESERVE to be the next president, dammitt!!” She never wanted to be junior senator from NY, and sure as hell doesn’t want to be vice anything. I’ll take any bet (up to my personal limit of five cents) that Hillary will leave politics if she doesn’t get the nod for prez.

I wouldn't even risk 5 cents in a bet against that. I totally agree. She won't spend one second more as just one of 100 sitting in some boring committee hearing or hanging around for a quorum call. It was all she could do to stomach that grand waste of her precious time and intellect to set herself up for the presidency. She may leave politics, but I don't think she's capable of abandoning the quest for power.

The good news about the really awful scenario posited by Beckel in this article is that it was written by, um, Beckel. He's too blinded by agenda to be an objective analyst. Consequently, his predictions aren't especially accurate.

22 posted on 05/15/2008 8:05:37 AM PDT by Eroteme
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To: Old Phone Man

Your not alone in that thought,

Hitler was never elected chancellor of Germany, Bismark mysteriously Died.

I for one believe Hillary is most likely to declare Martial Law


23 posted on 05/15/2008 8:10:08 AM PDT by mtnjimmi (“When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil.” Max Lerner)
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To: mtnjimmi

Obama is further left than Hillary, and what’s worse is that Obama is an empty suit, who only spouts rhetoric that has been fed to him by his handlers.


24 posted on 05/15/2008 8:11:42 AM PDT by Eva (CHANGE- the post modern euphemism for Marxist revolution.)
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To: COUNTrecount

I don’t think so, I am confident she is tired of playing second fiddle.


25 posted on 05/15/2008 8:46:02 AM PDT by Proverbs 3-5
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To: COUNTrecount
She’ll never leave politics.... - We'll see. I don't think her ego can accept a political job less than prez. In her mind she has already been co-prez. And it could be wishfull thinking on my part, but I think if she does not get the nod this time around, it is the end of Clinton Inc. I don't see another run for prez; the dem party won't want it.
26 posted on 05/15/2008 8:48:21 AM PDT by bobsatwork
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To: COUNTrecount
She will be on the ticket long before the convention, possibly before June.

She's already kissing up for the job — and Beckel is right, Obama won't be able to turn her down.

The two of them will be holding hands from June til November.

But you won't see Bill or Michelle on stage with them very much prior to the convention in August.

Talk about barf alerts — it will be daily fair.

27 posted on 05/15/2008 9:29:06 AM PDT by detch
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To: wideawake
If she doesn't win the nomination, I'd go so far as to say she'll "quit" the Senate..It's an automatic Dem replacement so it's not like losing a seat.

Clue as to VP: Bubba's lease in Harlem has a clause that if she gets to be PREZ, he can get out of his lease without penalty.

28 posted on 05/15/2008 8:36:32 PM PDT by Sacajaweau ("The Cracker" will be renamed "The Crapper")
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To: COUNTrecount

It really is the only just outcome. Has there ever been a primary like this when most people assumed the runner-up would not be picked VP? That said, Dems might thing since it would heal the party, they will win. I think it may be too much for America- an unknown guy and a very unpopular woman.


29 posted on 05/15/2008 11:03:21 PM PDT by PghBaldy (Michelle O's handlers: "Get me white people...!!!")
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