# Possibility of an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama Ticket? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 27, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165 "2008-01-27T04:32:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/1 "2008-01-27T04:32:12Z")
It’s pretty clear now that it it WILL be either Obama or Clinton as the Democratic nominee in November. How likely is the possibility that the two will run together, and would that be desirable? ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/2 "2008-01-27T05:00:34Z")
I think Obama would alienate a lot of his supporters by agreeing to any ticket with Hillary Clinton. It would be hard to run as the change candidate when you have the status quo on the other half of the ticket. Obama’s whole campaign is founded on change, on being different from the norm. If he hitches his wagon to Clinton’s he becomes just another politician. Anecdotally, as an enthusiastic Obama supporter, teaming up with Clinton would instantly lose him my vote. I don’t think he has anything to gain from such a match up. If Clinton takes the nomination I think it’s better for him to stay in the senate, create his own record, and then run on his own again at a later date. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/3 "2008-01-27T05:16:14Z")
If Hillary gets the nomination, I can’t see Obama agreeing to be on her ticket. Not after the way this campaign has been run. Besides, he’d be better off sitting on the sidelines, watching Hillary get beaten by McCain (as she would surely manage to do) and then running again in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/4 "2008-01-27T05:51:59Z")
IMHO, a Clinton Obama ticket would win based purely on demographics. The core Dem vote, and then pick up independants and crossover female/black votes. I don’t think the number of normally don’t vote but will register for a woman and/or black will be significant. Look at how many people have come out to vote in the primaries. Remember the last two elections were decided within what 1% or so of the popular vote. Get a populist movement along the lines of “we can finally get a woman (and/or brother) in the White House if you get off your ass and actually vote.” Within those demographics are a large disenchanted voting group that usually never votes. A Clinton/Obama ticket could be a blow out. As for Obama staying in the senate. I think that would hamstring his future chances, especially if Hillary loses. It’s not like he was a stand out Senator or anything. Do it right and it’s a Reagan/Bush type dominance for 24 out of 32 years. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/5 "2008-01-27T05:53:58Z")
No, I don’t think it’ll happen. Neither one would bring that much to the other’s ticket - nominating Clinton would damage Obama’s “change” credentials and wouldn’t help him with women (he’d get that vote anyway), and nominating Obama wouldn’t help Clinton with the black vote or bolster her experience credentials. Aside from that, she is too much of a star in her own right to accept a supporting role, and I think that’s true of him, too. And the Clintons reward people who are loyal to them. She’d nominate a Rendell or a Kerrey or someone like that, with experience, who has supported her in the past and will take a back seat. I’m not sure who he would nominate as a VP candidate, but it wouldn’t be Clinton or someone like her. ---
**Author:** ![Poor\_College\_Student](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Poor\_College\_Student](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poor_College_Student)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/6 "2008-01-27T06:19:55Z")
It would win, if only because people want the freshness of a nonRepublican in office. And people vote their money, and we’re getting poorer so Democrats it is. BUT it won’t happen. Obama will probably get Edwards as VP, for his support and his voters lol. Clinton idk about, but I think Bill would like VP so he wouldn’t be First Lady, IMHO. If it were up to me, I’d choose Obama with a Rep. as VP, I think that would be the best thing to happen in this country. But I don’t think that will happen. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/7 "2008-01-27T06:21:07Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Aside from that, she is too much of a star in her own right to accept a supporting role, and I think that’s true of him, too. [/QUOTE] I think this is the key right here. Whatever they’ve said about each other in the primaries could be put outside, but for either one to be the other’s number two would be seen as a humiliating step down. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/8 "2008-01-27T06:22:12Z")
If Hillary wins, she’ll feel a LOT of pressure to pick Obama. If she succumbs, he’d be under a lot of pressure to say yes, because he WOULD add a lot to the ticket. But if he wins, he’d seem patronizing if he asked Hillary to be his Veep, and she couldn’t help him much anyway. He’d definitely have to pick someone with close ties to Bill Clinton, as a sign of mending fences, but someone like Wesley Clark would accomplish the fence mending while simultaneously balancing Obama’s seeming youth and inexperience in military/foreign affairs. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/9 "2008-01-27T07:42:17Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Besides, he’d be better off sitting on the sidelines, watching Hillary get beaten by McCain (as she would surely manage to do) and then running again in 2012. [/QUOTE] But wouldn’t that mean he’d be putting himself ahead of the party? I’d like to think Obama was above that. Geez, it’s starting to sound like the Democrats are going to split into two different parties. ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/10 "2008-01-27T08:06:12Z")
Hillary will win and probably will not take Obama as a running mate. I don’t see him adding anything to Hillary’s campaign that Hillary wouldn’t be able to get herself. Unless, of course, Barack actively campaigns against Hillary or run with Bloomberg (I’m not sure how likely that is.) There are a number of key personalities that could help Hillary in the battleground states against the Republicans and I don’t see Obama helping her in any way on those states. ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/11 "2008-01-27T08:08:05Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Geez, it’s starting to sound like the Democrats are going to split into two different parties. [/QUOTE] All thanks to Obama - he is the only candidate that sends out very divisive memes. Race-baiting, “supporters not going to Clinton in GE”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnieEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/12 "2008-01-27T14:16:56Z")
[QUOTE=omgzebras] I think Obama would alienate a lot of his supporters by agreeing to any ticket with Hillary Clinton. It would be hard to run as the change candidate when you have the status quo on the other half of the ticket. Obama’s whole campaign is founded on change, on being different from the norm. If he hitches his wagon to Clinton’s he becomes just another politician. Anecdotally, as an enthusiastic Obama supporter, teaming up with Clinton would instantly lose him my vote. I don’t think he has anything to gain from such a match up. If Clinton takes the nomination I think it’s better for him to stay in the senate, create his own record, and then run on his own again at a later date. [/QUOTE] If Obama lines himself with a clinton, the republicans will win. It’s his call… ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/13 "2008-01-27T14:43:42Z")
Neither would take it, neither would ask it, and it would be a good choice for neither at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/14 "2008-01-27T15:19:04Z")
Obama was just asked this very question on national TV with George Stephanopolos this morning and he said: There will be a united democratic front come nomination time…and other odds and ends but never answered the question right out. He won’t need Hillary to win in November… ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/15 "2008-01-28T06:35:42Z")
[QUOTE=Poor College Student] It would win, if only because people want the freshness of a nonRepublican in office. And people vote their money, and we’re getting poorer so Democrats it is. BUT it won’t happen. Obama will probably get Edwards as VP, for his support and his voters lol. Clinton idk about, but I think Bill would like VP so he wouldn’t be First Lady, IMHO. If it were up to me, I’d choose Obama with a Rep. as VP, I think that would be the best thing to happen in this country. But I don’t think that will happen. [/QUOTE] There is no way the either one of them will pick the other as a running mate. And none for John Edwards either. The way these three have been at it, for almost a year now, they couldn’t possibly be thinking it. And Edwards won’t be VP. He’s stated that several times. I think an Obama/Repub ticket would be sweet. Can you imagine if he got McCain as his VP? That right there would be an unstoppable ticket. If McCain doesn’t get this nomination, and I kind of hope now that he doesn’t, it would be pretty sweet if Obama picked him. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/16 "2008-01-28T09:38:43Z")
You naysayers probably aren’t old enough to remember “Ronald Reagan - voodoo economics” Yep, it was Georgie Sr that said it, and then had to eat crow when the phrase was thrown back in is face throughout the campaign as VP. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/17 "2008-01-28T14:14:44Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Geez, it’s starting to sound like the Democrats are going to split into two different parties. [/QUOTE] There’s something of a leadership fight right now in that the Kennedys and other powerful Democrats are really turned off by the way the Clintons have been campaigning. But there’s nothing as dramatic as the party splitting up - the candidates basically agree on every issue. It’s a personality conflict, overheated by a campaign with two skilled candidates and a press - and an SDMB - that needs something to talk about. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-an-obama-clinton-or-clinton-obama-ticket/435165/18 "2008-01-28T15:49:01Z")
Just a guess. I think if Clinton gets the nom then Obama will be her running mate. No other person will do anything for her. If Obama gets the nom then no way Clinton gets picked. Being VP does nothing for Hillary. Past elections teach us that bad blood in the primaries gets washed away when it comes time for the election.