Archived: Should Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama run on the same ticket?

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For some reason, this one sort of makes me nervous. I guess it's because there are too many constituencies. It might be suggested that it's good for the Democrats, especially now that McCain is the presumed opponent. But does that mean it would be good for the country? I don't think the country qua country cares. If the focus is, would it be good for Clinton or Obama to agree to be the VP candidate, It's presumptuous of us to speculate, since they should do what they think best for their own aspirations. If the focus is on whether the winner should offer the VP slot to the other, again, I don't think it's up to us to speculate. Do we get to vote on whether McCain should pick Romney, or anyone else?

This is historically such a close decision by the winning presidential candidate that it just makes me nervous, it seems to be stepping on their prerogative.

But, oh yes, this isn't about being nervous, and the more gossip and speculation and spinning of wheels the better, so why am I so curmudgeonly here? I can't explain it.

Go ahead without me.

its good as is

Ready to go!

I like the 'should' issue rather than the predication 'will' issue.

Nick's version might make it a bit more diffcult to find evidence on this issue. I say apprvoe as is

Great issue... especially with their "virtual hug" of a debate where they both insinuated they'd be on each other's shortlist. We can read into all of the catfighting as much as we want... but it could all just be show... when it comes down to it, there's a possibility they'd run together if the DNC thought it would be a sure-thing.

Nick's version: Should Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama agree to select each other for VP?

Yep, I agree that the "same ticket" wording is probably best here. And a very interesting issue.

That may have to be two separate questions to work.  Someone might think Obama would choose Hillary, but Hillary wouldn't choose Obama, for example.

So it'd be, "If Barack Obama wins the Democractic nomination, who will he choose to run as vice president?"

-  Hillary Clinton
-  John Edwards
-  Bill Richardson

etc.

then the same for Hillary.  But that's getting further and further from Nick's original issue.  I can go ahead and propose this other issue, (for Republicans too) but I think Brian's wording is best for the current one.

I like Brian's wording.

I'd be interested in a prediction though -- "If Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton win the Democratic nomination, will one choose the other to share the ticket?"

I've seen a lot of talk about that, mostly "no," but some "yes."

Should Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama run on the same ticket?

NY Times:

It’s not uncommon, at least in some Democratic circles, to ponder the possibilities of a joint presidential ticket of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. And in most conversations, the names are listed in precisely that order.

But when that question is raised on tonight’s Late Show with David Letterman, Senator Obama asks for a bit of clarity.

“That would be a powerful ticket,” Mr. Letterman says of the two senators. “Undeniably that would be a powerful ticket.”

Wouldn't this make things more civilized?