Hypothetical thinking about personnel shifts in the 2008 Democratic Presidential ticket

Several people have asked me my opinion of the rumors that Senator Obama is looking to find a way to remove Senator Biden from the vice-presidential slot and have Senator Clinton step in to fill it. Some people want to know if I think there's any truth to the rumor. Others want to know whether I think such a personnel shift would be a good thing.

As to whether this rumor could possibly be true: Ordinarily I would dismiss it out of hand, because it would show just how desperate the Obama campaign has become, and showing desperation is not something that comes naturally to any politician, let alone Senator Obama. But, Senator Obama has shown that when it comes to becoming President he will do anything, discard anybody, take any measure that he thinks will get him where he wants to go. So it would not be entirely out of character for Senator Obama to dump Senator Biden. Nor do I think  Senator Obama would feel any shame in turning to a colleague who he repeatedly treated with disrespect and contempt throughout the primary season and on into the Democratic National Party Convention and ask her to bail him out of the hash he is making of running against Senator McCain.

More significant is the question of whether bringing Senator Clinton onto the Democratic ticket at this stage is a good idea. Attempting to answer to that question raises another one: good for who?

It might be good for Senator Obama, because it probably is his best option with regard to winning the Oval Office this year. It might be good for downticket Democrats because those rank and file Democrats who are now considering staying home from the polls entirely might be more likely to show up and cast votes for the entire Party roster (although people should remember that even if they do not vote for Senator Obama for President, they still should and can show up and vote for those downticket Democrats who they regard as worthy of election).

At a very general level, It might be good for the Democratic Party because as a general rule it is better for a Party for its candidate to win the White House. At a more finely-grained level, I do not it is good for the Democratic Party to win the White House through a show of desperation from candidate who achieved nomination via a series of corrupt and dishonest measures taken on his behalf by the DNC and some taken by his own campaign.

Would it be good for Senator Clinton? I hesitate to answer this question. Senator Clinton is the hardest working and most astute progressive active politician in the country right now, and so I would rather leave the answer entirely to Senator Clinton. Senator Clinton is devoted to the Democratic Party, as evidenced by her conduct over many years, and this year particularly by her graciousness in how she responded to the farce of the nomination process that was Denver. That devotion might make her willing to affiliate herself with a candidate who is not in her league by any measure if she thought doing so would be good for the Democratic Party.

That said, there is indeed a personnel shift that Senator Obama could bring about that would clearly be best for the Democratic Party and the entire country. This personel shift is not rumored and will never happen,  Senator Obama could step down as nominee and the DNC would then have the option of asking Senator Clinton to step in. Surely she would, not only because she clearly desired the presidency this year (as did Senator Biden, Senator Dodd, former Senator Edwards, Governor Richardson and, of course, Senator Obama). She would step in because of her devotion to the Democratic Party and her belief that Democrat in the White House would be best for the country. So Senator Clinton would risk being called a usurper and all manner of other nasty things including - what horror! - ambitious if she thought that the best way she could serve her Party and her country would be by stepping in even now to run for President as the Democratic candidate.

See this post at The Confluence for more on electability.

Comments

[Lisa]

"...Senator Obama could step down as nominee and the DNC would then have the option of asking Senator Clinton to step in."

I wish.

[Lisa]

I would have said "When Pigs Fly" but that was too close to Lipstick on a Pig for me.

[democrat1]

Obama will never step down. But I feel that is the only way democrats can regain presidency this year

[Amazonia]

We love Hillary and want her reputation and good standing with the voters to be intact for her run for PRESIDENT in 2012, preferably as an Independent candidate.
She should be nobody's disposable goods to be used only when it is to his(Obama)/its(Dem. Party) convenience, only to be discarded when the White House has been won. We know how BO was awarded the nomination. Can't forget, can't forgive that.
Senator Clinton needs to understand what her historical run means to all of us women. She is PRESIDENTIAL material and should not play second fiddle to the real "Usurper", BO.
I had decided, even before
Governor Sarah Palin was picked by Senator McCain, that I would NOT vote for an unqualified candidate for Pres.
such as Barack Obama.
Finally, I would not forgive Obama utterly embarassing Senator Biden in by dumping him in such way, either.
Wonder why other big shots in the party
did not want to run with BO?

McCain/Palin '08
Hillary Clinton/Sarah Palin '12

[Denise-Mary]

Amazonia's comments, above, said it all. Absolutely correct - Hillary Clinton is, indeed, presidential material. She should not play second-fiddle to ANY other candidate. But even at the top of the Dem ticket with Obama as VP, I still wouldn't vote for that ticket. Why not? Because I don't believe Obama should be anywhere near the White House, the Senate, or act in any other legislative capacity. My reasons for saying this are torturously long, and have been discussed ad infinitum for many months by many thousands of other bloggers. Suffice it to say, I don't trust him. And Hillary Clinton shouldn't, either.

[kc]

I would have more respect for Senator Obama if he fought this battle out win or lose rather than drag another person into the mess. He accepted the nomination and hence, the hope and dream of his millions of supporters. He has a responsibility to do his best. Even with Hillary as VP, it is still his campaign and he is still the one responsible. If indeed he loses, then that is a lesson of hardship he needs to learn.

[diana]

Heidi,
As Senator Obama's poll numbers slip, the comments I've heard from presumed supporters of his are along the lines of: "the country may not be ready for a black man." The race issue continues to fester as an excuse for Mr. Obama's poor performance. They just don't get it.

As I've often written to Karen Thurman (Florida Dem. Party Chair) and others in the DNC: the people are not stupid. Democrats are now a fractured bunch of frustrated people, who clearly understand fraud and distrust the elections process. In a year when "it's the economy, stupid" should have been the rallying cry, we recognize that the Democratic nominee is ill-equipped to lead, in spite of all hope.

[lynne]

Wouldn't that be a dream come true - Obama steps down - alas, I'm afraid that his ego has no bounds and unlike Hillary, it's more about Barry than the Party, People or Country!

[Calypso]

We have returned from a driving vacation throughout northern AZ, eastern Utah, southwestern CO and northwestern NM.

We wear our Hillary buttons everywhere we go. In the states above where the only yard signs we saw were for McCain, each day people who support Hillary spoke with us.

Does the DNC or democratic leadership understand the extent of anger and disgust among many democratic voters? If democrats in the remote areas where we vacationed spoke in support of Hillary, how extensive is the democratic discontent in the heavily blue states?

Perhaps more Hillary supporters should wear their Hillary buttons, it is comforting to talk with others who feel the same as we do. Loyal democrats for 50 years we are now swinging in the wind, with no candidate or party to work for during a perilous time for our country. Heartbreaking!

[JP49]

I hope Obama does not ask her to step in. I cannot vote for any ticket with his name on it. Additionally, if Obama stepped down and Hillary stepped in as the presidential candidate she would not have enought time to get her campaign off the ground in order to win. It would make her look bad and the party would again stick it to her. If I were her I would say no on both counts and wait for 2012.