Here's My Plan for a Democratic Victory in 2008

[louis c]

First, let me give you my take on the Democratic race so far. Both Hillary and Barack have energized the voters. Nearly every primary has record Democratic turnout, even in Red States.

Hillary has really touched the hearts of women, especially those in my age group (over 50). Hispanics love her and she really has fought the hard battles over the years.

Barack is the first African-American to really have a chance to be President. That is the most loyal demographic in the Democratic coalition, and the most taken for granted. We can't win if they feel disenfranchised. I am a white male and a product of the 60's, and Barack touches me like JFK, RFK and MLK. He has energized the young just as they did in the sixties.

The Democratic base has never been as energized by two candidates for as long as anyone can remember.

We can't lose this opportunity. We must capitalize on it. We must unite our base, not divide it.

But how?

Here's my plan. The ticket must be Hillary Clinton for President and Barack Obama for VP. The important part of this is that Hillary must promise to give Barack a strong voice in her administration and she must serve only one term. Obama will run in 2012, (he'd only be 50 years old) and he can choose any running mate he wishes. This would guaranty a victory this year and a strong Democratic mandate. Hillary, because she is older, would serve first and serve only one term. Barrack would have the option of serving two.

I believe the deal is good for both politicians, the Democratic party and the country.

[More Than A Feeling]

1. The promise to serve just one term means she'd be an almost instant

lame duck. Nothing personal, but that's a bad idea.

[louis c]

5. Because Obama....

is the heir apparent, there really is no lame duck.

[Skinner]

2. I think we probably would win under this plan. But I can see two problems...

1. Barack Obama isn't going to agree to be VP. At least not now, when he has a good chance of being the nominee.

2. Hillary Clinton isn't going to agree to only serve one term.

[louis c]

7. Now is the perfect time

Since both are in doubt of the outcome.

Once one is convinced that they have the nomination sewed up, the deal is more difficult.

If we go into the convention dead locked, don't be surprised if Dean makes this happen.

[gateley]

17. Dean has said (I heard him yesterday) that he wants them on the ticket together. nt

[yourout]

3. Not going to happen.

Either one needs a strong white male to balance out the ticket.

Likely someone with military experience.

Wes Clark or Jim Webb.

[louis c]

4. I'm worried about our base

Women, African-Americans and othe minorities.

[calico1]

9. I think that when this is all over,

the "loser" will be strongly encouraged by others in the party to work for the success of the winner. I think this is especially important if Hillary gets the nomination. Obama needs to support her and help unite the party so as not to ruin his own chances later on. Hillary too, but I think if he gets the nomination she will not seek it again.

[katty]

13. maybe, if Barack does not get the nom and is not offered veep

or doesn't want to be veep, Obama supporters may not want to support the Hillary ticket, and then we will get John McCain.

[calico1]

20. Well, I was just speculating.

I have no idea at this point what will happen. I was just commenting on the OP's scenario.

Politically speaking, if he were to want to run in the future, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for him to not support Hillary if she did get the nomination. More so than for Hillary, though I feel she would also show support. This is because I think it unlikely for her to run again if he got the nod, whereas I think he would try again. Whatever happens I think that because both of them have such specific groups supporting them, there will be a lot of pressure from others in the party for them to play nice at least until after the GE.

[calico1]

6. One term is = instant lame duck.

I don't think Obama would accept VP but if he did and she had 8 years he would still be a very young 54 when he ran for President. So age isn't a problem for him. Hillary would certainly not accept being a lame duck and giving her VP (who would later have the opportunity to have two terms) a lot of influence in her administration while she was very limited with her one term. Why would anyone be willing to do that?

Not a good idea.

[louis c]

12. There is doubt

That's how deals are done. If she is running out of money and is facing two weeks of losses, she has a chance to make this deal.

Obama, on the other hand, needs a completely united party to have any chance. both have toned down their crisis of each other th avoid the nomination turning into an "empty box".

This deal is better than nothing, and if we don't unite, we'll get nothing.

Mike Dukakis and John Kerry won the nomination. Big deal. The only thing that really counts is November.

[katty]

8. viable plan but Barack has to be guaranteed a strong veep

job, how is Hillary going to guarantee that? really? and I don't think Hillary would agree to one term (not right now anyway). My question now is, who will be Barack's veep? or Hillary's veep? I would like to see some names floated very soon.

[dysfunctional press]

19. vp names floated soon?

ummm...we actually need a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE first. and it's only february for god's sake.
it's waaaaaaay too early to be talking about running mates.

[floridablue]

10. Hillary wouldn't even consider giving up the power.

Looks to me as usual the Democrats have backed themselves into another difficult situation. Perhaps Teddy will step forward as a compromise candidate at the convention.

[katty]

11. need a ticket before the convention, need to be united by then

[karlrschneider]

15. That's pretty disgusting and sad because the PURPOSE of the convention

is supposed to be...<drum roll> to PICK the candidate!
:eyes:

[katty]

16. perhaps, but it may put us in a stronger position

[karlrschneider]

14. Well, if I were Hillary I would tell you to take your plan and shove it. If I were Obama, I would

tell you to take your plan and shove it.
:D

[louis c]

21. Except that.......

in the end (pardon the pun)we, the working class Democrats, are the ones that take it up the *&#. You see, the only way the Repubs win is if we are divided. The more unified we are, the better chance we have.

By the way, this isn't about them, it's supposed to be about us.

[dysfunctional press]

18. barack has more legislative experience than hillary.

he was a state senator before he was a u.s. senator.

hillary is a very divisive candidate- if she's at the top of the ticket- we lose.