Why Clinton And Obama Will Not Run Together

When I normally look for good analysis, one of the last places I look is CNN.com, which normally tends to resemble more an upscale TMZ than the home of any cogent analysis. So imagine my surprise today when I found this article from Roland Martin that completely and accurately describes why Obama and Clinton cannot run on the same ticket, from both perspectives.

First, there’s the logisitical problems on face:

1. Clinton will not be overshadowed by an underling. Clinton is hugely popular in Democratic circles, but truth be told, that pales in comparison to the love and affection showered on Obama. This is a guy who brings people to tears just by speaking, and attracts folks on the left, right and the disenfranchised.

When you have the children of elected officials putting pressure on their parents (Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is one example.) to support this guy, you know he is touching people in a place others haven’t in 40 years. The role of a VP is to be supportive of a presidential candidate, not someone who overshadows them.

2. Obama would not want to carry Clinton baggage. He has offered a vision of change, and having to answer to the years of strife under the Clintons would be too much. It would make sense to have a fresh face serving as his vice president who doesn’t engender anger among some in the Democratic Party, and definitely the GOP. An Obama run would be about going after Republicans and independents, and Clinton being on the ticket would make that very difficult.

Jackson also mentions another factor: the Bill factor, and how the critical assumption at root of a Clinton-Obama ticket - that he will get executive experience - is flawed:

5. Obama doesn’t want to be an LBJ. When Lyndon Baines Johnson was the vice president under President John F. Kennedy, he was ostracized and marginalized because of the influence of Robert F. Kennedy. With Bill Clinton serving as consigliere to a President Hillary Clinton, Obama would be on the outside looking in. He knows the likelihood of him doing anything of substance and having influence in a Clinton administration.

Former Democratic candidate Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, when asked if he wanted to be her VP, he said competing with Bill Clinton isn’t his cup of tea. Some would say that serving as VP two terms under Clinton would give Obama administrative experience, and he would be 54 when he could run, but I just don’t buy it.

If you heard our radio interview yesterday you heard us say a lot of this already, but Jackson suceeds in getting everything down in one place.

It’s not that the unity ticket is impossible, it’s that it’s a long shot and depends as much on the willingness of Clinton to offer it as it does Obama being willing to accept it. (And if Obama wins, you can rule Clinton out. She’d rather be Senate Majority Leader than VP.) Obama would likely counter by making Napolitano or Sebelius his VP.

Bottom line: Democrats, be prepared to choose.

[Image Credit: Flickr User rawbanana]