One other issue to consider is re-electability. Obama's base of the youth vote MATTERS!

[cascadiance]

Another thing to consider when selecting our nominee. If we want this presidency to last another term so that we can really make significant changes that are needed, it would be good to have the right person in for two terms if possible.

Now who's more apt to get re-elected just looking at hard statistics and not even emotional ones of whether one will "look better" to the American people by the way they do business, etc.

Consider that Obama is strongest with the young people, and has energized a whole new segment of voters to enter the party.

This is not only important for this election (and for the other offices being voted on in this election too), but just as important and perhaps MORE important for 2012!

Think about how many of Hillary's base will shrink (due to older people dying, etc.), and how much Obama's base will grow (given that more young people will come of voting age between now and then). Obama's inherent voting base will just grow, and Hillary's base will shrink (unless she can impress upon a newer generation in ways that she hasn't in this election).

Overriding the youth vote, and Obama's legitimate claims to getting the nomination, even if she does manage somehow to win the presidency, will leave a sour taste in many of the young voters this time around and for the forseeable future, which will not allow our party to grow much. In short, there's probably no way that Hillary is a two term president, whereas I think Obama has the numbers to be a two term president if he does the right things in office, etc.

Also, putting Hillary on the ticket as a VP for this reason is also a bad idea. Do we really want someone that there's no way we'll want to follow Obama in office after he's done his second term on the ticket (the way that Cheney is a no-go for the Rethugs this time around)? I think we'd want someone that's younger and more in favor with the coming generations to be VP.