My guess is we have a "unity ticket" by a few weeks after the PA primary

[Godhumor]

Yes, people are going to say that either candidate will never pick the other one, etc., etc. but I think it is safe to say we're looking at the future president and vice-president candidates right now (No way in hell am I going to speculate on who is on top of the ticket--that is an ugly fight that would go absolutely nowhere right now.).

The reason I say this is pretty simple--McCain is gearing up to start gunning directly for the Democrats while we're still in our primary process, and I believe our party is going to quickly force our candidates to respond in kind. We have unbelievable momentum, funding, and voter interest on our side right now, and even the people involved know this momentum needs to be maintained into the general election season. Secondly, the supporters for each candidate are intense in their belief, and that translates to a massive number of energized voters, volunteers, and workers for the general election campaign.

Finally, I believe Obama and Clinton will be meeting sometime soon to either figure out their joint ticket or agree to start campaigning directly against McCain after the PA dust clears and it is apparent nothing will be decided until the convention. We'll see, and I am sure the zealots from both sides will soon be on to explain to me how one or the other candidate is scum, but I have to maintain faith that our party and our candidates will resolve this. It might be a utopian vision, but, dammit, I'm holding on to it.

[Gore1FL]

1. If by Unity you mean

Obama-Seblelius, the I am all for it. That ticket has crushing unity.

I see no benefit for Obama picking Clinton, and I don't see Clinton getting the nomination, unless she figures out how to win every future contest by 20%+.

If heaven smiles upon her and she does, it makes sense to pick him, but the converse, not so much.

[Godhumor]

2. Neither will drop out before the convention; both know that's a long time for the Repubs to attack

Hillary is banking on courting the superdelegates by having the higher total popular vote via PA, Puerto Rico, Michigan, and Florida (if they get seated); Obama is playing the more delegates card for the same thing (And right now he does have the higher popular vote, as well.). They both know the best chance to beat McCain is to turn this voter passion into fighting him, and I still expect them to make a deal after it is clear if Clinton has any shot at all at the popular vote crown after PA.

[Gore1FL]

7. she will still need about 60% of the supers

It just isn't a realistic expectation.

[Godhumor]

8. Depends on how many wait to see how this settles

Most of the superdelegates at the convention will vote based on however they decide who represents the will of the public, their state or district, or the party. I don't think you see a massive split in supers the day of the convention--the vast majority will go to one candidate or another.

[Gore1FL]

13. My guess is the one with the 100-175 delegate lead

Obama will likely have a 150 delegate lead after this Saturday and next Tuesday. I don't see the realistic, yet optimistic, math that gains her any more than 50 in the races after that.

[Godhumor]

14. There is a reason all the superdelegates have not picked a candidate yet

The math on pledged delegates will never favor Clinton--the supers are waiting to see how the party, DNC, their state, or whatever defines the "Will" of the people if neither has enough delegates to put them as the automatic winner. Look, I'm not arguing that the math favors Obama--I am arguing that supers will decide the race if it goes to the convention, and if the popular vote/pledged delegate totals are split they will decide the race and royally piss off one camp or the other. I don't think either candidate lets it get that far.

[Gore1FL]

16. yep

they will still decide by the first vote. They will likely go with the pledged delegate leader.

Clinton will not be able to put forth the argument "It'll be good for the party top over tune 6 months of primaries and Caucuses to install me as the nominee" and have the 60%-85% required respond "OK". It just isn't going to happen. The minimum she needs is a higher ratio than she has now. It just isn't realistic to assume she'll get the needed amount. it is beyond optimistic to hope she gets the needed amount. The world's greatest plumbers could not devise a pipe dream in which she gets the needed amount.

All she has left is a scorched earth policy. Russia and the Soviets used that strategy since Peterthe Great. Hillary doesn't have a winter between now and the Convention. It's done. It's over. I don;t know how to say it any more clearly. She is the Pittsburgh Pirates of the last several years at all star break--not mathematically eliminated, but beyond hope of seeing the post season. She is the basketball team trailing by 20 10 seconds before the game ending buzzer--it isn't over, but still there is no hope. She is the football team at their own 10 yard line on 4th down and 14 points behind--it's done.

There is no conceivable way to realistically give her a chance at the nomination. None. It is not going to happen. I can't be any more clear about this.

[Diane R]

3. If you mean an 'unity' ticket of Obama/Clinton...no thanks. Clinton doesn't deserve any spot.

[goclark]

5. McPain/Clinton is a match made in heaven nt

[IndianaGreen]

11. A McCain/Hillary ticket is a possibility

After all the wonderful accolades that Hillary has bestowed upon McCain, why not put the two warmongers on the same ticket?

[Liquorice]

4. I agree. They will both be on the ticket and

that is great news for all democrats.

[Colobo]

9. As long as Obama is in the top, I don't care.

[Hieronymus]

20. Yes, let Hillary be his number 2. I really don't think he'd chose her, though.

[rwheeler31]

6. No

[Zachstar]

10. Clinton supporters PLEASE join me in saying for the both of our candidates! HELL NO!!!

No Joint TICKET!!!!

It is BETRAYAL to both the campaigns!!

It nullifies any gains both candidates had!!

No VP for Clinton or Obama. Even if Obama somehow loses the nomination I do not want him anywhere near Clinton. He can run again in 2012 cleanly...

For either Candidate the clear choice for a dream ticket is with EDWARDS!!

[Blondiegrrl]

12. I agree. Hell to the no!

I wouldn't mind Edwards as VP. I still think a war vet is the way to go, though, against McCain.

[Zachstar]

15. A VP needs to fully complement the president.

Edwards is that middle ground for both of them that will work.

A war vet is great. However, That experience belongs more along the role of adviser and roles in the Administration. Obama will have to find a way to quickly get the troops home and get treatment across the board to prevent the type of late PTSD cases killing good soldiers at home now. He will need a good team of Military and Medical advisers to do that.

I like Edwards. I think his tone riding the wave of Obama's will spell destruction to McCain's "Bomb Bomb IRAN" and 100 years in Iraq bullshit. It may also serve as the means to give some Clinton supporters reason to support Obama in the GE.

Obama to spread hope around the United States and around the world! Edwards to drive home WHY change is coming!

In my view I think Obama/Edwards will be THE dream ticket of the turn of century!

[BlueManDude]

17. Al Gore is the only way this party will have unity.

[NHIndy]

18. When the dust settles

And after all the vile...is it feasible? Can they actually get along and work together? It would be a dream team, but Hillary has had to be under the gun the whole time and recently waging attacks. They truly seem to despise each other, just as their supporters do. Not sure if it could ever happen. I always saw a Hillary/Edwards ticket. That was before WWIII. I want the things the Dems talk about, but I don't know if they will ever happen. Obama has always been smoke & mirrors to me, David Blaine Street Magic level. It is a sad state for the Dems. I wish there was another indy candidate besides Nader. I feel like writing in my own candidate at this point, like my favorite sports hero. This Dem party is sickening.

[David__77]

19. I don't think so.

It would be like Gore's decision to choose that traitor Lieberman in 2000. I was revulsed when he did so. Lieberman - friend of fundies and warmonger. Disgusting. We can expect nothing but subversion from Clinton. I could be wrong. But she mustn't be in a policymaking role.